Sitting still and concentrating in class can be difficult for the average child.
Behavior
Recess Helps Students with ADHD
Sitting still and concentrating in class can be difficult for the average child.
But for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD, this difficulty is multiplied tenfold.
Education resources
Yes, recess helps students with ADHD
However, recent research into children with the condition has shown one thing to significantly impact the control and behavior of children with ADHD: the level of exercise they are getting. There’s no better way to implement that exercise when it comes to school time than in classic recess time.
In the past, much research has gone into improving the attention span of those with ADHD by utilizing cognitive control building to improve focus. This cognitive control can be developed using specialized software and games, in addition to similar ‘gamified’ methods of improving the ability to focus on one significant task. The concept of exercise for ADHD comes from the same sort of place; the idea that working on that ‘mental muscle’ provides the cognitive control needed to improve brain function and encourage focus without the need for complex games or extra time out of class.
A significant improvement in their cognitive performance
A study published in the Pediatrics medical journal found that children who regularly participated in physical activity programs showed a significant improvement in their cognitive performance and overall brain function. According to researchers at the University of Illinois, these findings could indicate that physical activity plays a prominent role in helping a child achieve better control over their cognition and improve their health.
For many years, it’s been reported that exercise can make all the difference for children with hyperactivity disorders or behavioral issues, such as ADHD. This latest research backs up those claims and provides further evidence that exercise programs are vital for children to succeed in their school curriculum – especially for those needing extra help with their focus. While many schools have yet to implement effective exercise regimes for children, recess is one time that teachers can actively encourage children to get up and move, leading to better results in the long term when it comes to behaviors and the ability to focus on a single task cognitively.
The specific study featured in the Pediatrics journal didn’t just find that exercise was incredibly beneficial to ADHD students. The testing results showed improvements in working memory, inhibition in maintaining focus, and even cognitive flexibility. Over nine months, half of the children were placed in an exercise regime that led to vast differences in those areas of brain function and the health of all children involved. Their results remained consistent for children without access to exercise as part of the study, further proving the importance of active recess time for children.
Recess, research, and evidence
Further research papers have supported this argument, with a 12-week study showing that a clear and consistent exercise regime helped children improve their math and English test scores, with the most significant improvement shown in ADHD students out of all subjects.
With so much research suggesting that exercise is universally beneficial for students, it seems like an obvious conclusion that schools should be doing more to get children active. Not only does movement contribute to their overall health, but their cognitive function as well.
How can teachers help?
What exactly can teachers do to help students with ADHD, and students in general, to get involved in exercise and improve their overall ability to focus?
The primary way schools can encourage students to exercise is by implementing effective exercise programs during recess to ensure all children are given the best advantage when it comes to learning. Of course, not all children are enthused about getting active. Still, by offering various activities, it’s possible to find something to suit all abilities and fitness levels.
As a teacher, you want to provide the best for your students. Research has shown that exercise is instrumental to the success of ADHD students, so simply doing nothing isn’t the best approach.
For inspiration, here are a few ways teachers can easily integrate more exercise into recess:
- Supplying students with different exercise equipment to experiment with, such as jumping ropes, soccer balls, hula hoops, and even stopwatches for timing running
- Introduce formal exercise clubs during recess, such as tennis, soccer, football, or similar sports that can be played as teams or in small groups and pairs
- Split recess in two, with one half as free time and the other as a teacher-followed exercise activity, such as dancing or following the leader
- Encourage moving and exercise with stickers, stars, or other forms of positive reward for children that take part in exercise consistently and regularly
- Make exercise a requirement for entering and exiting the playing area, for example, jumping on one leg into recess and skipping out
For teachers, there are many ways to implement exercise programs into recess times without costing the earth. But for those looking for a more laid-back and less disciplined approach, simply encouraging children to move through playground paintings such as a running track or even playground equipment such as bars or climbing frames can provide exercise for students, helping to sharpen their cognitive skills and improve their overall focus over time.
Do you integrate exercise into recess time, or do you believe it’s more valuable to let your students do their own thing? For ADHD students, do you offer additional exercise regimes to ensure their focus is maintained throughout the school day?
