Riding is my ritalin
After conducting study after study, researchers found that there is a correlation between exercise and focus in children with ADHD. Adam, a young boy of fifteen at the time decided that he did not like the side effects of the drug ritalin. He asked his parents to allow him to stop using the drug and they complied. Adam enjoyed being off the drug, but as soon as he stopped, he lost focus and his grades began to slip. Adam parents made him get back on the drug. Adam decided it was best for schooling purposes to stay on the drug, but he really did not like it. Adam started going for bikes rides with his dad and found that he really enjoyed riding. After only taking his medication on the weekdays, he noticed that for some reason he had great focus on the weekends with out medication,so he bagan to experiement. Adam noticed that when he did not take his medication on the weekends and rode his bike his focus was great! On weekends when he did not take his medicine or ride his bike, he was bouncing off the walls. Adam decided to ask to get off medication for a second time. This time Adam used riding as his Ritalin. Adam just made sure he rode his bike everyday and he had little to no need to take his medication.
The studies prove that this correlation does exist, but there is still an issue of getting the word out there. schools are cutting out physical play and physical education in oder to reserve more time to teach to the test. Studies have shown that schools that allow physical exercise and that have a unique P.E program, have children that are better fit and children that are passing test that other schools are so worried about passing.
All in all, This article is really insightful and I learned alot. Take some time, click the link at the top of the page and read the article. It includes the findings of a few studies and you will really learn something about the correlation between exercise and focus in children with ADHD.
I love this article that you found about Adam. I think that it's great that he was able to find an "out" and stopped taking Ritalin. Every child has a passion for something, even as young children. We needed to help these children find there out so that they only need that medication in certain situations, not as an everyday thing. When budget cuts take place in our schools, art and physical education are always the first to be taken out. The students need physical education. It gives them the opportunity to release some of that energy and stress that may be building inside of them while in the classroom. Therefore, when they return to class, they are able to focus.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very interesting article and find. Just like Kristyn said, he found an alternative to the drug and it was something he enjoyed and something that actually helped him. i have seen children on medicine that is suppose to control ADHD and seems to turn them into zombies. They seem lifeless and without emotion. So that is a good thing he found an alternative to help him with his ADHD. And I believe P.E. is very important in the school system not only for physical health but for cases like Adam's as well.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you guys found the article interesting. I think this correlation is pretty amazing. I will look for more studies just like this.
ReplyDeleteThanks guys,
Ashley
I was unable to upload the article but, I have seen a similar example of a person behaving like a zombie/zoning out when they were on ADHD medication. A family member of mine had a similar experience and found once they were on medication, they had a difficult time getting along with friends. They asked their parent if they could be taken off the medication when not in school, over the summer to see if they felt a true difference. In the end, the child was able to make proper adjustments in the classroom (with the coooperation of teachers and staff) and no longer had to take their medication daily!
ReplyDelete