Working out is an important part of raising
healthy kids, as youngsters should get at least 60 minutes of daily exercise. A recent study conducted by scientists from Michigan State University has found the benefits of physical activity may be even more substantial for kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
ADHD, one of the most common childhood disorders, causes youngsters to become easily distracted, have a hard time paying attention in class or at home and experience difficulties processing information as quickly or accurately as their peers, the National Institute of Mental Health reports.
Scientists tested the effects of exercise by recruiting 40 kids between the ages of 8 and 10, half whom had ADHD and half whom were free from the disorder. All of the children were asked to spend 20 minutes walking on a treadmill or quietly reading. Participants then took a short reading comprehension and math test and played a computer game in which they had to avoid visual stimuli.
The results showed all children involved performed better on the tests after they worked out. More surprisingly, kids with ADHD were better able to slow down after making an error on the computer game and then go back and fix it after exercising in comparison to when they had to read quietly.
This may show that kids with ADHD may have a higher chance of staying focused in school if they are allowed to head outside for a quick run around the track or climb on the
playground equipment in order to re-group between classes.