Programming Opportunities For ADHD Youth
Show parents you are paying attention to their kids’ needs
By Kathryn Boutwell
An estimated 6.1-million American children between the ages of 2 and 17—9.4 percent—have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This means that nearly 10 percent of youth participating in your leagues, classes, activities, and sporting events may face challenges learning and engaging in the world around them due to the realities of this complex but common neurodevelopmental disorder. As a park and recreation leader, it is important to ensure activities are organized inclusively to serve the needs of all young community members—including those with ADHD.
© Can Stock Photo / Bialasiewicz
Having a creative assortment of activities is valuable in ensuring that youth are excited and will make choices that align with their interests and capabilities. Therefore, park and recreation departments should offer physical, creative, and performance activities for young people in the community.
Physical Activities
Many activities that are enjoyable for youth living with ADHD are those that allow them to exercise, run free, and experience autonomy through movement. For example, hiking and backpacking can give ADHD youth a chance to explore and run while keeping their mind stimulated with the sights of bright foliage, the sound of birds, and the smells of nature. Additionally, team-based activities, such as basketball, baseball, and hockey, are likely part of your seasonal catalog. Simply by including in descriptions that these sports are well-suited for children with ADHD shows parents that the department understands and supports their child’s needs.
© Can Stock Photo / lunamarina
Performance Activities
Performance arts often engage youth while teaching valuable skills, such as maintaining a commitment to a project, expanding knowledge, and bringing about cultural awareness. Helping youth learn dynamic ways to express themselves can empower children with ADHD. Performance arts that require learning lyrics or scripts can help children who often struggle with focus gain needed confidence, both in the classroom and in other facets of their lives.
Creative Activities
Art classes give children the freedom to express themselves without limits or boundaries. Hand painting, charcoal drawing, watercolor, and other creative classes may appeal to children who struggle to follow linear directions.
Park and recreation departments can play a formative role in helping develop youth as dynamic leaders who can become community-oriented. In-person program options with online alternatives should be diversified because departments are still in a public health crisis—and safe engagement is the best engagement.
Kathryn Boutwell worked for a leading behavioral healthcare software company, where she helped behavioral and mental healthcare clinics and hospitals across the U.S. She helped clinicians and operations implement and streamline workflows to improve patient outcomes with technology. She is now a solutions manager for CivicRec.