Everything you need to know about ADHD characteristics and movement restlessness!
in this article I am going to talk about ADHD and exercise. It also discusses why people with ADHD exercise so much, but also aids that can support the urge to move, ADHD characteristics per age phase, interesting books about ADHD and the phenomenon of hyperfocus.
Concentration problems and exercise in kids with ADHD
You probably know them! The children who can’t sit still or see everything except the one who talks to them… !
ADHD manifests itself differently in everyone, and the ADHD characteristics sometimes occur together with autism. [Read more about ADHD and autism here]. A child diagnosed with ADHD needs to lose his energy. Moving is necessary to concentrate and not always disturb or interrupt others or, for example, wobble on a chair all the time or talk at the same time are just a few examples.
Why wobble and fidge?
Moving releases substances in your brain that, as I described. This helps to concentrate better or to control emotions better. These substances help to control the urge to move, alertness and impulsive behaviour.
Medication for ADHD
If you have ADHD, medication is sometimes prescribed. The best known medication is Ritalin (also called Relatine). But medication does not solve the diagnosis of ADHD! The medication helps to cope better with certain situations
If you are considering medication, have it carefully supervised by a psychiatrist. There are also many different therapies. That can also be interesting. Above all, choose something that makes you feel safe and comfortable.
Often there can also be a working memory problem and cogmedcan offer a solution.
Concentration problems and movement in adults
In adults, the characteristics that I will write in this article also occur. However, these may be expressed differently or be less noticeable because some adults with ADHD can hide their difficulties.
For adults with ADHD, it often helps to exercise often or stand at a table instead of sitting all the time while working. Adults need more variety to refocus properly and give their brain the boost it needs. It is recommended to regularly take short breaks while working (at least for me) than 1 hour break in a row.
What helps children, young people and adults alike is, for example, the use of fidget toys (see further in this article).
It can certainly happen that in many adults who were very mobile as a child, the hyperactivity gets a different expression as an adult (for example, wobbling on the chair as a child, and talking through and on as an adult without stopping, or more inconspicuous restlessness inside your body. Or clumsiness, changing things as an expression of busy behavior. Sleeping poorly at night, lying down a lot of turning and turning in your sleep can also be related to ADHD (in adults). The mobility decreases a bit as you become an adult.
ADHD aids
Below I discuss some tools that can be helpful with ADHD. You can try out for yourself what works best for you and possibly ask a counselor or therapist for advice on what best suits what you specifically need. (for example, recommended with a weighted blanket because this sometimes has to be adjusted per person). Of course you can also get very good advice from Suzanne Van Der Star here on the webshop.
There is a very wide range of aids in the Educadora webshop for both children and adults with ADHD, autism, high sensitivity and so on.
Aids for the urge to move
Working at a standing table or desk (standing upright)
Fidget toys (many different products, the most famous is a tangle)
Chew chain or teething toy or pencil cap for chewing (e.g. during homework)
And bouncy band or dynaband (an elastic band that you can stretch around a school desk or chair, legs and thus fidget, push, pull and wiggle your feet and legs without disturbing others).
Think n’ roll feet in front of your chair and roll with your feet from front to back or vice versa. From the brand Stimove (I myself find this very helpful when I have a meeting as an adult or have to concentrate on something for a long time or sit still).
Deep pressure (has a relaxing effect and gives you better concentration or you wiggle your legs less by, for example, putting a weighted pillow on your legs or a deep pressure roller.
ADHD manifests itself differently in childhood and adulthood.
The characteristics of ADHD can change and decrease as you grow up, but ADHD will never be able to be “solved”.
ADHD Characteristics (in Children)
inattentive, concentration problem;
being very busy (hyperactive);
impulsivity (not thinking, but doing).
ADHD behavior often causes problems in the family, at school or in contact with friends.
Symptoms of inattention or poor concentration
not paying enough attention to something and therefore making mistakes (for example in schoolwork)
difficulty keeping attention
Not being able to listen well
not doing what others ask of the child
difficulty completing tasks
regularly lose things
Being easily distracted
often forgetting something (an appointment, an assignment)
Symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity
wobbling, moving hands / feet a lot, turning on the chair
not being able to stay seated
running around, climbing on everything
not taking a rest, being constantly busy (trotting on)
in older children: restlessness, difficulty in relaxing
Difficulty playing quietly
Talking a lot
Struggling to wait for the turn
ADHD Characteristics in Adults
Being easily distracted
forgetfulness
making careless mistakes
a continuous feeling of inner turmoil
impulsivity
irritability or angry outbursts
lack of structure and overview
ADHD characteristics (both in kids and adults)
Characteristics of attention problems
Having difficulty listening
Finding it difficult to complete tasks
Having difficulty following instructions
Difficulty planning and organizing
Difficulty with overview of main and side issues
Postponing tasks
Chaotic
Not being able to hold the attention unless it interests him or her
Characteristics of impulsivity
Do first, think later
Difficulty waiting (for the turn)
Blurting something out (talking before you think).
Making the wrong decisions too quickly or too quickly
Characteristics of hyperactivity
Always having to be busy
Difficulty sitting still, fidgeting a lot
Inner turmoil
Difficulty relaxing
How to offer exercise in the classroom?
You can offer exercise in the classroom by, for example, taking a table where you can stand instead of sitting on a chair. Or a wobble pillow or let a child run outside for 5 minutes. A bouncy or dynaband around the chair legs helps to ventilate the movement restlessness.
These aids do not make any noise and therefore do not disturb the other students. Have the student with ADHD perform tasks that require him or her to walk… For example, handing out books in class or bringing something to another teacher. You will probably see that it will help many students with ADHD to possibly apply these tips so that their brain can take a break from exercise!
Books about ADHD
Some book tips for educators, therapists
Wiggle fidget at home. The book is about children and the influence of sensory processing with growing up at home. Contains very useful tips! Is a favorite book!
Wiggling and fidgeting in the classroom. About the influence of sensory stimulus processing on learning / in the classroom and lots of useful tips! One of my favorite books, also by Monique Thoonsen and Carmen Lamp.
In Opvoedwijzer ADD and ADHD , Hallowell and Jensen show how parents and teachers can do this in daily practice at home and at school. Using moving examples and substantiated by recent scientific research, it becomes clear how unconditional love and trust can provide children with a solid foundation. And how children can develop stronger self- and social awareness with the help of the cycle of excellence in 5 steps.
Forgotten, lost and distracted. The parenting guide to strengthen executive functions in children. Interesting for therapists and teachers. (author: Joyce Cooper-Kahn)
Books for young people and adults with ADHD
Hyper sapiens. A practical guide for people with ADHD, written by Sandra Kooij & Suzan Otten-Pablos.
ADHD: how do you get it out of your head? A book about adults with ADHD and a bit of a kind of reading and workbook poured together into 1 book to be able to accept yourself and your ADHD and get to know yourself and your ADHD better and deal better in certain situations. Author: Cathelijne Wildervanck.
ADHD help guide. The most up-to-date and complete guide to a successful life with ADHD, by Edward Hallowell and John Ratey.
Guide for Women with ADHD: Overcome the Chaos, Focus Your Attention, and Get More Done (Author: Terry Matlen)
AD(H)D what do you do with that? This book is a self-empowerment guide for young people (author: Corine Lancel)
Chaos in your head : if you have ADHD or ADD (author: Anneke Eenhoorn)
ADHD in adults: living with stubborn brains (authors: Gil Borms, Steven Stes and Ria Van Den Heuvel)
The AD(H)D survival guide ( author: John F. Taylor)
Tidy living with ADHD : practical organizing tips and strategies (author: Judith Kolberg)
ADHD books for children
As fast as a … Ferry is as fast as a Ferrari, because he has ADHD! (author: Tirsa Ehrlich)
Do you know what ADHD is? This activity book is specially written for children who have a classmate, brother, sister, boyfriend or girlfriend with ADHD. In accessible language and through varied exercises and recognizable examples, they learn what ADHD is and what it is like to have ADHD. (author: M.J. Baard)
They think I’m busy. Bram has adhd, he is busy, but he is not the only one. Maartje and Jeroen are also busy, but they don’t have adhd. They find me busy is a therapeutic story for children of primary school age. (author: M.F. Delfos)
Thijs learns to clear his head. Dreamy children suffer from a full head. They get a full head, because they take in everything they see and hear (and sometimes also feel and smell). They find it difficult to concentrate on what is important. For these children, neurofeedback can be helpful. (authors: S. van der Star, K. Liem)
Andre’s ADHD.Andre’s ADHD describes what it is like to have ADHD and what the effect is on your environment. Treatment is also discussed with medication, parenting support and behavioral therapy. (author: Christine Kliphuis)
Hyperfocus
Many people think of ADHD characteristics as children running around … but there are also adults with ADHD who do not or hardly stand out because adults have usually learned to camouflage their hyperactivity by fidgeting with things and can thus also improve their concentration without disturbing others.
Usually others also think that people with ADHD have little or no attention and are easily distracted, and I have to admit that is true … But there are times when there is a hyperfocus. Hyper focus means that as a person with ADHD you can concentrate so well that you keep going (for example in your work or hobbies or whatever…). Then they have so much concentration and attention until they come “out” of that state are just exhausted!
They are then super strong and work well during a hyperfocus! People with ADHD often forget to drink or eat or hear and do not see others because they are so busy and long! You often see this in cases where their passion lies.
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