ADHD and Jump Rope
Energy! One, of course, has energy, and the other requires energy to do. . . a perfect combination. There are other things that make the two a good match. Read to see what jump rope has to offer your ADHD child.
Use that energy!
Kids with ADHD have so much energy. Why not use some of that energy to jump rope? Many ADHD kids are champions at activities that require sustained energy. Since we all help our children search for things they do well, being a whiz at jumping rope may make your child stand out from her peers.
Develop focus and coordination! Concentration, focus, attention, whatever you want to call it, you need it to jump rope. If you are jumping you have to come in just at the right time and stay with the rhythm. If you are turning, not only do you have to keep the beat, you have to keep it with the other person turning.
Practice school skills! Everyone says something while they jump. What rote skills for school can your child practice? (Rote skills are the ones that you learn by memory from saying them over and over.) Here are some to try:
- The ABCs
- Counting
- Counting by 2s, 5s, or 10s
- The days of the week
- The months of the year
- Addition facts
- Multiplication facts
Have fun with chants! Remember all the great jump roping chants you knew as a kid? Share them with your own child. She will most likely be able to share some with you as well.
Develop social skills! Jumping rope with other children is another time to practice turn taking and being a good sport.
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