Exercises for a child with ADHD

Are you looking for exercises to help your child with ADHD concentrate better or calm down? The most useful ones are often simple, short and built into everyday life. They do not replace support, but they can complement it. Here are some ideas. Woven into everyday life, these little exercises can become genuinely enjoyable moments shared together.

Exercises, not re-education

These exercises do not treat ADHD. They help the child develop certain skills through play, in addition to the recommended support. They remain a complement, to be offered without pressure.

You will find more details in the article Treatment of ADHD in children.

Learning to stop

Freeze game, Simon says, and other games where one must stop on a signal: they train control of movement in a playful way. These games are easily played at home or in the park, alone or with several children.

Our article ADHD and impulsivity complements these tips.

Learning to wait

Turn-based board games, a timer before receiving something: these little exercises train patience. Short, repeated waits build patience without excessive frustration.

To explore further, see Board games and ADHD.

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Calming down

Breathing slowly while filling the belly, counting to five, clenching then releasing the fists: these techniques are learnt when calm so they can be used when angry. These techniques are more effective if they are practised regularly when calm.

The article ADHD and angry outbursts looks at this question in detail.

Getting organised

Packing their bag using a list, tidying a drawer, planning a recipe: these activities train planning skills. These concrete activities show them that they are capable of getting organised.

This point is explained step by step in ADHD and organisation.

Memory

Remembering a shopping list, repeating a multi-step instruction, memory games: they train working memory. These little challenges can become family games.

To go further, read our article ADHD and executive functions.

Enjoyment above all

Short exercises, in the form of games, that are often successful: this is the key to the child enjoying them. A child who succeeds wants to try again.

We cover this point in Games for children with ADHD.