I’ve often suggested to families homeschooling a child with ADHD that they block in short exercise breaks prior to any 20-30 minute lesson requiring concentration. In addition, I’ve recommended teaching or enrolling him in physical education classes—swimming, skating, sports, etc.—where he is taught specific movements in order to develop greater skill. Some of the families I’ve worked with found martial arts classes with encouraging teachers where their child wasn’t discouraged by criticism or a competitive atmosphere. Within that environment, the child was able to work at his own pace and gain both self-confidence and physical skill. The February 2007 Prevention magazine includes an article that recommends such classes for kids with ADHD, stating that the “highly structured approach and repetitive patterns of movements actually help ease symptoms of the disorder.” It quotes Richard B. Coolman, MD, “‘In martial arts classes, they learn to focus, clear their minds of distractions, and take control of their body movements.’” With such benefits, it seems worth checking out.