Swimming and ADD/ADHD Part two of four

Of the 12 symptom areas of ADD/ADHD, swimming aids in:
Focal Maintenance – The inability to concentrate long enough, or even too long, is dictated by the amount of time spent in the water.  With very few choices or distractions, concentration tends to last as long as the task at hand.
Arousal – alertness: have you ever splashed water on your face to wake up?  Often, the hyperactivity of a child is an effort to keep the brain “awake.”  Think of when you are driving and need to stay alert.  You may roll down the window, turn up the radio, sing along, bounce in your seat a little.  In effect, you become temporarily hyperactive.  This is how a hyperactive child lives each day.  In water, there is no need.  In fact, hydrostatic pressure and resistance in water slows the world down, and can be quite calming and soothing to someone who always has to be wound up to stay awake.  There are also very few injuries in water that a “klutzy” kid would stumble into daily on land.
Mental activation – Underwater is a perfect forum for daydreaming and free association, which is what ADD children get in trouble for.  Underwater, there are no complaints of the mind wandering off, leaving plenty of time for dreams and aspirations without reproach.  Muscle memory takes care of the swim and flip turns, so that the heart can condition the athlete.
Processing Depth and Detail – With kinesthetic practice, more and more physical detail is required, starting with the “big picture” and then fine tuning the details.  Usually, in life skills, there is too much clutter around the details.  In swimming, it can start with 1 detail at a time, until muscle memory gets it and adds it to the “big picture.”
To be continued in the next issue of The Magazine of Santa Clarita.
For more information on swimming and water safety, contact Academy Swim Club at 661-702-8585 or go to www.Swim4Life.com.