The word “distracted” is a bit of a catch-all term that, in my opinion, doesn’t really work.
There are many things that can cause distraction in a child. For instance, I find that sometimes when a kid is labeled as “distracted,” they are not distracted at all.
In fact, they are actually extremely aware.
They will notice the person walking by the window. They will notice something out of place over in the corner of the dojang. They will notice subtle differences between instructors’ teaching styles. And these aren’t bad things. The student just happens to be hyper-aware of everything in their surroundings. That can come in handy.
Tae Kwon-Do can be a long-term solution to distraction in children, whether it’s from ADD, ADHD, hyper-awareness, or otherwise. A disciplined environment without distraction, where everyone is on task, can go a long way to help a child focus.
It’s a double whammy. The student is focusing on the instructor, but they’re also focusing on their body and what they’re trying to learn. And of course, sometimes they are focused on the student next to them trying to get something right.
Regardless, their mind is occupied.
So whether they’re looking at the instructor, their neighbor, or themselves, their mind is completely occupied and they’re not as likely to be distracted.
Through the practice of patterns, through the practice of setting a goal and achieving it, through what I like to call “the process,” they’re not distracted anymore.
They’re focused.
Even though this child was hyper-aware, now they are able to focus on what they need to, and still be aware of the things around them. They handle their distraction. It doesn’t go away.
This is a great way to overcome challenges like ADD or ADHD: you must learn how to take control of your focus.
Tae Kwon-Do can teach you how.
Master Gorino’s Tae Kwon-Do offers a trial program for individuals and families in Buffalo, NY and the surrounding areas that allows you to get a feel for the different classes, meet our instructors, and experience our dojang. It’s a great way to see if Tae Kwon-Do is right for you. To learn more or to sign up, visit the Contact Us page or call(716) 836-KICK (5425) and a member of our team will follow up with you on next steps. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals. Pil-Sung!
