According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 11% of children ages 4 to 17 have been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as of 2011, and rates of diagnosis have increased an average of 5% per year from 2003 to 2011. Many of these students have 504 Plan or Individualized Education Plan (IEP) to accommodate their diagnosis in the classroom.
Recent research indicates that ADHD students concentrate better when they are allowed to fidget at their desk. This can potentially become a distraction for the rest of the class, but Edutopia has used suggestions from teachers, parents, and students to compile a list of 17 ways students can be allowed to quietly fidget. These suggestions could be included in a child’s accommodations plan. The list includes:
- Squeeze Balls
- Silly Putty
- Velcro
- Doodling
- Chair Leg Bands
- Standing Desks
- Stability Balls/Yoga Balls
If you have a student with ADHD, be sure to check out the complete list and share it with your child’s teacher and intervention team to find a suitable way for them to fidget.
One Voice Illinois 