Is Mindfulness suitable for children with ADHD and Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?

Research on the suitability and benefits of mindfulness for children with Attention Deficit Disorder, Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder or children on the Autistic Spectrum  is  relatively new and ongoing.  Below you can read up on the latest findings....

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CHILDREN WITH ADHD

Children with ADHD can have problems with Executive Functioning which are self-regulating skills that we all use to accomplish tasks, from getting dressed to doing homework. They include:

• Planning
• Organizing time and materials
• Making decisions
• Shifting from one situation to another
• Controlling emotions
• Learning from past mistakes

Clinical research shows that regular mindfulness practices increases executive functioning in adults and younger children. ​

Clinical trials and studies are now showing that mindfulness is suitable for children with ADHD and can help with symptoms as shown here..... Power of Mindfulness

How can mindfulness help when your child won't sit still?   Mindfulness does not involve intense levels of attention.  It doesn't matter whether they are sitting or standing or fidgeting. The key is for them to start small, and make the exercise habitual. It needn't take more than a few minutes at a time. To be effective, mindfulness should be viewed as a family ritual that contributes to everyone's well-being, not merely a chore to be carried out by its autistic members.

How can mindfulness help?  ADHD is not a willpower problem, it's a neurobiological setup.  Again with regular practice, mindfulness has been shown to change the neuroplasticity in the brain, allowing the child to form newer and better habits.  It also allows children to relax expectations and therefore decrease symptoms of anxiety. 


CHILDREN ON THE AUTISTIC SPECTRUM


Research demonstrates that parents who have children who are on the spectrum have way more stress, anxiety, depression, and mental-health issues than parents with children that aren’t on the spectrum.  The hyperlinks below will take you to the conclusion of recent research findings:

Research on mindfulness and ASD
Abstract report on mindfulness programme for children with ASD and their parents

We will be uploading suitable and appropriate mindfulness scripts and recordings soon.  Thank you for visiting!