2. Music Lessons
Music lessons are particularly effective in helping kids to develop their concentration skills and their abilities to multitask. According to Study.com, instrumental and vocal lessons are especially beneficial for kids with ADHD. Whereas athletic activities stimulate different sides of the brain at different times, playing a musical instrument or singing engages the entire brain at the same time. If your child struggles with fine motor skills, learning a stringed instrument like the violin, viola, or cello could help him or her develop skills in this area. Singing helps students expand their lung capacity, learn to breathe from their diaphragm, and develop their abdominal muscles. Having private music lessons will help your child progress more quickly than he or she would through a school orchestra program, and private lessons also teach pupils to be respectful and listen. However, a large part of the joy of music comes from performing with other musicians, so participation in school or local youth orchestras, bands, and other ensembles is equally important for the development of social skills and learning how to be a team player. To help inspire your child with music, consider attending professional orchestra or band concerts together in your local area, and make a playlist of classical music that he or she can play while studying or relaxing. If you have multiple children who are taking music lessons, encourage them to learn duets or chamber music to perform together. Music is one of the more demanding extracurricular activities, and it can take lots of time to make progress. Therefore, it’s important to keep working and not let your child give up or quit too quickly. Sticking with it can provide valuable training about delayed gratification and the power of perseverance.
