A new study has found that children who have ADHD can benefit from learning magic tricks, and it can boost everyone’s self-esteem. The idea of magic and magic tricks is something that a lot of children can relate to. Whether it be just a hobby, or something they watch on TV, it can captivate them and make them want to learn more about them. Some children also love to learn how to do some magic tricks of their own, to marvel and amaze their family members and friends. While this may be taken for granted by parents, there are some great reasons to encourage this hobby.
According to Medical Xpress, a study was done that shows that learning how to do magic tricks can help boost the confidence of children who have ADHD. There are children all across the country who struggle with ADHD, and studies will always be there to point parents in the right direction with resources and support.
The study was done by the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and it can be read in full here. This study looked at a virtual magic summer camp program and observed how it enhanced the self-esteem of children and adolescents with ADHD. It is common that children with ADHD can have low self-esteem, so it is important to find ways to help them.
Learning magic tricks was found to promote motivation and improve the psychological, perceptual and social functions in children. The study looked at 6 children between the ages of 8 and 14 years old who participated in a virtual magic camp that was specifically designed for children with disabilities. They met three days a week and the classes where 1 hour long and it lasted for four weeks. The children completed assessments before and after the camp, and their parents were included in these as well.
What they found was that self-esteem scores when the camp had completed were much higher than they were before the camp had started. The children themselves reported higher feelings of self-esteem, and the parents said that the camp had a positive impact on their child’s mental health and wellbeing
Low self-esteem in ADHD children can have a wide range of negative effects on a child’s development and life, so this may be a strategy that parents can use if their child is suffering. It can also point to more programs like this being made available for families to take advantage of.
Sources: Medical Xpress, Health Psychology Research