I am a parent of two ADD children and was diagnosed with ADD as well. I was a runner as a child and am now currently a track coach at a local high school. Track and field raised my self esteem and I believe enabled me to be a better student. My elementary school had a track program, whereby we trained in the morning before school started. In addition, we were given breaks for recess throughout the day. I can't remember having serious focusing problems back then. My son, who is now 17, was in an elementary school that repeatedly took away his recess for not completing his work on time. It got so bad that I was requested to bring him into school 40 minutes before the official school day started to "help him get his work done on time". The teacher then reported his behavior as bouncing off the walls and constant chattering to himself. I later found out that she was denying him recess because he still couldn't  get his work done. This, from a kid who was capable of running 5k races since he was 5, winning his first at age 7, and who was timed at 5:49 in the mile as an 11 year old! When I finally refused to bring him early into school, and demanded that under no circumstances should his recess be taken away, his ability to complete his work in school suddenly improved! At the time these problems with my son were going on, I was in a masters degree program at Southern CT State University studying Exercise Physiology. It suddenly occured to me that there must be a correlation between exercise and the ability to focus on the task at hand.  Unfortunately, family circumstances did not allow me to continue my studies. I'm thrilled that Dr. Wendt  is studying this and  I'd like to suggest that he hook up with an Exercise Physiologist  and together develop further studies.  It would be wonderful if schools were legally denied the ability to deny recess and physical activity to these children. It only makes matters worse. My 8 year old also has ADD. As a track coach, I plan to get her into running as a way to burn off her excess energy and raise her self esteem. Good luck in your studies. Patti Moonan Connecticut

Are you a teacher or parent of a child who has been diagnosed with ADHD? Are you a runner who suspects that you were blessed with quite a bit of extra energy? If so, please let us know what you think give us a glimpse of how you would use this to help kids focus, learn, and just plain be able to comply with the rules of school.

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