The Real Reason Why Kids Fidget

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The Real Reason Why Kids Fidget

Posted: 08/05/2014 9:07 am EDT Updated: 10/05/2014 5:59 am EDT

A perfect stranger pours her heart out to me over the phone. She complains that her 6-year-old son is unable to sit still in the classroom. The school wants to test him for ADHD. This sounds familiar, I think to myself. As a pediatric occupational therapist, I’ve noticed that this is a fairly common problem today.

The mother goes on to explain how her son comes home every day with a yellow smiley face. The other kids in his class go home with green smiley faces for good behavior. Every day this child is reminded that his behavior is unacceptable, simply because he can’t sit still for long periods of time.

The mother starts crying. “He is starting to say things like, ‘I hate myself’ and ‘I’m no good at anything.'” This young boy’s self-esteem is plummeting, all because he needs to move more often.


The problem: kids are constantly in an upright position these days. It is rare to find children rolling down hills, climbing trees and spinning in circles just for fun. Merry-go-rounds and teeter-totters are things of the past. Recess times have shortened due to increasing educational demands, and children rarely play outdoors due to parental fears, liability issues and the hectic schedules of modern-day society. Let’s face it: Children are not moving nearly enough, and it is really starting to become a problem.









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