How did you know that swimming would be a good thing for Michael?
Dear Debbie Phelps,
Did Michael had low gross motor skills or any other physical shortcomings when he was a child? How did swimming come about, and when did you know that he was excelling in it enough to focus on it? I have an 8 year old that has always had low gross motor skills and has ADHD, but part of the problem is that he is going to be extremely tall (he's estimated to grow to 6'7" or taller) and is constantly growing into his ever-changing body. He loves, loves, loves water and I've started him on swimming lessons after learning of Michael's ADHD, and now he wants to be in the Olympics, like Michael. I'm wondering when you knew he had a special talent and was it Michael's or your idea to focus on it?
Lisa Frankovich
Dear Lisa,
I'm not Debbie Phelps, but I have 2 boys with ADHD who swim and I coached swimming for 8 years. My older boy has ADHD/primarily inattentive type, and while he is an A student in a gifted class at school, he is not very coordinated as is typical with this subtype of ADHD. He did best learning the 4 strokes in private lessons for 1.5 years before jumping into a team environment. (I tried putting him on a team after 8 months of lessons and he hated it, so we went back to lessons which he liked). A year later he tried a different team (that emphasizes technique for beginners vs. yardage) and he now loves it. He is gaining confidence and is improving at his own rate, which isn't as fast as other children his age, but you just can't compare. His coach said, "He'll get fast eventually, it will just take him longer." I'm just thrilled that he likes it and is having fun.
My younger boy has ADHD and is mostly hyperactive and impulsive, so school is tough for him but he does very well in swimming. He's 5 1/2 and has been in private lessons for 1 year now. He just won his first mini-triathlon and is born to race. I hope to put him on a team at age 7, if he can focus well enough in a large group environment. You can find out more about the different subtypes and how gross and fine motor skills are effected here:
Having said all this, I believe that ADHD kids can accomplish just about anything. Your son already has several gifts: a long lean body, a desire to swim, and a mother who believes in him. Just find good coaches for him and see what happens! And maybe Debbie Phelps will have a chance to answer your question soon. She and her son is such an inspiration to us all!
Have fun!
TAP
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