Skateboard against ADHD: How the sport makes children strong!

The positive effect of skateboarding on children with ADHD is the focus of a project initiated by Titus Dittmann. Dittmann, affected by ADHD, believes in the advantages of skating for children with attention deficits. The aim of the “Skaten instead of Ritalin” project is to promote the joy of sporting activity, to increase frustration tolerance and strengthen the self-esteem of children during a four-month skateboard workshop. The project is scientifically accompanied by the University of Münster, which has carried out a study that examined the effects of the workshop on motor skills, cognition and the symptoms in children with ADHD. The results show that children without a previous experience quickly find joy in skateboarding. Additional talks with participants and their parents confirm that the combination of a sporting challenge and the relaxed character of the skateboarding is ideal for children with ADHD.

event in Nordhorn with Titus Dittmann

On January 10, 2025, Titus Dittmann in Nordhorn will report on the project and read from his book "Brett for the World". After the lecture, an indoor skate takes place in the old weaving mill, where the reigning European champion in the Poetry Slam, Theresa Sperling, also appears. The event is aimed at children, adolescents, parents as well as teachers and pedagogical specialists and is intended to draw attention to the advantages of skateboarding for children with ADHD. The event was organized by Hermine Lichtenborg and Maike Abend by the AD (H) S conversation group Emlichheim and is supported by the self-help contact point of the district of Grafschaft Bentheim. Entry is 2 euros per person, while children and adolescents up to 17 years have free access. Tickets are online at www.alteweberei.de as well as at the box office.

history of the project "Skaten instead of Ritalin"

The concept "Skaten instead of Ritalin" was already in 2012 by Dr. Thomas Dirksen and Alexander Krick launched and has since reached many children and young people with behavioral problems. In 2018 the program was reorganized, and since then there have been regular workshops that take place under scientific supervision. A research team led by Prof. Dr. Heiko Wagner from the Westphalian Wilhelms-Universität Münster examines the effects of skateboard workshops on the motor skills and cognitive performance of the children.

The investigation shows significant improvements in the attention and concentration of children with ADHD after a four-month skate program. The majority of the children receive complete protective equipment including skateboard, helmet and schoner set for the duration of the course. The program has established itself as an effective alternative form of therapy and continuously attracts new participants, which confirms the high demand for places.

The skateboarding has proven to be advantageous for the development of children with ADHD, whereby intrinsic motivation and freedom from the pressure to perform decisively contribute to discipline and perseverance.