Colman Noctor: Learning improves when children have opportunities to move more

For many children, particularly those with ADHD, the expectation to sit still and focus for extended periods is not just difficult, it conflicts with how their brains are wired

Thinking on their feet: A restless child needs to move, not to sit still. Children learn better when exercise is part of their day. Picture: iStock

A FAMILIAR classroom scene: Chairs scrape, pencils tap, and a child rocks slightly on the back legs of their seat. The teacher pauses mid-sentence to say, "Feet on the floor, please".

These moments are often seen as disruptions or signs of poor discipline, because children are meant to sit still and focus.