Spotting the telltale signs: ADHD symptoms in kids

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(Grab a biscuit and settle in – this won’t take longer than your cuppa stays hot.)

Wait, what exactly counts as a “symptom”?

Kids are naturally wiggly, dreamy and occasionally blurt things out. With ADHD, though, those behaviours are persistent (six months or more), pop up in more than one setting (home and school, for instance) and actually get in the way of learning, friendships or family life. nhs.uk

The Big 3 Symptom Clusters

Symptom	What it can look like in real life
Inattention	Homework left half-done or forgotten altogether “I’m listening!” (…but they aren’t) Loses everything – book-bags, hoodies, hamster… you name it
Hyperactivity	Feet tap like a rock drummer in maths Can’t stay seated – desk, dinner table, cinema seat, you pick Volume stuck on “LOUD”
Impulsivity	Shouts answers before the question mark lands Grabs, interrupts, can’t wait their turn Acts first, thinks… later (sometimes much later)

Girls often fly under the radar. They’re more likely to show the day-dreamy, chatty-in-class version than the desk-chair gymnast routine, which means diagnosis can come late. HealthyChildren.org

​“Normal kid stuff” vs ADHD: the quick litmus test

1. Frequency: happens most days – not just after a late night or a Haribo binge.

2. Everywhere: school, home, Grandma’s house – the behaviours travel.

3. Impact: falling grades, friendship squabbles, bruised self-esteem.

   
   

Tick all three? Time to chat with the class teacher or your GP/SENCo about an assessment. Early support beats years of “just try harder.” CDC

​Strengths that tag along 🌟 (the positives)

Kids with ADHD can be inventive problem-solvers, imaginative storytellers and carry bundles of contagious enthusiasm. The goal isn’t to squash those sparks – it’s to build scaffolding (routines, movement breaks, visual reminders) so they can shine without burning out.

Take-away tips for parents & c​arers

• Routine is rocket fuel: same-ish wake-up, meal and bedtime whenever life allows.

• Chunk the chores: “Tidy your room” becomes “Pick up Lego ➜ put clothes in basket ➜ make bed.”

• Movement breaks: mini dance-offs between homework pages. ​

• Praise the process, not just the result: “Loved how you stuck with that puzzle!”

  
  

  (And remember: you can’t pour from an empty mug – look after you too.)

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​Book an assessment or discuss treatment.