ADHD Symptoms in Children

Written by Lisa Guthrie, Bethany Afshar
Medically Reviewed by Poonam Sachdev on March 18, 2025
9 min read

Signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children can be similar to those of regular behavior in young kids. You might notice they have trouble paying attention, are hyperactive, or do things you can't predict, without thinking first. It's also possible they might have all these behaviors or a mix of these.

ADHD symptoms in kids

ADHD symptoms usually show up when children are young — around school age. But you might notice them much earlier. Some kids have been diagnosed with ADHD as toddlers, by age 2 or 3.

You may notice your child squirming or fidgeting a lot. For ADHD in toddlers, you may notice them not focusing when you or their teacher is talking to them. While a lot of these signs are common in younger children, if you see them in your kid, it's a good idea to check with their doctor to see whether they might be ADHD symptoms.

Research shows that 3-year-olds with ADHD symptoms are likely to have it when they're 13. Research also shows that teenagers who have it often don't outgrow it by the time they're young adults.

Symptoms can vary from child to child. In general, the kinds of children's ADHD symptoms include:

Inattention

You might not notice inattention — once called attention-deficit disorder (ADD ) — until your child starts to go to school. They might put things off, not finish homework or chores, or go from one half-done task to another.

They might also:

  • Be disorganized
  • Lack focus
  • Have a hard time paying attention to details
  • Make a lot of careless mistakes
  • Do messy work
  • Have trouble staying on topic while talking
  • Not listen to others
  • Ignore social rules
  • Forget about everyday activities (for example, missing classes or lessons or forgetting to bring lunch)
  • Get easily distracted by little noises or things other people ignore
  • Have a hard time getting along with others because they can't read people's feelings and moods
  • Daydream a lot
  • Be too wrapped up in their own thoughts to hear you

Hyperactivity

You might be able to notice hyperactivity in preschoolers. Sometimes, as kids get older, symptoms can get better.

Kids with hyperactivity may:

  • Fidget and squirm when seated
  • Get up often to walk or run around
  • Run or climb a lot at the wrong time (In teens, this may seem like restlessness.)
  • Have trouble playing quietly or doing quiet hobbies
  • Be always "on the go"
  • Talk too much

Toddlers and preschoolers with ADHD may seem to be constantly in motion — jumping on furniture and having trouble taking part in group activities that call for them to sit still. For instance, they may have a hard time listening to a story. School-age children can have similar habits, but you may notice them less often.

Hyperactivity in teens may make them appear restless or uneasy. They may also have a hard time doing quiet activities.

Impulsivity

You may notice your child is impatient and finds it hard to wait to talk or do something. While this can be normal for kids, in children with ADHD, things like this happen a lot — at home, school, or when they're with friends.

They also might:

  • Blurt out answers before someone finishes asking a question
  • Have a hard time waiting their turn
  • Interrupt others a lot (This can happen so much that it can cause problems with other kids. Friends might get mad at them or get their feelings hurt because they may act without thinking.)
  • Start conversations when it's not the right moment

Impulsivity can lead to accidents, such as knocking things over or bumping into people. Kids may also do risky things without stopping to think about what might happen. For instance, they may climb and put themselves in danger. Acting first without thinking may also mess with the child's ability to behave like other children who are the same age or developmental level.

[Self-Test] Does My Child Have Symptoms of ADHD?

Combined ADHD

This type of ADHD usually happens when your child shows symptoms of inattention, along with hyperactivity and impulsivity. In fact, it is the most common type because children often have different symptoms from the three groups.

Neurotypical means that a child doesn't have any brain differences that might lead to ADHD (or other neurological disorders).

In the brain of someone with ADHD, the size and functions of certain parts of the brain might be different from those of a neurotypical brain. And the chemical signals that the brain sends might also be different.

Because of these differences, children with ADHD might find it harder to manage their emotions, focus, plan, and stay organized. The part of the brain that puts you in "daydream" mode — and not focused — is active more often in a child with ADHD. That means your kid may have trouble doing repeated tasks.

It's hard to know whether the things you notice, which could be signs of ADHD, are really something else. That's especially true for very young kids. But if you notice that problems with paying attention, hyperactivity, or acting without thinking are starting to interfere with your child's daily life, it's good to talk with their regular doctor.

The doctor might see these ADHD symptoms as possible language delays, a learning disability, or a health issue. The doctor may suggest you to take your child to a specialist, such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, speech therapist, or other professional to see if something else is causing this behavior.

There's no single test for ADHD.

The doctor will want to know what your child's symptoms are and when they started. They may want to do some tests to rule out other health problems. They might also want to send your child to a children's mental health specialist, such as a child psychologist or psychiatrist, for a more detailed checkup. These doctors may ask to speak to other adults in your child's life, such as coaches or teachers. If your child meets the standards for ADHD, only then they will be diagnosed.

Doctors check for behaviors that:

  • Are not usual for your child's age
  • Make it hard for them to function at home or in social environments like school

They also have to consistently show at least six of the symptoms (from the lists above):

  • For at least six months
  • And in at least two settings, such as at home, school, or public places

Can a teacher diagnose ADHD in children?

Has your child's teacher told you that they think your child has ADHD?

Teachers are often the first ones to recognize or suspect ADHD in children. That's because ADHD symptoms typically affect school performance or disrupt the rest of the class. Also, teachers are with children for most of the day and months out of the year.

Since teachers work with many different children, they also come to know how students typically behave in classroom situations that require concentration and self-control. So when they notice something outside the norm, they may speak with the school psychologist or the parents about their concerns.

But teachers can't diagnose ADHD. They can tell you what they've noticed, but after that, you would need to get a professional to examine your child to see if they have ADHD or if something else is going on.

There is no one test for ADHD. Instead, the ADHD diagnosis is based on observations of a child's behavior in multiple settings. The teacher, sometimes past teachers, will play a key role in the process. The professional who makes the diagnosis is usually a specially trained doctor (a psychiatrist or pediatrician), psychologist, counselor, or social worker. They will ask you and your child's teachers to rate their observations of your child's behavior on rating scales.

If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, you'll need to work closely with your child's school.

The school nurse may play a role in dispensing ADHD medications and monitoring for side effects. Your child's teacher will be important in carrying out the behavioral part of a treatment plan and in communicating about the effectiveness of medications.

As a parent, you'll need to keep open the lines of communication with the teacher to ensure a consistent system of incentives and discipline between school and home.

For example, a younger child's teacher may make a checklist and reward the child with a star or smiley face each time they complete a certain number of items on the list.

You may have a similar system at home or provide a bigger reward — such as a special dinner, a family movie night, or an extra hour of TV or computer time — when your child gets a certain number of stars or smiley faces.

Overall, hyperactivity can become less serious once your child gets older. But inattention can last into adulthood.

Treatment can help, and many children with ADHD do improve at some point. About 20%-30% have learning problems that ADHD treatment may not help, though.

As they grow older, some teens who've had the disorder since childhood may have periods of anxiety or depression. When there are more demands at school or home, ADHD symptoms may get worse.

A child with hyperactive behavior may get symptoms of other disruptive disorders, such as oppositional defiant disorder.

These children are more at risk of dropping out of school. If you're concerned, talk to your child's doctor about your treatment options. Medications, behavioral therapy, and other treatments can help.

ADHD support groups for parents

Your child's teacher can be a good supporter and resource, but you may want more help dealing with the challenges and emotions of parenting a child with ADHD, or with concerns about medications or other issues.

Read and learn as much as you can about ADHD and its treatment. Other resources include your child's doctor or other professional who diagnosed ADHD, and other parents of children with ADHD.

A national nonprofit organization called Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) also has resources, including support groups for families. The organization's website lists support groups in your area and gives information on how to start a group.

ADHD symptoms can affect each child differently, depending on several things not limited to but including age, gender, and type of ADHD. Symptoms of ADHD — not paying attention, being in constant motion, and doing things before thinking — are easy to confuse with how young children often behave. If you think your kid may be showing childhood ADHD symptoms, it's important to speak with their doctor or mental health specialist right away. Some kids will outgrow their ADHD, but for others, their ADHD symptoms can last into young adulthood and even beyond.

When do the first signs of ADHD show up?

ADHD can come on as early as 2 or 3 years of age. But more commonly, you may notice the symptoms when your child is of school age. Hyperactivity is often the first sign in kids with ADHD. But it's not uncommon to see inattention or impulsivity first, especially if your child has the combined ADHD type.

Can people with ADHD have a happy, healthy life?

Long-term treatment with behavioral therapy and medications can help kids with ADHD have a good quality of life. If left untreated, ADHD can cause problems later, including bad grades and not getting along with others. ADHD can reach into adulthood and cause problems with keeping a job or even run-ins with authorities.

What are some of the challenges with ADHD in children? 

Sometimes, learning disorders and mental health issues may appear with ADHD. But the main symptoms of the condition — acting without thinking and not paying attention — could cause behavior that puts your child's health at risk. Some of the biggest concerns are getting hurt because they don't think about the results of their actions or having problems because they forget healthy habits. Kids with ADHD are also at risk of being overweight or having obesity.

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