Understand more about ADHD in children and young people, and find out how we can help.
ADHD can affect how a child or young person pays attention, manages energy, and handles impulses. It can also shape how they organise themselves, manage emotions, and cope with everyday demands at school and at home.
Many children with ADHD are curious, creative, and quick thinkers. They may have lots of ideas and strong interests. At the same time, daily life can feel harder to manage, especially in environments that require sustained focus, planning, timekeeping, and sitting still for long periods.
ADHD looks different from one young person to another. It can change with age and can also overlap with anxiety, low mood, sleep difficulties, or other needs. Some children appear mainly inattentive and daydreamy. Others are more active and impulsive. Many show a mix of both.
You might recognise some of these experiences in your child:
finding it hard to follow instructions or stay focused, especially on tasks they find less interesting
struggling to start homework or chores, even when they want to do well
needing lots of reminders to keep going or finish tasks
losing track of time, running late, or misjudging how long things will take
forgetting things, misplacing items, or missing small but important details
acting quickly without thinking, interrupting, or finding waiting and turn taking difficult
feeling emotions very quickly and strongly, then feeling drained or upset afterwards
Some families notice these patterns early. Others recognise them more clearly when school demands increase, routines change, or a child begins to struggle with confidence, friendships, or emotional regulation.
Realising ADHD might be part of the picture can feel like a turning point. It can help you understand your child’s behaviour in a new way and focus on support that fits.