From time to time, it is normal for children to be overactive or have a hard time paying attention. This is especially true for young children. Parents should expect to see their children exhibit these behaviors at some point during normal child development. However, when symptoms of overactivity and inattentiveness begin to appear on a regular basis, occur in more than one setting, and interfere with a child’s schoolwork and interactions with family, friends, and teachers, then it is possible they may have a mental health issue.

Signs and Symptoms of Overactivity and Inattentiveness

Signs and Symptoms of Overactivity

Your child may be overactive if they:

• Fidget or squirm in their seat and cannot sit still
• Cannot stay seated for long periods of time
• Run around, jump, or climb on things in situations where it is not appropriate
• Have difficulty playing quietly
• Are in constant motion or acts like they are being “driven by a motor”
• Talk too much
• Blurt out answers before questions have been completed
• Have difficulty waiting for their turn
• Interrupt others during conversations or games

Signs and Symptoms of Inattentiveness

Your child may be inattentive if they:

• Have a hard time paying attention or daydream a lot
• Do not seem to be listening when you or others are talking
• Are easily distracted from schoolwork or play
• Make careless mistakes and do not appear to care about details
• Do not follow through with instructions and have a hard time finishing tasks
• Are disorganized with activities and tasks at home or school
• Lose important things easily
• Are forgetful
• Do not want to engage in activities that require long periods of thinking

Possible Mental Health Diagnoses

Possible mental health diagnoses within this symptom cluster include:

• Anxiety disorders
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Bipolar disorder
• Depression
• Learning disorders