My DD never stops…ADHD or just being 6?!

[BarbaraVineFan]

My DD, 6 and a half, is an absolute bundle of energy. When she’s not running or jumping she is dancing. She struggles to sit still and is always talking or singing. We are away at the moment with my dad and if she isn’t saying ‘ mummy
look at this’, ‘ mummy watch me’ she is saying it to her grandad. I think I am noticing it more because my dad is in his eighties and although he is really fit, I can see that he is finding it exhausting. Do you think this is normal for a 6 year old or should I be looking into an ADHD diagnosis? She is doing very well at school, is reading well above her age level and her teachers haven’t mentioned anything but I am a bit worried.

Well yes, of course. My point was that a love of reading isn't a symptom, not that people with ADHD don't read. It is just really sad that a parent would take something lovely and positive and (in the complete absence of any distressing symptoms) seek to problematise it.

I am exactly the same. No idea whether I have ADHD or not, and regard my huge failure to concentrate with assigned/necessary reading, coupled with a large ability to become absorbed in a book I enjoy, as just part of who I am, whether that is 'neurotypical' or 'neurodiverse'.

I disagree hugely. I am an adult with ADHD and ASD (diagnosed as an adult). As a child I was an avid reader. In fact I used to spend hours reading The Reader's Digest 'You and Your Rights'.
Girls don't present like boys do.

But I didn't say that people with ADHD can't be avid readers. I'm sure lots are, just as lots of neurotypical people are. I said it wasn't a reason to leap to the idea of ADHD, because it is normal. And regarding the boy/girl presentation, the OP was also citing her daughter's energy and restlessness as a possible symptom, so it seemed like which ever presentatio her daughter adopted, she was looking at it as a source of concern. The girl may or may not have adhd., how can we know, but my point was that there was no reason to frame the behaviours she was citing in terms of ADHD, because they are behaviours typical of loads of kids, both with and without ADHD or ASD

It is perfectly reasonable for the OP to
mention it as a possible example of hyper focus. She is correct. I do not see that as either positive or negative. She has not given much detail on anything but she has mentioned a few problems that are all typical of ADHD eg difficulty following instructions and sitting still. The trouble is at the age of her DD, it is always easy to dismiss these concerns as “just an energetic child” especially in girls, and there is of course a possibility that is the case. ADHD is usually more obvious in boys. I think parents usually know though because they know their children’s There is nothing wrong with the OP looking to find out more.

I remember being asked to look up some proverbs for one of my first secondary school homeworks. The teacher looked baffled when everyone else brought in two or three proverbs on a piece of paper and I brought in an A5 exercise book with about 20 pages of proverbs. I didn't know that it was not what was required. I just kept going until I'd found all the proverbs I could find.

ETA: I guess we were both lucky that it was pre-internet!

I think you notice this kind of energy more with an only child, there's a contrast between 6yo energy and grandad energy. Can you find her some playmates to burn it off with?

Currently the only "problem" is older people not being able to keep up and maybe that you feel you have to take it all very seriously. If she says look at me, you are always looking, a gang of kids will have multiple all saying look and ignoring each other while doing things themselves. It's more chaotic and that's ok. Otherwise, only start pathologising her if there's a problem. Either way you should get her into sports.

Enjoy your holiday, do more silly stuff yourself like daft dives into the pool, less psycho analysing and she won't stand out so much.

I'd say it's something to keep am eye on but at the moment it's not possible to tell if you have an energetic child or possible ADHD.

ADHD is so much more than hyperactivity, and not everyone has the hyperactive type. My DD has ADHD and in my opinion the hyperactivity doesn't even make it on to the list of difficulties it causes her because so many other problems start to show particularly as they get older.

• time blindness - literally not really being able to differentiate between 5 minutes and 2 hours.
• Anxiety from a growing awareness of being different and getting things wrong
• Difficulties maintaining friendships (absolutely heart breaking on repeat).
• Not being able to follow anything other than very simple 1 or 2 step instructions.
• Extreme reactions to unexpected changes or things not going as hoped. ie paralysed with fear.
• Impulsively that can be dangerous at times such as grabbing a very hot cake straight off a baking tray, jumping off the top of a climbing frame etc and rarely learning from mistakes.

It goes on and on in lots of ways that the media and the everyone has ADHD brigade won't have a clue about.

As a previous poster said obsession with water. Oh my yes. That was actually one that caused some laughs. We had to always go out with 3 changes of clothes as if there was any water they'd be in it. It briefly turned to an obsession with fire which was far from funny but I think we're through that now.

For us hyperfocus isn't 45 minutes. It's starting the activity and still going 5 hours later with no understanding of how long they've spent on it.

I can't even begin to express how much I disagree with this post and think it is terrible advice. As soon as someone mentions the word 'label' I know there's no point in taking them seriously.

If you think there's a realistic chance your child might have ADHD, get them assessed as soon as possible. If she doesn't have it, she is very unlikely to get a 'label' or, as most of us like to call it, a diagnosis. If you leave it until the traits become problematic in high school, you may discover that both you and she are facing some very big challenges. Ask me how I know! Early intervention is extremely important. It can be such a debilitating condition, leading to depression, anxiety, low self esteem and dangerous dopamine seeking behaviour.

Hmm, lots of food for thought here. Thanks everyone!

Saying mummy watch me, running around and being a bundle of energy does not indicate there is anything unusual at all.

The the d to be a little more bouncy and look at me when it’s exciting like being on holiday

Sounds like a normal, lively six year old to me.