ADHD in Under-fives
See what ADHD might look like in your young child + Tips to help you choose the best early learning service for them.
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
It’s estimated that 7.4% of Australians have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (aka ADHD), and although some people only get diagnosed as adults, early diagnosis and support is definitely preferable.
So, how can you tell whether your under-five has this developmental condition, which results in neurodiversity?
And if your little one does have ADHD, what kind of early childhood education and care (ECEC) service will be best for them?
Well, two experts from ADHD Australia – Associate Professor Melanie Porter and Dr Karl Sebire – are here to answer these questions!
Melanie is a neuropsychologist who’s raising a son with ADHD, and she explains that inattention, impulsivity and/or hyperactivity are common challenges for children with the condition.
However, ADHD does play out differently in each person, and although the condition is common in young children, the signs might not be so obvious in the years before big school.
Melanie explains that being at home with family, and learning through play at childcare, doesn’t require as much focus, patience and self-control as regimented classroom activities do, so an under-five with ADHD may have less challenges than an older child.
That said, there are lots of signs that may suggest an under-five has ADHD, including:
- Disliking or avoiding activities that require paying attention for more than a few minutes
- Losing interest and starting to do something else after doing an activity for a short time
- Talking excessively, or talking a lot more and making more noise than other children of the same age
- Being unable to wait their turn
- Interrupting others
- Climbing on things when they’re told not to do so
- Wanting to constantly fidget, kick or jiggle their feet, or twist around in their seat
- Insisting that they must get up after being seated for more than a few minutes
- Getting easily frustrated
- Being fearless, which can go further than age-appropriate risk-taking
- Suffering injuries, like bruises, cuts and broken bones, from moving too fast or not looking where they’re going
- Having prolonged tantrums, or tantrums that go beyond what’s expected for their age, because of difficulty regulating their emotions
- Not sleeping well
If your child is exhibiting some (or a lot) of these signs, then Melanie suggests that you book an appointment with your GP, who may then refer you to another professional, like a psychologist or paediatrician, to provide a diagnosis.
If your little one is diagnosed with ADHD, then they are definitely not alone.
ADHD is highly heritable, which means there might be other people in your family with the condition, and in our national population, there are around two million Australians with ADHD.
Your child is also not alone, because they have you and other committed care-givers to understand and support them!
Dr Karl Sebire is a leading education expert at ADHD Australia, and he explains that the best way to support your young child with ADHD, is to create an environment where they feel understood, capable and valued.
This means focusing on their strengths, while gently guiding them through their challenges, and Karl has these six pointers to help you support your under-five with ADHD:
1. Put connection before correction
Karl explains that ADHD can make everyday tasks feel overwhelming for little ones. So, instead of just giving instructions, try to connect with your child first. Make eye contact, use their name, and keep directions short and clear.
2. Know that routines are your best friend
Predictability helps children with ADHD feel secure, and using simple visual schedules (like pictures of morning and bedtime steps) can work wonders.
3. Understand that movement is key
Children with ADHD are wired for movement, so Karl recommends that you find healthy ways to channel this energy.
For example, it can make a big difference to give your child some trampoline time before dropping them off at childcare, or handing them some fidget tools for quiet time at home.
4. Celebrate small wins
Your child with ADHD may hear a lot of correction throughout the day, so Karl recommends that you balance this with frequent, genuine praise for effort – not just outcomes.
For instance, you might say, “I love how you tried your best to put your shoes on quickly.”
5. Embrace your child’s superpowers
ADHD results in a different way of thinking, but this isn’t a bad way of thinking!
Creativity, curiosity and passion are some great hallmarks of the condition, and Karl recommends that you, “Find what lights your early learner up – whether it's building things, storytelling or exploring outdoors – and encourage it.”
It also helps to partner with early childhood educators who’ll understand and support your under-five in their formative years.
You’re looking for educators who will help your little one feel safe, confident, capable and excited to learn; and this means you need to choose your ECEC service wisely.
The right people and place can make a world of difference, and although you need to think about the usual things (like cost, location and curriculum) when choosing a service, Karl says it also helps to look for the following:
1. A warm, inclusive approach
It’s essential that your child’s educators have a nurturing and understanding attitude, and that they see ADHD as a difference, not a difficulty.
So, when you meet prospective educators, consider whether they are positive and patient, with a focus on strengths, rather than just challenges.
2. Open communication and collaboration
You know your child best, so it’s really important to find an ECEC service that values your input, and is open to adjusting strategies based on your child’s needs.
Good communication, mutual trust and respect, flexibility and understanding are all important. And you want to feel that you can partner with educators to share information and strategies, navigate challenges, and achieve great outcomes for your under-five.
3. Small group sizes and individualised attention
Karl explains that children with ADHD often benefit from smaller group sizes, or at least structured support within the group.
So, ask about the educator to child ratio in your under-five’s prospective room, and how educators cater to different learning and behavioural needs.
4. Structured, yet flexible routines
Routines matter as much at childcare as at home, and while a predictable routine will help your early learner feel safe, rigid environments can be challenging.
For this reason it’s important that your chosen ECEC service balances structure with flexibility – so your under-five knows what to expect, but gets plenty of movement breaks, sensory play, hands-on learning, and opportunities to engage in different ways.
Your under-five will also benefit from clear and simple instructions, so things like one-step directions, visual cues and checklists will help them stay on track.
5. A sensory-friendly environment
As well as looking for sensory play in the program, you also want to consider how sensory needs are catered to in the environment.
Karl explains that quiet nooks, calming areas and outdoor play opportunities can help children with ADHD to self-regulate, and special touches like classical music and fidget toys add to these spaces.
6. Behaviour support, not just discipline
Karl explains that children with ADHD can struggle with impulse control, so it’s important to ask how your prospective ECEC service handles behaviours like impulsivity or emotional regulation.
If they use positive reinforcement, redirection and self-regulation strategies (like deep breathing and resetting in a quiet space), this will work much better for your child than being punished with time-outs and other strict consequences.
7. Encouragement of strengths and interests
A child with ADHD often has a big imagination, deep curiosity and endless creativity, so it’s important that your future ECEC service encourages child-led learning. This will allow your little one to explore their interests, while building key social and emotional skills.
Instead of focusing on what they struggle with, great educators will also highlight and value your child’s strengths – whether that’s their fantastic storytelling, deep thinking or heart of gold.
8. Educators who understand ADHD (or are willing to learn)
Not every educator needs to be an ADHD expert, but it is important that they’re open to learning and working with you as a parent.
So, it helps to ask if staff have experience with neurodiverse children, or access to professional development in this area.
9. Access to additional support
Even if the educators are really knowledgeable about ADHD, it’s also good to have access to other child development professionals, in case your under-five needs them.
So, check whether your prospective service has links to occupational therapists, speech therapists and psychologists.
All of these careful considerations will help you find the best ECEC service for your little learner, so they can achieve great things and have fun along the way.
When you’re ready to look for an ECEC service, the KindiCare App and Childcare Comparison Website make it really easy to search, compare, enquire and apply.
And ADHD Australia has lots of great resources for parents just like you!
