“Why My Child Gets Distracted — And Why It’s Not Just ‘Not Listening’”
Parents often say things like:
“They can’t stay focused.”
“They hear everything.”
“They get distracted by nothing.”
“They just wander off halfway through.”
And it’s easy to assume the problem is attention.
But for many ADHD children, attention isn’t the main issue at all.
Everyone notices things — but ADHD brains have to react
Imagine this:
You’re helping your child with homework at the table.
A car door slams outside.
Someone walks past the window.
A dog barks down the street.
You notice it — and carry on.
Your child notices it — and says:
“Was that a car?”
“Who’s outside?”
“Is that the neighbour’s dog?”
And suddenly they’re up, looking out the window, asking questions, or completely off task.
This isn’t because they’re being nosey or difficult.
Their brain doesn’t let the moment pass.
The problem isn’t noticing — it’s stopping
ADHD brains struggle with the ability to pause before reacting.
Most brains can quickly decide:
“That’s not important right now.”
An ADHD brain struggles to do that.
So when something happens:
A noise
A movement
A thought
A memory
The brain reacts automatically.
That’s why ADHD children often:
Interrupt
Jump into conversations
Get up suddenly
Follow thoughts out loud
Switch activities without warning
They’re not choosing to derail things.
Their brain reacts before they’ve had time to think.
Why they don’t come back to the task
This is the part many parents find most confusing.
You might think:
“They got distracted — why can’t they just go back?”
Because once the distraction happens, the original task disappears.
Not emotionally.
Mentally.
Their brain stops holding onto:
“Finish this worksheet”
“Put your shoes on”
“Tidy your room”
“Brush your teeth”
So instead of returning, the child moves on to whatever caught their attention next.
This is why ADHD can look like:
Starting five things and finishing none
Leaving tasks half-done
Forgetting what they were asked to do mid-way
Needing constant reminders
They haven’t forgotten on purpose.
Their brain lost the thread.
Think of it like this
Imagine carrying several items in your hands.
Most people can hold them long enough to get where they’re going.
An ADHD child is carrying the same items —
but if something bumps into them, everything drops.
They can’t hold onto the plan while something else is happening.
So what’s really going on?
Instead of thinking:
“They’re inattentive”
It helps to think:
They react quickly
They struggle to pause
They lose track once interrupted
They need help holding the plan in mind
This is why ADHD affects:
Homework
Mornings
Bedtimes
Transitions
Chores
Following instructions
It’s not about willingness.
It’s about how their brain manages information.
What helps (and what doesn’t)
What doesn’t help:
Repeating instructions louder
Punishing forgetfulness
Saying “You weren’t listening”
Expecting them to “just remember”
What does help:
One step at a time
Visual reminders
Checklists
Timers
Calm prompts to return to the task
Understanding that interruptions reset their brain
The most important thing for parents to know
Your child isn’t lazy.
They aren’t ignoring you.
They aren’t choosing chaos.
Their brain reacts fast — and lets go of plans easily.
When we understand that, we stop fighting the child
and start supporting the brain.
And that’s when things begin to change.
