ADD Symptoms in First Grade

ADD symptoms can be observed in children by the time they reach first grade.crayon boy 4 image by Paul Moore from Fotolia.com

All children in the first grade are fidgety or squirm in their seats at times. A child with ADD exhibits symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness in most situations, such as at school and at home and while playing with other kids. Children who only occasionally experience symptoms such as fidgeting and daydreaming most likely don't have ADD.

Inattention

Inattentive children may be difficult to diagnose in the first grade. They may switch from activity to activity and have difficulty staying on task. Inattention also causes children to miss instructions and the details of their lessons. The ADD child may only be able to focus on tasks that are enjoyable. While this may seem common in first-graders, those with ADD are inattentive to a greater degree than are other children the same age. Children with ADD may not appear to be paying attention when they are spoken to and may frequently lose items.

Impulsive behavior in ADD children includes showing impatience when waiting for a turn in a game. They also may blurt out statements during class, interrupt others who are speaking and express themselves without regard to consequences. Temper tantrums and emotional outbursts are other examples of impulsive behavior in children with ADD.

A child with ADD may find it difficult to participate in quiet play and games. Not all children with ADD exhibit all the symptoms in exactly the same way. A child may be inattentive without hyperactivity or show hyperactivity without impulsiveness. The combination of symptoms is individual to the child with the disorder. Hyperactivity symptoms include the inability to sit still, fidgeting and constant movement. An ADD child may constantly shake her leg or tap her feet on the floor when trying to sit still.