What Is Considered Normal Behaviour?

Children are still developing:

• Attention
• Emotional regulation
• Impulse control

So it’s completely typical for children to:

• Be energetic and active
• Lose focus during tasks
• Get frustrated or overwhelmed
• Struggle with transitions
• Test boundaries

 These behaviours are part of normal development.

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When Behaviour May Be More Than Typical

ADHD may be worth exploring when behaviours are:

1. More Frequent
Happening more often than other children of the same age

2. More Intense
Reactions or behaviours are stronger or harder to manage

3. More Persistent
Present over time, not just in phases

4. Across Multiple Settings
Seen at:

• Home
• School
• Social environments

5. Impacting Daily Life
Affecting:

• Learning
• Relationships
• Family routines

This is one of the biggest indicators.

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ADHD vs Normal Behaviour – Side-by-Side

Attention
Typical:

• Can focus on preferred activities
• Occasionally distracted

ADHD:

• Frequently loses focus
• Struggles even with simple tasks
• Appears not to listen

Activity Levels
Typical:

• Active during play
• Can settle when needed

ADHD:

• Constant movement
• Difficulty sitting still even when expected

Impulsivity
Typical:

• Occasional interruptions
• Learning to wait

ADHD:

• Frequent interrupting
• Acts without thinking
• Difficulty waiting consistently

Emotional Regulation
Typical:

• Occasional meltdowns
• Improves with support

ADHD:

• Frequent intense emotional reactions
• Difficulty calming down
• Low frustration tolerance

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A Key Question to Ask Yourself

Instead of asking:
❌ “Does my child show these behaviours?”

Ask:
✅ “How often, how intense, and how much is this impacting daily life?”

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Common Situations Parents Notice

Parents often start questioning ADHD when:

• Their child struggles significantly more than peers
• Teachers raise concerns
• Daily routines feel consistently difficult
• Behaviour feels unpredictable or overwhelming​​

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What If My Child Is Just Energetic?

Some children are naturally:

• More active
• More social
• More expressive

This alone does not mean ADHD.

​The difference is whether your child can:

• Adjust when needed
• Follow structure with support
• Regulate behaviour over time

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Can Children With ADHD Still Have Good Days?

Yes.

Children with ADHD may:

• Focus well on preferred activities
• Have periods of calm
• Do well in certain environments

This can make it harder to identify and often leads to doubt.

---

What If I’m Still Not Sure?

This is very common.
You don’t need to figure it out on your own.

You can:

• Use a checklist to identify patterns
• Speak with your child’s teacher
• Talk to a GP or professional​

ADHD Checklist for children

What To Do if you think your child has adhd

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When Should I Seek Support?

​You may want to seek guidance if:

• You feel consistently unsure or concerned
• Behaviour is affecting school or home life
• You’re getting feedback from others (e.g. teachers)
• You want clarity on what’s happening

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You Don’t Have to Wait for Things to Get Worse

One of the biggest misconceptions is that you should “wait and see.”

​Early guidance can:

• Reduce stress
• Improve routines
• Support your child’s development

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How We Can Support You

At Belong Health, we help families understand their child’s behaviour and explore the right next steps, whether that’s reassurance, strategies, or further assessment.

Occupational Therapy (OT)

• Attention and concentration strategies
• Sensory processing and regulation
• Daily routines and organisation
• Emotional regulation support

​Speech Pathology (SP)

• Listening and comprehension skills
• Social communication
• Following instructions
• Language processing support

Counselling

• Emotional regulation and coping
• Anxiety and self-esteem support
• Managing frustration and behaviour
• Supporting older children and adolescents

Positive Behaviour Support (PBS)

• Understanding behaviour patterns
• Reducing challenging behaviours
• Practical strategies for home and school
• Family and caregiver support

Psychology Assessments

• Comprehensive ADHD assessments
• Cognitive and behavioural profiling
• Diagnostic clarification
• Detailed reports and recommendations

​
Parent Support & Coaching

• Practical, real-world strategies
• Building consistent routines
• Understanding your child’s behaviour
• Ongoing guidance and support

​School Support

• Communication with educators
• Classroom strategies
• Supporting learning environments

Telehealth Across WA

• Access support from anywhere
• Ideal for rural and regional families
• Flexible support options

ADHD Checklist for children

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Not Sure?

If you’re unsure whether your child’s behaviour is typical or something more, we can help you work through it.
Contact our team to discuss your concerns and explore your options.
​

Book a free 20-minute call with our team
Contact our team to discuss your concerns and explore your options.
Our team is here to help call us on 08 9586 3934 or send us an email here

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Have a question? or need more information

Our friendly team are happy to help call us on 08 9586 3934 or send us a message

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Phone: 08 9586 3934

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