Your kid doesn’t have ADHD, they have an ipad problem.

ParentingKidsadhdtherapyplayboredom

Jun 17

Written By Courtney Cauldwell

Best kids counselor — “not everything that looks like ADHD IS ADHD. . .”

Let’s just rip the Band-Aid off: not everything that looks like ADHD is ADHD. I know, wild concept. But I’m seeing way too many kids in my office whose “symptoms” aren’t about brain chemistry — they’re about screen time. Yep. The glowing rectangles are wreaking havoc on your kid’s attention span, memory, emotional regulation, and yes — even their behavior.

So let’s talk about it. Because not everything is a disorder. Sometimes it’s just digital overload.

Let Me Tell You About My 3-Year-Old…

Two Christmases ago, we took a family trip to Colorado. Picture the snow, the cocoa, the mountain views — you know, the dream. Except it wasn’t. Because I let my 3-year-old have too much screen time. Way too much.

We were off our usual routine, and it was so easy to hand him the iPad while we packed, drove, and settled into the cabin. A show here, a game there — I told myself it was "just for the trip." Except after a couple days, his behavior had completely unraveled.

He was angry all the time. I mean furious over the tiniest things — socks, snow, snacks, you name it. He seemed sad and withdrawn. He didn’t want to play, didn’t laugh at anything, didn’t even want to engage with the rest of us. He threw tantrums like it was his full-time job. And I kept thinking, Is he okay? Is he depressed? Is this a new phase?

But deep down, I knew. It was the screen.

So, we took it away. Cold turkey. And no joke — within 24 hours, he was back. My joyful, goofy, connected little boy re-emerged like he’d been under a spell. He played, he laughed, he made eye contact. It was night and day.

It wasn’t ADHD. It was too much tech and not enough real life.

Here’s What You’re Seeing:

Your kid can't focus for longer than 3.7 seconds.
They’re irritable, anxious, or totally checked out.
Their ability to play creatively? Gone.
They're impulsive and can't follow directions.
Tantrums? Unholy. Especially when the iPad disappears.

Sound familiar? You're not alone. But before we label this as ADHD and slap on a diagnosis, let’s dig a little deeper. Because what we’re actually seeing is the neurodevelopmental impact of excessive screen time. And yes — even if it’s educational.

Screen Time and the Brain

Kids’ brains are still in construction mode. Prefrontal cortex? Still under renovation. That’s the part of the brain responsible for focus, impulse control, and emotional regulation — the exact things that screen time messes with most.

When kids are on screens — whether they’re gaming, scrolling, or playing “educational” games with animated puppies — their brains are being overstimulated by constant reward loops, bright colors, fast pace, and instant feedback. Real life can’t compete. And the result? A brain that craves high stimulation and struggles in a normal classroom or social setting.

Research backs this up. One study from JAMA Pediatrics (2019) found that excessive screen time was associated with lower scores in brain development — particularly in language and literacy areas (Hutton et al., 2019). Another study in Computers in Human Behavior showed that screen overuse correlates with increased attention problems in children (Nikkelen et al., 2014).

It’s not just the quantity of screen time — it’s the quality too. The brain doesn’t care if it’s a game with puppies doing math or a game where you’re building empires. The dopamine hit is the same.

Here’s the Trick: It Looks Like ADHD

Let me be clear — ADHD is real. I work with plenty of kids who genuinely have it. But what’s happening now is that too many kids are showing ADHD-like symptoms because their nervous systems are fried from too much screen exposure. It’s called “functional inattention.” It mimics ADHD, but it’s reversible with — wait for it — less screen time and more real-life interaction.

Here’s what screen-induced symptoms can look like:

Inability to sustain attention on non-digital tasks
Frequent meltdowns when transitioning off devices
Poor frustration tolerance
Trouble following multi-step directions
Delays in executive functioning

Sound like ADHD? Yep. But in many cases, reduce screen time for 2–4 weeks and these behaviors improve. That doesn’t happen with true ADHD — which is how we can start teasing the difference apart.

What Kids Actually Need

Here’s what helps a developing brain:

Boredom — it builds creativity and problem solving.
Unstructured play — not "educational apps." Actual LEGOs, dirt, dolls, and blocks.
Face-to-face interaction — with real humans, not Bluey.
Movement — because the brain and body develop together.

Your kid doesn’t need a new diagnosis. They need less screen time and more reality.

So, What Do You Do?

If you're seeing ADHD-like behavior in your child:

Audit their screen time (all of it — yes, even school iPads and YouTube Kids).
Try a 2-week screen detox (expect resistance — it’s withdrawal).
Increase outdoor play and physical movement.
Watch for improvements in attention and mood.

And of course — if symptoms persist despite major lifestyle changes, it might be time to explore an evaluation. But let’s stop blaming kids’ brains for something our culture is reinforcing every day.

Sometimes it’s not a disorder. Sometimes it’s just dopamine burnout.

All hyper, distracted, irritable kids aren’t neurodivergent. Some are just digitally over-saturated. And no — that math app isn’t helping. Your kid’s brain is begging for a reset. And if you’re not sure where to start? That’s what therapy is for.

Ready to work through this and give your kid their attention span back? Schedule a session today.

Sources:

Hutton, J. S., Dudley, J., Horowitz-Kraus, T., DeWitt, T., & Holland, S. K. (2019). Association Between Screen-Based Media Use and Brain White Matter Integrity in Preschool-Aged Children. JAMA Pediatrics, 173(3), 244–250. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.5056
Nikkelen, S. W. C., Valkenburg, P. M., Huizinga, M., & Bushman, B. J. (2014). Media Use and ADHD-Related Behaviors in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis. Computers in Human Behavior, 44, 220–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.11.019

parentingkidsadhdipadscreentimeplayboredom

Courtney Cauldwell https://www.restorecounselingjoco.com

Your kid doesn’t have ADHD, they have an ipad problem.

“not everything that looks like ADHD IS ADHD. . .”

So let’s talk about it. Because not everything is a disorder. Sometimes it’s just digital overload.

Let Me Tell You About My 3-Year-Old…

Two Christmases ago, we took a family trip to Colorado. Picture the snow, the cocoa, the mountain views — you know, the dream. Except it wasn’t. Because I let my 3-year-old have too much screen time. Way too much.

We were off our usual routine, and it was so easy to hand him the iPad while we packed, drove, and settled into the cabin. A show here, a game there — I told myself it was "just for the trip." Except after a couple days, his behavior had completely unraveled.

But deep down, I knew. It was the screen.

So, we took it away. Cold turkey. And no joke — within 24 hours, he was back. My joyful, goofy, connected little boy re-emerged like he’d been under a spell. He played, he laughed, he made eye contact. It was night and day.

It wasn’t ADHD. It was too much tech and not enough real life.

Here’s What You’re Seeing:

Your kid can't focus for longer than 3.7 seconds.

They’re irritable, anxious, or totally checked out.

Their ability to play creatively? Gone.

They're impulsive and can't follow directions.

Tantrums? Unholy. Especially when the iPad disappears.

Sound familiar? You're not alone. But before we label this as ADHD and slap on a diagnosis, let’s dig a little deeper. Because what we’re actually seeing is the neurodevelopmental impact of excessive screen time. And yes — even if it’s educational.

Screen Time and the Brain

Kids’ brains are still in construction mode. Prefrontal cortex? Still under renovation. That’s the part of the brain responsible for focus, impulse control, and emotional regulation — the exact things that screen time messes with most.

It’s not just the quantity of screen time — it’s the quality too. The brain doesn’t care if it’s a game with puppies doing math or a game where you’re building empires. The dopamine hit is the same.

Here’s the Trick: It Looks Like ADHD

Here’s what screen-induced symptoms can look like:

Inability to sustain attention on non-digital tasks

Frequent meltdowns when transitioning off devices

Poor frustration tolerance

Trouble following multi-step directions

Delays in executive functioning

Sound like ADHD? Yep. But in many cases, reduce screen time for 2–4 weeks and these behaviors improve. That doesn’t happen with true ADHD — which is how we can start teasing the difference apart.

What Kids Actually Need

Here’s what helps a developing brain:

Boredom — it builds creativity and problem solving.

Unstructured play — not "educational apps." Actual LEGOs, dirt, dolls, and blocks.

Face-to-face interaction — with real humans, not Bluey.

Movement — because the brain and body develop together.

Your kid doesn’t need a new diagnosis. They need less screen time and more reality.

So, What Do You Do?

If you're seeing ADHD-like behavior in your child:

Audit their screen time (all of it — yes, even school iPads and YouTube Kids).

Try a 2-week screen detox (expect resistance — it’s withdrawal).

Increase outdoor play and physical movement.

Watch for improvements in attention and mood.

And of course — if symptoms persist despite major lifestyle changes, it might be time to explore an evaluation. But let’s stop blaming kids’ brains for something our culture is reinforcing every day.

Sometimes it’s not a disorder. Sometimes it’s just dopamine burnout.

All hyper, distracted, irritable kids aren’t neurodivergent. Some are just digitally over-saturated. And no — that math app isn’t helping. Your kid’s brain is begging for a reset. And if you’re not sure where to start? That’s what therapy is for.

Ready to work through this and give your kid their attention span back? Schedule a session today.

Sources:

Hutton, J. S., Dudley, J., Horowitz-Kraus, T., DeWitt, T., & Holland, S. K. (2019). Association Between Screen-Based Media Use and Brain White Matter Integrity in Preschool-Aged Children. JAMA Pediatrics, 173(3), 244–250. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2018.5056

Nikkelen, S. W. C., Valkenburg, P. M., Huizinga, M., & Bushman, B. J. (2014). Media Use and ADHD-Related Behaviors in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-Analysis. Computers in Human Behavior, 44, 220–229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2014.11.019

Confidence Code - High School Version