Why Your Smart Child Can't Focus and How to Help Them Succeed

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is considered the most common neurodevelopmental disorder. In fact, 10.2% of kids aged 3-17 are diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their lives, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).

Although symptoms of ADHD start in childhood, ADHD is a life-long disorder. ADHD can impede focus, self-control, behavior, time management, and the ability to organize or follow through with tasks, among other symptoms. Focus problems, whether due to ADHD or another cause, can interfere with daily life, physical and mental health, social activities, and self-esteem. 

So, what should you know? If your child is smart but can't focus, you can help them succeed. This article will help you get to the bottom of why your child can't focus, understand the signs of attention difficulties and how they might present differently, as well as strategies to use and why professional help matters. 

The Joon App promotes motivation, follow-through, and self-esteem in kids with attention difficulties and other challenges, such as behavioral problems. 

How does it work?

Adults sign up first with the Joon Parent App, where you'll create a task list for your child. Joon comes with 500+ pre-loaded tasks and the option to add your own. When children finish tasks (called "quests"), they get rewards that allow them to continue playing the Joon Pet Game, which is a separate app downloaded on your child's device*. 90% of kids who use the app finish every parent-assigned task. 

Whether your child has trouble focusing, behavioral problems, or simply struggles with things like household chores, study habits and homework, or personal hygiene and self-care activities, Joon can help. The Joon app is backed by experts in child development, including but not limited to psychologists, occupational therapy providers, and others.

Start your free trial of Joon today. 

*You can share a device or use Joon on separate devices.

Common Misconceptions About Attention Difficulties in Smart Children

Before we get into the possible causes of focus issues in kids – which include but aren't limited to ADHD – let's go over some misconceptions regarding attention difficulties and why it can be challenging to identify attention problems in certain children. This might help you understand why a bright, well-behaved, or successful child still struggles. 

Stereotypes about intelligence and attention span

You may have a child who is clearly very intelligent but still struggles in school. Often, these are the kids who hear statements like, "You just need to try harder," "You can do it if you put your mind to it," "I don't understand why you can't do this," or "You'd do this if you wanted to."

Some assume that kids who struggle in some areas but not others just don't want to do the task they find challenging since they can complete others successfully. In reality, kids with attention issues may have more challenges with certain subjects and tasks than others. Their brain could latch onto a video game or art project to the extent that they don't even hear you talking, but the ability to concentrate on math homework could disappear completely. 

Additionally, stereotypes often communicate the idea that a person can't be intelligent and have ADHD, a learning disability, or another condition, like autism. However, this is not true. People with ADHD and other disorders can be deeply intelligent, including stereotypically so, and high-achieving.

Challenges of identifying attention difficulties in high-achieving students

Sometimes, it can be tough to identify ADHD and other attention difficulties in high-achieving students. We often assume that if a child is getting good grades, they must not be having a hard time in school and must not struggle with focus or concentration skills.

Anxiety and perfectionism can mask ADHD symptoms in some cases. If applicable, this can be an essential thing to look out for. The ability to overcompensate and succeed in spite of focus issues does not mean that someone doesn't have ADHD or that it won't affect their life.

Factors Contributing to Attention Difficulties in Smart Children

Why can't your child focus? Various concerns or life circumstances can lead to focus issues, and they aren't limited to ADHD. Review the following possible causes of focus problems and consider whether or not it's something that could be impacting your child.

Genetic predisposition

Conditions like ADHD have a genetic component. If someone in a child's family has ADHD, they may be more likely to develop the condition themselves. If your child has ADHD, it doesn't mean that you did anything "wrong." Anyone can have ADHD.

Environmental factors such as stress and lack of sleep

Sometimes, a child who is distracted, struggles to focus in school, or otherwise experiences challenges despite being smart will meet the criteria for ADHD and receive a diagnosis after seeing an appropriate provider, such as a clinical psychologist. For others, the cause could be entirely different.

Trauma, stress, and lack of sleep can all contribute to focus problems in kids, teens, and adults. If a child struggles with sleep, use sleep hygiene practices like removing screen time before bed, and consult a medical provider if challenges persist.

Learning disabilities or other underlying issues

ADHD and stress aren't the only potential causes of focus challenges. Learning disabilities, which include dyscalculia, dyslexia, and dysgraphia, can cause learning difficulties and other challenges at school, with homework, and in other parts of life. Additionally, mental health conditions like anxiety can lead to focus issues, which may dissipate with treatment.

Signs and Symptoms of Attention Difficulties in Smart Children

One common misconception about ADHD is that every child with the disorder experiences hyperactivity, which isn't the case. It's actually possible to have any of the following three types of ADHD: Primarily inattentive, Primarily Hyperactive/Impulsive, or Combined Type ADHD. Let's go over the three symptom categories in ADHD and how they might show up in your child or lead to attention and focus difficulties. 

Inattentiveness and distractibility

Sometimes, kids with ADHD are quiet and well-behaved but have problems with concentration skills. These kids might have primarily inattentive ADHD, which was formerly diagnosed as attention deficit disorder (ADD) in most cases. Other kids will experience a combination of inattentiveness and hyperactive or impulsive symptoms.

Inattention symptoms can include but aren't limited to:

• Difficulty organizing tasks and activities (e.g., problems with deadlines, time management, having a disorganized binder, desk, or environment)
• Trouble following through with instructions or completing tasks like homework on their own (one may lose focus or get distracted)
• Making careless mistakes or trouble paying attention to detail, which can lead to mistakes during tasks
• Avoiding or disliking tasks that require sustained mental effort (e.g., school assignments)
• Misplacing or losing important items, like glasses or school supplies
• Seeming as though one isn't listening when spoken to directly
• Daydreaming
• Forgetfulness 

Combined type ADHD includes a combination of both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity symptoms. Primarily hyperactive/impulsive ADHD is often marked by very noticeable hyperactivity and impulsiveness. 

Impulsivity and difficulty following instructions

Let's say that your child is smart but struggles to manage behavior in one or more ways. It could be assumed that they're doing it on purpose, or difficulties with social cues, classroom rules, and related parts of life could be brushed off. 

You might notice that a child speaks out of turn, has trouble following instructions, or something else, marked by symptoms such as the following:

• Blurting out answers before the speaker is done talking
• Difficulty engaging in leisure activities, like playtime, quietly
• interrupting others or "butting into" conversations and activities
• Trouble waiting for one's turn

Impulsivity isn't always disruptive, but it can be. Highly disruptive behavior can be more prevalent in kids with concurrent ODD. 

Hyperactivity or restlessness

Kids with ADHD can seem as though they're "powered by a motor" or are always moving and on the go. Other signs of hyperactivity might include but aren't restricted to:

• Running around when one is supposed to stay seated (can be limited to restlessness in older kids, teens, and adults)
• Fidgeting or squirming in one's seat
• Excessive talking

People with ADHD can also experience mental restlessness (this is common in adults with ADHD), leading to racing thoughts and other distractions.

Strategies for Supporting Smart Children With Attention Difficulties

Attention difficulties can be frustrating for kids. Especially in kids with ADHD, perfectionism, or anxiety, parents may notice that their child gives up easily or gets upset when they have a hard time with a task, project, question, or activity. Sometimes, this can lead to emotional distress, crying, anger, or nervousness. Here are some things you can do.

Creating a structured and organized environment

First, ensure that your child has a distraction-free space to work on tasks like homework. This space should be clean and decluttered, without distractions like noise from the TV or a video game in the background and social media. Second, create structured routines for your child. Routines are integral for kids with ADHD, but they can also be imperative for kids with autism or anxiety who need to know what to expect.

Teaching self-regulation and mindfulness techniques

Parents can teach kids problem-solving skills that help with homework and school work. Self-regulation and emotional coping skills are also vital. This is true for all kids, but it can be particularly critical for kids who get frustrated easily when they struggle. 

Examples of techniques to use include but aren't limited to:

• Identifying emotions (flashcards or a feelings wheel can help)
• Learning to take a break or ask for one when needed
• Breathing exercises
• Physical activity

Behavioral therapy can also teach mindfulness, emotion regulation, and self-control. A mental health professional who specializes in concerns similar to your child's can provide personalized support and coping skills. 

Collaborating with teachers and school support staff

Collaborating with teachers and other staff members at your child's school can help your child get individualized support. They may be able to apply accommodations that help children focus, work with you to create a plan, or communicate about your child's performance, behavior, successes, and things they notice in class regarding your child's concentration skills or focus.

Seeking Professional Help for Attention Difficulties

Talking with a medical or mental health professional is often one of the first steps to helping kids with attention problems and related challenges. Whether your child's concentration problem is new or you have noticed some focus challenges for a while, a provider may be able to support you in finding the root of the problem or addressing a known or suspected concern like ADHD.

Evaluating the need for a formal diagnosis

ADHD, anxiety, trauma, and learning disabilities do not go away when we ignore them, overcompensate for them, or find ways to cope on our own. In fact, a lack of diagnosis can lead to serious problems later in life. With a formal and accurate diagnosis, kids can access the coping skills and tools they need to maintain their mental health and succeed on a prolonged basis without burning out. The clinical psychologist or other expert in childhood development who works with your family for the diagnostic process will rule out other possible causes of challenges with concentration skills, inattentiveness, and focus issues before diagnosing ADHD.

Exploring treatment options like therapy or medication

The first line of treatment for individuals aged 6+ with ADHD usually includes a combination of stimulant medication and parent training (until age 12) or behavioral therapy. Every child is different; even two kids with ADHD might respond to treatments differently. Depending on the cause of your child's focus challenges, their treatment might differ, too.

In the case of ADHD medication, it's common for parents to get nervous about stimulants like Adderall. Your child's prescriber will start them on the lowest dose of ADHD medication and monitor them closely for adverse effects with your help and input. Kids can discontinue medication if side effects emerge or cause problems. 

Advocating for accommodations and support at school

One of the benefits of a formal diagnosis is that kids can get a 504 plan or other accommodations (e.g., IEP) for their ADHD. Examples of accommodations that may support kids with ADHD at school include but aren't limited to the following. 

• Written or visual schedules
• Seating changes (e.g., being seated away from distractions)
• Testing in a distraction-free environment
• Additional breaks (to promote focus or help with overwhelm)
• Help with instructions

Accommodations can also help kids with a learning disability, anxiety, or other concerns. Remember that accommodations aren't special treatment; they won't hold your child back. Instead, they help kids understand that there are tools, strategies, and solutions that work for their brains while promoting their success. 

The Joon App: A Resource for Kids With ADHD and Similar Challenges

Joon was designed for kids with focus problems. Although it's geared toward kids with ADHD, ODD, Autism, and related concerns, anyone can use the Joon app. Built with ADHD kids in mind, Joon promotes executive functioning skills like focus and concentration, as well as self-esteem and good behavior.

How we incentivize focus:

The Joon App helps children focus and promotes executive function naturally. 

Joon offers a variety of in-app incentives to keep your child interested in tasks like homework, chores, personal hygiene, self-care, and other activities. Rewards include but aren't limited to continued gameplay, exciting mini-games, and items that help them care for a virtual pet of their choice. To keep playing and unlock extra rewards, like additional pets, kids must finish real-life tasks.

Click here to try Joon for free.

Conclusion

If you have a smart child who can't focus, you're not alone. Despite stereotypes, many kids with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and related concerns are very smart. Kids might even overcompensate to cope with symptoms and poor executive functioning skills.

Working to understand your child and support them through the concerns affecting their focus, academic performance, or well-being means that they'll have the skills they need to succeed, both now and later. Kids must understand their brain, how to help themselves or ask for help, and that the challenges they might face with things like focus aren't a personal fault or a marker of low intelligence. 

Parents and educators must work to support and understand kids with different learning styles, neurodiversity, and mental health or behavioral challenges. School accommodations, behavioral therapy, medication, and apps like Joon are some examples of what may help your child. While it can take time to find what works, kids with ADHD and related concerns can and do thrive.