There has been a significant increase in the number of children being diagnosed with or showing symptoms of ADHD over the past few decades. While ADHD is a complex condition influenced by many factors, societal changes also contribute to this rise. Here are a few reasons why ADHD is more prevalent today than ever before:
- A Decrease in Playtime – Children today spend less time engaging in unstructured play than previous generations. Schedules packed with extracurricular activities, increased screen time, and an increased reliance on digital entertainment all contribute to children losing out on opportunities to develop their focus and self-regulation skills through play.
- A Decrease in Exercise – Children today get a significantly lower amount of exercise than previous generations. While exercise alone cannot treat ADHD, research shows that it can help improve children’s attention span, reduce impulsivity, and strengthen their inhibitory control.
- The Pandemic – During the COVID-19 pandemic, many children began experiencing mood changes, behavioral challenges, and increased anxiety. As a result, more parents sought out an evaluation for their child’s mental health, leading to an increase in ADHD diagnoses.
- Short-Form Content – The rise of short-form content, like TikTok and YouTube Shorts, has profoundly impacted children’s attention spans. These platforms cause rapid dopamine releases with each new video, creating an addiction-like cycle. For children whose prefrontal cortex—the part of the brain responsible for impulse control and attention—is still developing, constant stimulation can impair their ability to focus and regulate their behavior.
Why use play therapy in treating ADHD?
Play therapy is an effective method for helping children with ADHD because it addresses core symptoms of the condition, such as hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and attention difficulties. In play therapy, children can participate in engaging structured play activities, practice focusing on tasks, regulate their emotions, and learn ways to expend their excess energy in healthy ways. Play therapy can not only help reduce ADHD symptoms but also boost children’s social and emotional skills, which will positively impact their development.
Colleen Cesario, Rita Vatcher, LMHC, MCCS, CAGS, RPT-S™
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Betteridge, B., Chien, W., Hazels, E., & Simone, J. (2023, September 5). How does technology affect the attention spans of different age groups?. OxJournal. https://www.oxjournal.org/how-does-technology-affect-the-attention-spans-of-different-age-groups/
Chan, Y.-S., Jang, J.-T., & Ho, C.-S. (2022). Effects of physical exercise on children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Biomedical Journal, 45(2), 265–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bj.2021.11.011
Ng, C. S., & Ng, S. S. (2022). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Children’s Mental Health: A Systematic Review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.975936
