CQC Regulated | GMC Registered Consultant-Psychiatrists
Book your assessment →

Every Child With ADHD Symptoms Needs A Hobby – Here’s Why

The ADHD Centre
Written by The ADHD Centre
Dr Mukesh Kripalani
Clinically reviewed by Dr Mukesh Kripalani Lead Consultant Psychiatrist •
Reading time
✓ Consultant-led ✓ CQC-registered ✓ NICE guideline-aligned ✓ Evidence-based content

Ready when you are

Consultant-led ADHD assessment — most appointments within weeks

20,000+ patients seen · CQC-registered · Online & in clinic across the UK

Book your assessment → No GP referral needed
ADHD Centre, UK leaders In private adhd assessment and treatment

Remember that ADHD neighbour you had who took karate lessons? He’s a black belter now and is competing for a national title. That hyperactive child in third-grade who took painting lessons is now a popular artist. And your cousin who was diagnosed with child ADHD symptoms is now a professional basketball player after attending numerous summer clinics.

You’d wonder how these people even got to where they are now. They will always be remembered as the kids who had ADHD; children who couldn’t do anything right. Fast forward now, and these people are even doing better than you. So what exactly did they do to thrive and succeed in life despite having ADHD? Looking back, you’d realise that the answer is quite apparent: they had hobbies.

When it comes to academic achievements, you can’t expect a child with ADHD to excel and become great without offering them ways to unwind or escape from all the pressure that life is giving them. Whether they have ADHD or not, kids need hobbies! They need a pleasurable pastime to help improve their concentration and lower their hyperactivity at the same time. But that’s if you, the parent, choose the right activities. Aside from the aforementioned hobbies, you can also incorporate music and play musical instruments. Practising a single type of instrument will help keep your body – specifically your finger and arms – moving while also improving your attention through the music sheet.


For an ADHD child, school usually takes the majority of their times since they have to work twice as hard as the others. Most of the time ADHD students think that if they don’t do well,  they feel like complete failures. As parents, you should not give your children that kind of mindset. So always repeat these six words: “School isn’t the only thing that matters.”

The Impact Of Hobbies On Child ADHD Symptoms

While you should tell your child to do good in school, you should also tell him or her to not take it too seriously. Why? Because hobbies exist, and they can also broaden the interest of ADHD children, which would lead to more career options. Those who are born with ADHD have lots of creativity and imagination in them. The problem is that they can’t develop the same way people learn about science and medicine. These subjects are usually the career basis for normal, non-ADHD students.

An ADHD child needs to focus more on cultivating their creativity as it will help develop interests that will find them jobs such as drawing, painting, architecture, play or songwriting, cooking, sports, video gaming, and performing on stage. This concept is essential for ADHD kids that suffer from ADHD to remember since often they aren’t good academically compared to other children, even when they are trying hard.

To help your child find his creative talents, you need to start with his hobbies. If you notice that your child likes writing, you should let him spend hours developing his ideas and composing stories on paper. Encourage him to send entries on various writing contests. Or if you’re child is more into sports, you should enrol them in summer clinics or accompany them while they play their game.

Get Expert Help

If you suspect your child to have ADHD, you should seek an ADHD expert help right away. Don’t wait and assume that it will be gone once they reach their adult years. Unless the parent does something about it, a child’s ADHD symptoms are going to be carried all the way to adulthood and potentially hinder his or her life. If your child is showing symptoms of ADHD, you should book an appointment to your nearest ADHD Clinic and get an official diagnosis. If you live in or near Manchester or London, you’ll be delighted to know that the ADHD Centre is currently operating in your area.

Some of you might read this article and immediately think that your children no longer have to try in school. That is wrong. Despite using your child’s hobbies to try and build off a career out of it, you should know that your child also needs a minimum skills level, something that they can learn in school. Acknowledging the importance of school will also give them the chance to work in the same creative field of their choice. An ADHD brain needs typically English, music, art, theatre, technology classes, and other subjects to further develop their blossoming skills. Combine these subjects with your child’s hobbies, and he will undoubtedly discover his hidden talents early. Let your child build on their talents early, and they will transition it towards later years, where they can use it to land the ideal job in the future.

At The ADHD Centre, we offer an ADHD Test Online for you to know or confirm if you or a loved one happens to have ADHD and if you would like some further guidance and support on managing your ADHD then please contact us at The ADHD Centre on 0800 061 4276 or via enquiries@adhdcentre.co.uk.

The ADHD Centre also offers holistic ADHD treatment and cares for both children and adults. We are also affiliated with other ADHD clinics and organisations to maximise our services. Are you living in the UK? Lovely! We also offer an ADHD Online Assessment via Zoom for Healthcare. So wherever you are in the UK, know that the ADHD Centre is always available for your ADHD needs.

The ADHD Centre

Think it might be ADHD?

Our consultant psychiatrists provide comprehensive, NICE-aligned assessments with a personalised treatment plan — online or in person across the UK.

Medical disclaimer

This article is for general information and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the guidance of a qualified clinician with any questions about your health. If you think you or your child may have ADHD, a consultant-led assessment is the clearest way to get answers you can trust.

Dr Mukesh Kripalani — Lead Consultant Psychiatrist at The ADHD Centre

Clinically reviewed by

Dr Mukesh Kripalani

Lead Consultant Psychiatrist • GMC Registered • The ADHD Centre

Dr Mukesh Kripalani is a GMC-registered Consultant Psychiatrist and Lead Clinical Reviewer at The ADHD Centre. With extensive experience assessing and supporting ADHD in children, adolescents and adults, he leads a multidisciplinary team providing evidence-based, NICE-aligned assessment and personalised treatment across the UK.

20,000+
Patients seen
CQC
Registered
NICE
Guideline-aligned
UK-wide
Online & in-person

Ready when you are

Take the first step towards understanding your mind.

Book a consultant-led assessment online or at a UK clinic — most appointments within weeks.

4.9 · Trustpilot

Prefer to talk it through first? Speak to a specialist →

✓ No GP referral needed ✓ Flexible payment plans ✓ Confidential
Appointments available

Think it might be ADHD?

Our GMC-registered consultant psychiatrists provide comprehensive assessments with a personalised treatment plan.

✓ Consultant-led ✓ CQC-registered ✓ Online & in-person
Book your assessment → Not sure yet? Take the free ADHD test or call 0203 966 1551

Choose Your ADHD Assessment

Select the option that best suits your needs.
Service
Location
Action
  • Child ADHD Assessments - IN PERSON
London - Belgravia
  • Child ADHD Assessments - IN PERSON
London - Marylebone
  • Child ADHD Assessments - IN PERSON
Manchester

Need help choosing?

Speak to our team.

Choose Your ADHD Assessment

Select the option that best suits your needs.
Service
Location
Action
  • In-person Private ADHD Assessment
London - Belgravia
  • In-person Private ADHD Assessment
London - Marylebone
  • Private ADHD Assessment
Manchester

Need help choosing?

Speak to our team.