ADHD and screen time
Kids with ADHD may not spend more time on digital media than other kids. But they can have a much harder time shutting it off. Learn why your child gets stuck on screens, and how to help.
Many parents worry about their child’s screen time, and with good reason. Kids are spending more time on digital media than ever. On average, kids ages 8–18 in the United States spend 7.5 hours a day watching or using screens.1 From ages 2–8, the number steadily increases from one hour to 3.5 hours a day, according to a study by Common Sense Media.2
If your child has ADHD, the issues around screen use may be more complicated. Kids with ADHD have a harder time pulling away from activities they really enjoy. They may struggle with the social aspects of screen activities or benefit from them, or both.
Parents are often concerned that their child’s screen time is associated with inappropriate behaviors and lowered social skills, says Understood Expert and licensed psychologist Andy Kahn. But research shows that screen time does not cause behavior problems in kids.3
The effect of screen time on kids with ADHD is more complicated. A 2025 study found an association between longer screen time and increased ADHD symptoms. Longer screen time may also have an effect on brain development, according to the study.4
So, how can you help make screen time a healthier experience for your child? Learn more about ADHD and screens.
The ADHD brain
ADHD is partially caused by differences in how the brain functions. One of those differences involves the reward system in the brain.
The ADHD brain has trouble getting enough dopamine, a neurotransmitter that affects motivation and enjoyment. But when kids with ADHD are highly interested in something, their brain gets a dopamine boost. They may feel intense pleasure from screen activities, and hyperfocus on their favorite videos or games.
Kids with ADHD also have trouble switching their attention from one activity to another. That can make it difficult for them to stop screen activities and move on to something else.
Benefits of screen use
Screen activities can help kids with ADHD in a number of ways. They can:
Make it easier to have social interactions
Keep kids engaged and focused on an activity
Help satisfy the brain’s need for stimulation
Let kids easily join in a group activity (gaming)
Help kids find community and kids with similar interests
Encourage learning and exploring
Help kids be calm
Tips for healthy screen use
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) used to recommend specific time limits for screen use, based on age. But the group did away with those limits because of a lack of evidence that they helped.
Plus, digital media plays an increasing role in all of our lives, and in different ways than it once did. In a 2024 survey of kids ages 13–17 in the U.S., nearly all (96 percent) said they used the internet every day. And nearly half said they used it “almost constantly.”5
The AAP now recommends looking at the quality of your child’s interactions with screens instead of time spent. Consider how much your child’s screen use actually helps with growth — including social skills, thinking, emotions, and identity. And set rules instead of strict time limits for screen use.
Kahn offers these tips to make managing screen time easier and more effective:
Put screens away an hour before bedtime.
Schedule screen sessions and follow them with something your child enjoys (a snack), instead of something tedious (homework).
Be aware of the types of content and games your child is engaged with, so you can better predict how difficult the transition will be.
Work with your child on setting limits and monitoring screen use.
Discuss expectations clearly and in advance (you can also post them in writing).
Don’t blame screens and games for your child’s behavior.
Other ideas for healthier screen habits include:
Break up screen time into shorter chunks.
Watch videos, movies, and TV with your child.
Set rules for when screens must be put away, like during meals or homework.
Use screen time as a reward for getting work done.
Promote non-screen activities, including physical activities.
Risks of screen use
You’ve probably heard about the potential risks of spending a lot of time in front of screens. Here are some common examples of the possible effects of too much screen time:
Weight problems
Lack of physical activity
Cyberbullying
Depression
But researchers don’t all agree on the risks. And there isn’t much research into the benefits of screen use versus the risks, or into the risks for specific populations of kids.
Signs of too much screen time
How do you know if your child needs to cut back on screen time? A clear sign of screen overuse is that digital media is interfering with your child’s life, according to Kahn.
“Ultimately, parents need to be on the lookout for when screens are serving as a substitute for other key life activities,” he says. “If your child is not engaging in activities in person or is regularly losing sleep to watch or game, it’s likely time to create some healthier boundaries and routines around screens.”
Screen use has become a major part of daily life for most kids. The key to making it a positive influence is to focus on the benefits for your child, while watching out for overuse and potential risk.
Summary
Many parents worry about how much time their child is spending with digital media. On average, kids ages 8–18 in the United States now spend 7.5 hours a day watching or using screens. Younger kids spend 2.5 hours a day.
If your child has ADHD, managing screen use can be hard. The ADHD brain has trouble switching from one activity to another. It also hyperfocuses on things that are highly interesting. Getting your child to turn off screens and move on to other activities may be difficult.
Still, screen activities can have real benefits for kids with ADHD. Here are some examples:
Make it easier to have social interactions
Keep kids engaged and focused on an activity
Help satisfy the brain’s need for stimulation
Let kids easily join in a group activity (gaming)
Help kids find community and kids with similar interests
Encourage learning and exploring
Help kids be calm
The key to managing screen time is to set clear rules and expectations, and know how your child is using screens. Work together to create a schedule for screen time, including times when screens are put away. And support your child in doing non-screen activities.