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This sounds exactly like my 6 year old daughter. I've never really had concerns about ADHD. I figured this is just her being a kid?

@Mrs. Carrot: Hmmmm...can she turn the hyperactivity "off?"

Except for the task stamina (he does like to sit and read or play on his own), this sounds like my son. In preschool I was worried about it, but after going through Kinder and 1st, talking to his teachers, aftercare and two different pediatricians, no one seems worried. Some kids just need to move a lot.

His first grade teacher did have some success doing some mindful breathing with him first thing in the morning. It really helped him focus on the task they were working on.

And the awareness, this one drives me insane. I feel like I am constantly telling him to watch where he is going, don't run into anyone. All.the.time.

As for the talking... that was me at that age. My mom loves to tell me how I never stopped talking until I hit the pre-teen years hahaha.

I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 8 years old. My mom said I was super high energy, would interrupt, act impulsively, etc. My teacher's at school put me on the mild spectrum with the questionnaires they use for screening and diagnosis. My parents put me at the moderate level. I struggled with school (reading and math), and I honestly don't remember my parents helping me very much with school work at home. Also, I just didn't like school, I wanted to play, draw, do other activities. It's a stark difference from how my husband describes his childhood ( both his parents were teachers and helped a lot with school). I was also the youngest in my class ( born in October) so I was like 4 years old, just turning 5 when I started Kindergarten. My mom actually told me the preschool said I should stay another year, but my parents couldn't afford it. These days kids start at 5 going on 6, or at 6 years old. Honestly, it's no surprise I was 6 months to 1 year behind everyone else academically, I was 6 months to 1 year younger than everyone else! The teachers even warned my parents I needed another year of preschool! This to me just boggles my mind, especially since there is now research that is pointing to kids being on the younger end of their class being diagnosed with ADHD at a higher rate. I was put on medication right away, and it did help me concentrate, but it also did a lot of other things that weren't so great. I felt like I was trapped in a box, I didn't eat very much because the medication was an appetite suppressant, and I had trouble sleeping because it was also a stimulant. My parents did not try alternative methods before putting me on medication (though I went to a resource specialist program to help with academics), and I am still bitter because of that. The diagnosis has followed me around for a lifetime, and I still suffer from low self esteem and imposter syndrome because of it. I know this all sounds like a " down with ADHD diagnosis" rant, but it's mostly just a cautionary tale.

I don't know what it's like nowadays with getting an ADHD diagnosis. I would probably do things differently than my parents did if it were for my own child. For your own daughter, it sounds like she is doing well in school. I believe for an ADHD diagnosis deficits have be observed in more than two settings, so both at school, home, and with friends, and the symptoms need to reduce or interfere with a good quality of social,school, and home life. If you are super concerned, and your gut is just telling you that something is up, then I would definitely bring it up with your pediatrician, but for now, I'd say watch and wait.

@Mrs. Carrot: I would talk with her pediatrician. As someone with ADHD and another mental illness that is genetic it's good to be open as a parent with all this. It can start young. I did great in school. I graduated top ten percent BUT I forgot things constantly. I also struggled with completing tasks and got out of my seat a lot and talked a lot in school and at home. I still struggle till this day. I wasn't "hyperactive" but I did mentally struggle and needed help. I dont take meds for it cause since being diagnosed I have learned ways to cope. A diagnosis is good cause as she gets older if she does start to struggle she will have resources to help her and will learn and be taught ways to cope.

My son is 6, just finished K and sounds exactly the same. He scored off the charts on reading and math. He loves reading, but has never finished a chapter book, he prefers me reading to him. He had some issues with my finishing work. His teacher even modified by allowing him to type instead of write. I think he was just bored and didn’t want to copy her sentences/do what she wanted him to do. He’s super wiggly. Often eats with just one leg on the chair. But he could spend an hour sitting and doing an art project (or watching tv...). I think the way school is organized brings out many of these issues and that’s school’s fault (not the kid). I work in education at the high school level but my mom was an elementary teacher. It’s hard to differentiate for all different types of students but that’s what they need! Some schools are changing faster than others but keep in mind that our current system was made to create factory workers and that’s not the jobs our kids will be doing. They will be working collaboratively and creatively. We actually had a meeting the the principal and teacher and came up with a plan for my son. There’s a sensory room he can go to if he needs to move. There’s also a variety of seating choices in the room. And no one has once mentioned ADHD. He also doesn’t qualify for any special services because he is doing so well academically. I think it’s always great to talk to pediatricians, but also to keep reevaluating each year. These kids change so fast!!

She sounds very similar to my son, who recently received a Type 1 (inattentive) diagnosis in 2nd grade, age 7. He is extremely smart so he didn't really have any academic issues and for a while we just figured "ehhhh he's immature, summer birthday, etc." But 2nd grade for us is where the rubber started meeting the road in terms of him needing to be a more self-directed learner. His big struggle is executive function -- he has absolutely none. Like, cannot follow multi-step directions to save his life, constantly losing stuff, mind wandering constantly. His teacher suggested an eval. No, it wasn't cheap, as we went to a neuropsychologist who didn't take insurance but you don't have to do that if you're willing to wait (our understanding is that waits can be several months if you find someone who takes insurance, so that might be worth thinking about now if this is on your radar). Or you may be able to go through your ped if you're willing to have a less thorough workup -- but we were really glad to have a full slate of testing to illuminate other issues.

It wasn't the easiest process, but I'm glad we have answers now. A diagnosis means you can get the support your kid needs to be successful in school -- without it, they may just be treated as an exasperating kid, you know? And we did start him on a low dose of meds and have seen a mostly positive outcome. I know there's a lot of fear of meds but I ultimately decided I wouldn't withhold them for any other diagnosed condition, so why would I do it here?

Anyway, I could write so much more, but feel free to reach out. If she continues to do well in school without teachers being concerned, that may well mean there's nothing there. But if there are eventually concerns, don't fear her being "labeled." She will still be the same kid, but with more of an opportunity to succeed with the right interventions.