ADD or Boredom

You have to wonder when a child or teenager in school seems to have a hard time paying attention — is the problem really attention, or simply boredom?

Perhaps what we label as “inattention” is, in truth, a sign of deep intelligence, curiosity, or sensitivity that isn’t being met by the environment.

To diagnose such a child with ADD or ADHD and prescribe pharmaceuticals can sometimes create far greater problems than the original one.Rather than dulling their spirit, we might look deeper and ask: What truly captures this child’s heart?

King Solomon said, “Train up a child according to his ways, and when he grows up he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)

The wisdom in that teaching is timeless — it reminds us that every child has their own rhythm, their own way of learning, and their own purpose.

Our task is not to make them sit still, but to help them stand tall in who they truly are.