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Quizzes > Health & Medicine

2-Year-Old ADHD Quiz: Can You Spot the Signs?

Quick, free toddler ADHD quiz to test your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Irine KutateliUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for quiz on ADHD signs in toddlers on a coral background

This quiz helps you spot common signs of ADHD in 2-year-olds and tell them apart from typical toddler behavior. Answer a few quick questions to learn what to watch for and get instant, plain-English results. Curious how signs change with age? See adhd signs in 7-year-olds, or try the adhd self-assessment quiz.

Which behavior is a common sign of ADHD in toddlers?
Constant fidgeting and squirming
Reluctance to nap
Occasional clumsiness
Gentle, calm play
Toddlers with ADHD often show hyperactivity manifested as constant fidgeting and squirming. This level of restlessness goes beyond typical toddler behavior and can disrupt activities. Early recognition of hyperactivity helps caregivers seek proper evaluation and support.
A hallmark of attention difficulties in toddler ADHD is:
Tendency to imitate peers
Short attention span
Refusal to eat vegetables
Strong preference for certain toys
Difficulty sustaining attention is a core symptom of ADHD in young children and is more pronounced than typical toddler distractions. It impacts their ability to engage in play or follow simple activities. Recognizing brief focus in a toddler as a potential red flag can prompt early intervention.
Impulsivity in toddlers with ADHD often appears as:
Asking many questions
Shaking head 'no' firmly
Grabbing toys from other children
Hugging peers gently
Impulsivity means acting without considering consequences, and grabbing toys from others is a clear sign of poor impulse control. This behavior can lead to conflicts and frustration for both the toddler and peers. Early strategies can help teach self-control and sharing skills.
During story time, a toddler with ADHD is likely to:
Sing quietly to themselves
Have trouble sitting still
Read along in a book
Color beside the book
Difficulty remaining seated through activities like story time is common in toddlers with ADHD. Their high activity level makes it challenging to sit quietly. This behavior distinguishes them from peers who can remain engaged.
Compared to typical toddlers, those with ADHD may display:
Improved problem solving
Longer naptimes
Calm and patient demeanor
Frequent intense temper tantrums
Toddlers with ADHD often struggle with emotional regulation, leading to intense and frequent tantrums. These tantrums can be more extreme than typical developmental tantrums. Early recognition of emotional dysregulation can guide supportive parenting strategies.
A sign of ADHD in toddlers related to self-control is:
Difficulty waiting their turn
Ignoring adults when spoken to
Refusing to share toys at all
Hiding favorite toys
Poor inhibitory control in toddlers with ADHD often shows up as an inability to wait for their turn in games or activities. This can lead to frustration for the child and peers. Teaching simple turn-taking strategies can support the development of self-control.
When playing with toys, toddlers with ADHD are often:
Only interested in blocks
Very focused on puzzle pieces
Easily distracted by unrelated stimuli
Always play with one toy at a time
Toddlers with ADHD may shift attention rapidly from one activity to another when any new stimulus appears. This distractibility makes it difficult to complete tasks or enjoy sustained play. Structured environments can reduce distractions and improve focus.
How might a toddler with ADHD respond to a simple instruction like 'pick up the toy'?
Tidies up immediately
Repeats the instruction back
Often fails to follow through
Asks 'Why?'
Toddlers with ADHD frequently exhibit inattentive behavior, including failing to follow simple instructions. This isn't deliberate defiance but a symptom of poor attention. Clear, brief commands and visual cues can improve compliance.
In social interactions, a toddler with ADHD may:
Watch quietly from a distance
Wait patiently in line
Interrupt others frequently
Whisper softly to friends
Frequent interruptions stem from impulsivity and the inability to inhibit immediate responses. This behavior can strain peer relationships and signal the need for social skills training. Guided play can help toddlers learn appropriate turn-taking.
In terms of play, a toddler with ADHD may:
Struggle to engage in quiet play activities
Prefer coloring for long periods
Dislike loud or active toys
Only enjoy quiet reading
Quiet play requires sustained attention and minimal movement, which can be challenging for toddlers with ADHD. They may abandon quiet activities quickly in favor of more stimulating ones. Structured play sessions can help build tolerance for calmer activities.
Which criterion indicates that ADHD-related behaviors are clinically significant?
Behaviors are only noticed by parents
Behaviors appear only at home
Behaviors are enjoyable for the child
Behaviors interfere with development or functioning
DSM-5 specifies that ADHD behaviors must cause impairment in social, academic, or other important areas of functioning. Symptoms that don't affect daily life aren't considered a disorder. Recognizing functional impact guides the need for evaluation and support.
The DSM-5 requires ADHD symptoms to be present in how many settings?
Four or more settings
Two or more settings
Three or more settings
One setting
For an ADHD diagnosis, symptoms must be evident in at least two settings (e.g., home and daycare). This cross-situational presence rules out situational causes. It ensures that behaviors are pervasive rather than context-specific.
For a formal ADHD diagnosis, how long must symptoms persist?
At least 6 months
One month
Two weeks
Two years
DSM-5 criteria require that ADHD symptoms be present for at least six months. This duration criterion distinguishes chronic ADHD from temporary behavior changes. It prevents over-diagnosis in transient developmental phases.
Which ADHD subtype is characterized by excessive motor activity and impulsivity?
Predominantly Inattentive Presentation
Oppositional Defiant Presentation
Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation
Combined Presentation
The Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation involves high levels of fidgeting, running, impulsive actions, and difficulty remaining seated. This subtype contrasts with the Inattentive Presentation, where hyperactivity is minimal. Identifying the subtype helps tailor interventions.
According to DSM-5, by what age must ADHD symptoms be evident to support a diagnosis?
Before age 5
Before age 15
Before age 7
Before age 12
DSM-5 specifies that several ADHD symptoms must be present before age 12 to establish an early onset. This change from previous editions reflects research on later manifesting cases. Recognizing age of onset is critical for accurate diagnosis and intervention.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the importance of early ADHD identification -

    Learn why taking the signs of ADHD in toddlers quiz can highlight early warning signs and pave the way for timely support.

  2. Identify core ADHD symptoms in toddlers -

    Recognize behaviors like impulsiveness, short attention spans, and hyperactivity that the ADHD in toddlers quiz helps uncover.

  3. Differentiate between typical toddler energy and ADHD-related behaviors -

    Analyze quiz scenarios to tell normal developmental milestones apart from potential ADHD indicators.

  4. Apply observational techniques from the toddler ADHD symptoms quiz -

    Use practical strategies featured in the quiz to monitor and document your toddler's behavior effectively.

  5. Evaluate your quiz results for next steps -

    Interpret your identify ADHD in toddlers test outcomes to decide whether to seek professional advice or implement supportive strategies.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Impulsiveness and Rapid Decision-Making -

    Impulsive actions - like grabbing toys from peers or darting into unsafe areas - are key items on any signs of ADHD in toddlers quiz, as noted by the American Academy of Pediatrics. A simple mnemonic, S.T.O.P. (Stop, Think, Observe, Proceed), can help caregivers pause and objectively note these behaviors. Tracking frequency over a week offers concrete data to share with your pediatrician.

  2. Short Attention Spans During Play -

    Many toddlers shift activities every few minutes, but consistent inability to engage in a single toy or book for more than two minutes may indicate toddler ADHD symptoms. Use a 5-minute kitchen timer to monitor focus - if the child moves on before the bell, record it on a play log. Research from the National Institute of Mental Health shows these logs can reveal patterns for an ADHD in toddlers quiz.

  3. Excessive Physical Activity and Restlessness -

    Beyond normal toddler energy, constant climbing, running in circles, or inability to settle at snack time can score high on a common signs of ADHD in toddlers quiz. The CDC recommends observing if the child's activity level is notably above peers of the same age. Counting episodes of "inappropriate hyperactivity" (e.g., bouncing on furniture) helps quantify restlessness.

  4. Emotional Outbursts and Difficulty Calming Down -

    Toddlers with ADHD often have intense frustrations or tantrums that last over 10 minutes, deviating from typical age”appropriate meltdowns. Implement the "Zones of Regulation" approach - green for calm, yellow for frustration - to cue self-awareness and gradual calming. Published pediatric studies affirm that structured emotion charts can decrease outburst duration by nearly 30%.

  5. Utilizing Early Screening Tools and Checklists -

    Validated preschool tools like the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale and free toddler ADHD symptoms quiz sheets help identify patterns aligned with ADHD in toddlers. Combining parent and caregiver checklists enhances reliability, as endorsed by a 2022 Journal of Child Psychology review. Early screening improves intervention success rates by up to 60%, underlining why an identify ADHD in toddlers test matters.

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