Why Kids With ADHD Often Prefer Playing With Younger Children
Same-age rejection rarely stays on the playground. When children with ADHD are repeatedly excluded, the sting accumulates into beliefs — “no one likes me,” “I’m bad at friends” — that can follow them into adolescence and adulthood. Research links early peer rejection to later struggles with mood, self-esteem, and relationships. Younger friendships can buffer that damage by giving your son a place to feel competent and liked. Acting now, while the gap is still narrow, makes connection far easier than waiting until it widens.