Short days and early darkness: the effect of winter on children with ADHD

Dr. Manuel Katz explains how shorter days and the switch to winter time exacerbate ADHD symptoms in children, and offers practical steps for adaptation: gradual preparation, exposure to morning light, and physical activity.

The switch to winter time and the shortening days can worsen ADHD symptoms in children, explains Dr. Manuel Katz, head of the ADHD unit and chief physician of Femi, president of the Goshen Center and former president of the Israeli Pediatric Association. According to him, the biological clock of children with ADHD tends to be delayed anyway, and the lack of morning light disrupts its synchronization, leading to cumulative sleep deprivation that impairs concentration, patience, and impulse control. Studies show a link between ADHD and seasonal depression, and in sunnier countries the diagnosis rate is lower. However, Dr. Katz reassures that Israel is not a Northern European country, and the main disruption is felt around the time change. He recommends gradual preparation, exposure to morning light, outdoor physical activity, and maintaining a screen-free sleep environment.