Parenting a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD) can be challenging and demanding. But now, with the help of The AD/HD Parenting Handbook , 2nd Edition, your job as a parent will get easier. Here, other parents of AD/HD children tell what really worked for them. With hundreds of inspired ideas, author Colleen Alexander-Roberts gives you practical suggestions for handling your child with AD/HD.
Solid information, covers a wide spectrum of symptoms and how they might manifest at different ages. I whole-heartedly concur with the parenting advice to be consistent and to make sure you are not stingy with well-deserved praise, especially since children with ADHD are so often criticized or scolded. The section on specific challenging behaviors was full of good ideas for discipline and teaching children with ADHD how to act in a socially appropriate way.
The author many times talked about having rules, preferably written, for different scenarios and reviewing them with the child before the activity or event. My personal preference is to have a single set of rules (our family has six) that are applicable in every situation. They are posted on the refrigerator and we even repeat them together as a family every night so all the kids (and parents!) have a daily reminder. Then we can talk about how the rules would apply in a given setting. It's much less for the child to keep in mind, so they're more likely to remember them!
Also, there was a significant emphasis on how ADHD is a disability and disorder. I'm really ambivalent about that categorization. It lends credibility and provides a diagnosis to help identify helpful treatments but it can have such negative connotations that it can be counter-productive and damaging if not handled very carefully.
I read the second edition of this book. This is so wonderful for anyone who teaches children whether in school, church, etc. Most classes will have one or two ADHD children in them, so it’s good to be familiar with the symptoms and how you can best help these children!
It’s especially helpful of course if you have an ADHD family member, adult or child, or suspect one of being such. I honestly never realized how widespread and diverse of a disorder this is, nor did I realize that I was probably ADHD, though undiagnosed. The contents of this book have really opened my eyes to how I can help myself, my son, and children that I teach in church that may have this disorder.
This particular edition is missing newer research on behaviors and medications…it also still references “tying up the family phone line,” so make your own conclusions about out-datedness…