Customer Reviews

ADHD in the Young Child: Driven to Redirection: A Guide for Parents and Teachers of Young Children with ADHD

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I have a difficult 7-year-old son with ADHD. I didn't find this book to be very useful in managing him. It stresses rewards and punishments (such as time-out) which just don't work with my son. In fact, they make matters worse. A lot of the advice here is just plain common sense, such as giving clear rules, role playing, being consistent, supervising your child closely, explaining consequences, etc. The book also suggests that both parent and child sign a "Good Behavior Contract" to reinforce or eliminate a particular behavior, for which the child is rewarded if he keeps his promise. Perhaps this works for some children. My son is just not motivated by such things. One book that I found extremely helpful in changing my son's behavior was How to Talk So Kids Will Listen by Faber and Mazlish. I saw a very positive change in his behavior within days. That book was a life saver to me. He is more cooperative when I apply the principles from the How to Talk book. It's easy to read and easy to apply, and it's amazing that it works so well -- without rewards and punishments systems.

This book is divided into 2 sections. The first is devoted to a brief yet thorough overview of ADHD. It is particularly helpful in explaining WHY children with ADHD struggle with particular behaviors. It is very clear and informative. The second part is devoted to one page guides on dealing with particular problems areas at home or school, such as car rides, or wandering in the classroom. The front side of each page describes the characteristics a child will show in the situation, and the back side gives a list of practical strategies and suggestions to help the child be more successful in that situation. If you have been struggling with an ADHD child for a long time, you may find the suggestions too basic, but for those who are facing this struggle for the first time, it is a great starting point for your reference library.