Is it Just a Phase? How to Tell Common Childhood Phases from More Serious Problems [Paperback]

Susan Anderson Swedo (Author), Henrietta L. Leonard Dr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 5, 1999

When to get help for toddlers to teens and what to do about: thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, separation problems, shyness, hyperactivity, nighttime fears, ADHD, school avoidance, misbehavior, eating problems and much more.

Is It "Just a Phase"? uniquely combines the advice of an expert pediatrician and an expert child and adolescent psychiatrist on the challenges a child faces from toddlerhood through adolescence.  Drawing on real-life examples, Doctors Swedo and Leonard give concrete guidelines for determining when a behavior is a common developmental phase and when it is a more serious problem.  With the latest medical research on issues that concern every parent, Is It "Just a Phase"? includes information on:  

Excessive activity and ADHD
  Picky eating, anorexia, and bulimia
Thumb sucking, other habits, and tic disorders
Shyness and social phobia
Excessive moodiness, depression, and bipolar disorder
Childhood fears and separation anxiety disorder

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Parents concerned by the behavior of an overactive, shy or disobedient child, or troubled by their child's bedwetting or eating problems, can find reassuring, practical advice in this accessible handbook. Swedo, head of behavioral pediatrics at the National Institutes of Mental Health, and Leonard, a child psychiatrist and professor at Brown University School of Medicine, combine their expertise to aid parents in helping their toddler or teen through difficult stages in development. Each chapter in Part 1 includes brief stories that illustrate particular behaviors, such as eating problems, thumb-sucking or moodiness, in both a normal child and a problem child. The stories are followed by suggestions on what parents can do to help, and what help they can expect from teachers and doctors. Part 2 focuses on those problem behaviors that are not merely passing phases but symptoms of psychiatric disorders requiring therapeutic intervention. Such conditions as anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder are explained in clear language. Brief sets of questions assist parents in deciding whether their child fits the description or may have some related condition; the authors then discuss therapy options and offer a resource list of professional organizations.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"This book will bring comfort to parents who are simply perplexed by their child and helpful strategies for parents confronted with more serious problems."
--Judith Rapoport, M.D., author of The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Washing

"A must book for parents and anyone who wants to understand children."
--John J. Ratey, M.D., author of Driven to Distraction and Shadow Syndromes

"Parents concerned by the behavior of an overactive, shy, or disobedient child, or troubled by their child's bedwetting or eating problems, can find reassuring, practical advice in this accessible handbook."
--Publishers Weekly

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 348 pages
• Publisher: Broadway (October 5, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767903919
• ISBN-13: 978-0767903912
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,257,169 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resource for any family!, August 6, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Is it Just a Phase? (Hardcover)

This book is extremely well written and is a must have for anyfamily's bookshelves. It details childhood problems and helps parentsdecipher when their child's problems are "more than just a phase". I found it to be a huge help. Not only does this book discuss the symptoms of phases; it also describes how to treat these "phases". I really recommend this book for all parents, with children of any age.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic! This book was a big help for my family!, January 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Is it Just a Phase? (Hardcover)

I especially liked the examples and vignettes given by the author(s). After reading this book, I was able to better recognize and deal with the behaviors my children were exhibiting. Thanks for a tremendous help and guide!