Helping the Child Who Doesn't Fit in [Paperback]

Stephen Nowicki (Author), Marshall P. Duke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1992

Remember the kids who just didn't fit in? Maybe they stood too close, or talked too loud. Whatever the reason, we called them hurtful names, and they never understood why. Now, clinical psychologists Duke and Nowicki call these children "dyssemic," and offer some ideas of how to help them.

Dyssemic children cannot readily comprehend nonverbal messages, much as dyslexics do not correctly process the written word. Yet nonverbal communication plays a vital role in our communication with others, and children who misunderstand or misuse it may face painful social rejection. In HELPING THE CHILD WHO DOESN'T FIT IN, Duke and Nowicki show parents and teachers how to assess the extent of a child's problem, as well as how to help the dyssemic child.

Editorial Reviews

Review

...these children are misfits for reasons that are both identifiable and correctable. -- Jane Brody, The New York Times

About the Author

Marshall Duke received a BA from Rutgers University and a PhD from Indiana University. Stephen Nowicki Jr. received his BA from Carroll College, his MS from Marquette University, and his PhD from Purdue University. Duke and Nowicki are the co-authors of TEACHING YOUR CHILD THE LANGUAGE OF SOCIAL SUCCESS and a textbook on abnormal psychology. Both are on the faculty at Emory University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 178 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers; 1 edition (January 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561450251
• ISBN-13: 978-1561450251
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #84 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Personal Health > Children's Health > Autism & Asperger's Syndrome

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 94 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding problems of non-verbal communication, September 30, 1998

By 

Pat Schissel ([e-mail]) (Long Island, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Helping the Child Who Doesn't Fit in (Paperback)

Gives understanding of the problems faced when someone does not have the ability to "get" non-verbal communication. Most of us know instinctively, by body language, what others are trying to convey. Not so with children and adults on the autistic spectrum. This book explains it all and better yet - gives concrete examples and exercises that you can do with your child at home or suggestions for the professionals to use in a school setting.

97 of 102 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Practical Advice, December 22, 1999

By 

Geela Spira - See all my reviews

This review is from: Helping the Child Who Doesn't Fit in (Paperback)

This book addresses reasons for kids who cant make friends because they are unaware of non verbal 'rules' between kids. They just dont catch on. The authors list about 6 clear areas to address that can be gone over with children to help remedy that. Each section has about 2 pages of suggested activities to try . I liked that while many other books offer psychobabble, this book goes into another dimension -of body language and actual body presentation. Real and practical stuff. I didnt like that the book felt as though the important information wasnt quite long enough for a book so it was padded to make it thick enough to be commercially viable. I'd bet this and their other book could be combined into one really worthwhile book.

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good resource for teaching children social skills, December 16, 2004

By 

Margaret P. "mhp2027" (Boulder, CO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Helping the Child Who Doesn't Fit in (Paperback)

This book explains how to teach a child better social skills. Unlike most books on this topic, "Helping the Child Who Doesn't Fit In" actually addresses social skills (e.g., don't stand too close). The other books I've tried either teach manners (e.g., please & thank you) or teach your child to obey house rules (e.g., pick up toys without being told). Thats all well and good, but it does nothing to improve your child's social skills!

This book gets 5 stars from me (excellent quality) because it (1) clearly explains several key aspects of social skills, and (2) lists a variety of effective ways to teach these skills to your child.