Customer Reviews

No One to Play with: Social Problems of LD and ADD Children, Revised Edition

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My son has learning difference woes, and in trying to get a handle on things at school (mostly), I've searched high and low for information. I put tags and stickies on almost every page of this book - marking ideas, situations, stories, and such that either sounded like my son or gave me ideas and a great deal of insight and support for my journey in helping him have fewer social troubles with others. I cried, laughed, and felt stronger after reading the book and wish I could use the author as a doctor for my kid! I feel strongly enough about what all the book has to say about how teachers and parents are so integral in the training and learning processes of these kids that I am buying another copy for my son's elementary school officials to share amongst themselves in the hopes of giving them ideas to help them cope better with the kidlets they have to deal with at school. By (diligently) working together, parents and schools can make help these kids improve their social skills to a level that makes all feel better!

Parents of children who are ADHD/LD will appreciate the real-life stories of other parents and children who have difficulties navigating Social side of life. Many practical strategies/suggestions are offered here.

Reading the anecdotes is probably as close as you can get to 'walking in your child's shoes' and understanding their personal experience of living with a learning disability.

If you enjoy "politically correct" words and phrases, be aware that the word handicap/handicaps/handicapped is used somewhat frequently in this book, however, this factor alone should not deter a reader from gleaning the valuable information and strategies offered.

I must applaud this author for her insightful and empathetic approach to the plight of unpopular, learning disabled children. However, I do take serious issue with one of her statements: "Popular children have some characteristics in common which facilitate their adjustment in school. They seem to know intuitively how to make friends. They appeal to others because they are more self-confident, outgoing, and cooperative than less accepted youngsters. They are also likely to be empathetic and generous with their friends. Many LD/ADD children do not have these qualities." (91-92) Common experience proves that this statement is wrong. Most popular kids achieve their high social status because of three factors: they're good-looking, they're good at sports, and most important, they know how to intimidate and manipulate other children. Many unpopular, LD students would do anything to be in the "popular group." They have generous and empathetic personalities, but unfortunately, the popular crowd just writes them off without ever giving them a chance.