Listed here are some books that have provided both myself, and parents I know, with guidance on several different topics surrounding young children. I have also included the names of a couple children's books which may help the younger age group understand some of the challenges they are facing.
"The Out-of-Sync Child is written for and can be easily understood by parents and non-professionals. Carol Stock Kranowitz's description and discussion of [sensory processing disorder] give a clear and concise picture of a disability. This book is a model for taking a little-known, and often-missed disability and making it accessible to the people most in need of this information." - The Exceptional Parent (excerpt from one of the many pieces of praise from the inside cover of the book) | "Flexibility and tolerance are learned skills... Unfortunately, for reasons that are poorly understood, a few children don't "get" this part of socialization. Years after toddler tantrums should have become an unpleasant memory, a few unlucky parents find themselves battling with sudden, inexplicable, disturbingly violent rages--along with crushing guilt about what they "did wrong." Medical experts haven't helped much: the flurry of acronyms and labels (Tourette's, ADHD, ADD, etc.) seems to proffer new discoveries about the causes of such explosions, when in fact the only new development is alternative vocabulary to describe the effects. Ross Greene, a pediatric psychologist who also teaches at Harvard Medical School, makes a bold and humane attempt in this book to cut through the blather and speak directly to the (usually desperate) parents of explosive children...Quoted dialogue from actual sessions with parents and children is interspersed with analysis that is always oriented toward understanding the origins of "meltdowns" and developing workable strategies for avoidance.. --Richard Farr (as quoted from Amazon.com) |
"As any educator can tell you, children who are not In Sync have always been with us, puzzling and worrying their teachers, psychologists, and - especially - their parents. Currently, pediatricians, teachers, and parents are troubled by a rapid increase in children who have somehow missed out on the body-brain connection and are seriously delayed in basic physical and perceptual skill development...Kranowitz and Newman urge us to give the electronic entertainments a rest and resist trying to accelerate learning. Fortunately, they also tell us how to reverse these damaging trends while identifying and targeting any child's specific areas of need. They give us a series of flexible activities that can be adapted to time and place, as well as the child's ability to attention span." - Jane M. Healy, Ph.D. (as quoted in the foreward to the book). |
Vivian Gussin Paley has devoted her life's work to working with and observing children and documenting how they interact with each other. The three of her books that I have had the pleasure of reading so far are: The Boy on the Beach: Building Community Through Play, The Girl With the Brown Crayon: How Children Use Stories to Shape Their Lives, and A Child's Work: The Importance of Fantasy Play. All three books focus on the interactions of young children and how they use stories and fantasy play to act out their fears, dreams and inner conflicts. In a time when parents and educators are so focused on achievement and getting ahead, it's important to take a step back and realize how the real work of children is to simply, play. |
I have not read this entire text but from what I've seen of it so far, it seems like a great resource for elementary school aged children (2nd-5th grade) struggling with ADD or ADHD. It explains characteristics, as well as strategies to handle difficulties children with ADD or ADHD face. Pictures and easy to understand definitions of behaviors and specialists they may see will help children understand how to work with their impulses. |
Again, I have not had the chance to read this book yet, but it has several very positive reviews from parents of different ages of children dealing with Autism Spectrum Disorders or Sensory Processing Disorder. It uses fun pictures and simple language to explain moods or behaviors children may struggle with, followed by ways to work with them. It encourages the child to accept him/herself and learn how to manage challenging moments that occur on a regular basis. |