The Myth of the A.D.D. Child: 50 Ways to Improve Your Child's Behavior and Attention Span ...Coercion

A psychologist and former teacher, Armstrong (Seven Kinds of Smart) offers a practical guide for parents of hyperactive, inattentive children--those often tagged as suffering from attention deficit disorder, or ADD--and argues persuasively that ""these children are not disordered."" Asserting that the causes of ADD-type behavior are complex and may be cultural, social, psychological, educational and even biological, he suggests that the solution is not pills, but skills. He offers parents 50 specific strategies, such as providing a balanced breakfast, enrolling the child in a martial arts class, giving him or her real-life tasks, limiting TV and video time, establishing consistent rules and routines and holding family meetings for helping kids with behavior and attention-span difficulties. Many of his exercises and activities are illustrated with examples from his experience in teaching special education classes. Included are a questionnaire to aid parents in deciding which strategies will most likely benefit their children, an extensive bibliography and a caution that the book is not a substitute for medical care, but a ""supplementary educational resource."" (Sept.)