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	Books for ADD & Special Needs Children also save $5 with a special Zone discount on Online Self-Portrait™ Learning Style Profiles Positive Thinking for Kids by Elizabeth Pantley author of "Kid Cooperation, Perfect Parenting & more During their growth and development, children go through many stages of self-doubt. They are always comparing themselves to others, and they often see themselves as coming up short. As parents, we can offset this natural tendency in our children by giving them the skills to think more positively. We need to arm our children with a positive attitude, so that they can stay focused in the right direction. We'll look at some typical negative statements from children, along with some positive responses from their wise parents. Modeling a positive attitude is one of the most effective ways of teaching your children. Children learn what they live. Find out more. Overcoming Depression & Finding Happiness excerpted from "Family Desk Reference to Psychology" by Chuck T. Falcon Depressed people often lose interest in many activities and social contacts because of loss of pleasure in and enthusiasm for their usual activities. There are many effective ways to overcome depression. In this essay from author and Counseling Psychologist Chuck Falcon, he illustrates the causes and treatment of depression; how activity can help break the depression cycle along with a step-by-step guide on things that you can do to feel better. Don't forget to join our discussion groups where you can ask your questions and share your feelings. How to Nurture Compassion in Your Special Child's World" excerpted from "Special Kids Need Special Parents" A resource for Parents of Children With Special Needs by Judy Lavin With 20 million plus families in the United States having a child with special needs, more children with challenges are being mainstreamed into America's public schools. Unfortunately, too often those without special needs feel uncomfortable around a classmate who seems out-of-sync. What's more, they can translate their discomfort into ugly behaviors, such as verbally demeaning or physically hurting the individual with differences. Helping youngsters become more sensitive is always important. Here are some specific ways to make kids feel more comfortable. "Homeschooling the Child with ADD" (Or Other Special Needs): Your Complete Guide to Successfully Homeschooling the Child with Learning Differences by Lenore Colacion Hayes Lenore is a counselor who has worked with students in a public school and at the university level. She is also the director of BayShore School and is also the coordinator for the annual Southern CA Homeschool Conference. In this interview and FREE excerpt from her book, Lenore shares with us how she became interested in special needs kids and how to deal with the special challenges that homeschooling can present. In her essay from her book, "What's Wrong with My Child?" she explores how to deal with the realization that your child is different and why homeschooling is a viable alternative. It's a great opportunity to join our ADD support group and get answers to your questions. "Are You Qualified to Homeschool?" by Julie Gattis excerpted from "McGraw Hill Homeschool Companion" hosted by Joe Spataro Julie Gattis is a homeschooling mom of four children and the co-author of the McGraw Hill Homeschooling Companion. She took her experience and collaborated with her co-author Laura Saba to create a book which is a comprehensive guide containing vital information. In this interview and FREE excerpt from her book, Julie shares with us some of her insights on what it takes for a parent to be "qualified to homeschool" and also some tips on educating children with special needs. "Special" Education A homeschooling success story by Beth Bruno Increasingly, parents who are disenchanted with public schools are educating their children at home. In a study conducted in 1997 by Dr. Brian D. Ray, President of the National Home Education Research Institute, data indicate there are approximately 1,230,000 American children being taught at home. See the story of Todd's parents, who made lemonade out of lemons, when Todd was having problems in school. "I'm keeping my eye on you!" Janie Bowman is an author, online ADD support group moderator and a pet lover too!! She says, "This is Tristan (age 5), our border collie (probably 90% Border Collie and 10% genius. LOL). Also, here is my favorite of Pumpkin, our calico (age 1 1/2). She's a riot!" Here Pumpkin is keeping a watchful eye on the mischievous and energetic Tristan. Being in Control: The Role of Biofeedback in Controlling ADD naturally by Jason Alster MSc Ritalin, the brand name for methylphenidate, is a central nervous system stimulant that produces pharmacological effects similar to those of cocaine and amphetamines. While many in the medical establishment consider the drug an effective way to control ADHD, others maintain that long-term medication is not the right approach to treating the condition. Jason Alster has been treating attention deficit disorder, with or without hyperactivity with a drug-free method which he calls "Being in Control." He has written a book by the same name which gives you natural techniques for increasing your child's potential and creativity and for improving concentration and learning - all without the use of drugs. Jason offers us an essay where he describes how he came to develop this technique using his experience as a biofeedback therapist. Ten Steps to Successfully Homeschooling Children with Special Needs by Janie Bowman If you are a parent of a child with special needs and considering homeschooling, you undoubtedly have many questions and concerns. Author Janie Bowman of Think Fast! The ADD Experience gives you a ten step plan to help you make the most of your child's educational experience. She says, "...homeschooling has rapidly become a respected alternative, especially for those children with special needs who are being pushed out of public schools....Though each family has different strengths and challenges, we have many things in common: the love for our children, the commitment to our families, the challenges and the joy, and the courage to homeschool. So, can you successfully homeschool your child?" Find out more!! Self-Directed Home Schooling by Lisa Rivero author of "Creative Homeschooling for Gifted Children" There are nearly as many definitions of unschooling as there are people who consider themselves unschoolers. Lisa Rivero, author of Creative Homeschooling for Gifted Children, says: "I prefer to use the phrase self-directed learning or self-directed home schooling to unschooling as a way to describe our home schooling approach, because it is a more positive description of what actually occurs." In this adapted excerpt from her book, she describes how self-directed learning is an educational philosophy that emphasizes the child's role as an active learner. She shows how parents can introduce self-directed learning to their children by giving their children input into the content of study, materials used for study, and the pace of study. "Wild Tulips" Raising Parents in a Complex World by Beth Bruno hosted by Joe Spataro Beth Bruno is the author of Wild Tulips, which is a collection of entertaining tales about parenting. She has always been "fascinated by people - their motives, emotions, what makes them tick." As a school psychologist, her philosophy is not to solve problems for people, but rather "to help people discover their inner resources and create ways to help themselves." In this interview with Beth, she discusses how living life is akin to gardening; what lessons her book can teach homeschoolers; a little bit about Beth's daughter Nikki; her approach to dealing with school districts; and an essay on "special" education that focuses on bringing out the strengths in our children. She is available for your questions and we hope to have a lively discussion. ADD & special kids articles		What is the best way to teach my child? Find out with Online Self-Portrait™ Learning Style Profiles Now get $5 off!! Find out more - click here The Explosive Child Interview with author Ross Greene more ADD & ADHD books more special needs books more homeschooling books more ADD & ADHD books more special needs books more homeschooling books Right-Brained Children in a Left-Brained World: Unlocking the Potential of Your Add Child by Jeffrey Freed, Laurie Parsons Requiring only ten minutes a day, the program revealed in this groundbreaking book provides an effective, step-by-step method for helping children with Attention Deficit Disorder develop their special skills and individual learning styles and excel in a classroom setting. The Myth of the A.D.D Child: 50 Ways to Improve Your Child's Behavior and Attention Span Without Drugs, Labels, or Coercion by Thomas Armstrong From the author, Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D. who says, "Book does NOT say there are no hyper kids I would like the readers to know that my book does NOT say that there are no distractible, hyperactive, or impulsive kids out there. Rather, it argues that the ADD/ADHD concept is not helpful in understanding these behaviors, and gets in the way of our appreciating the wholeness of each child. I also am not against medication of kids in certain situations, but believe that parents have a right to know the full range of non-drug options that are available for helping their "attention-different" kids achieve success in life." Straight Talk About Psychiatric Medications for Kids by Timothy E. Wilens Psychiatric medications are being used with increasing confidence to treat a variety of child and adolescent disorders, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and Tourette syndrome. For parents, however, deciding whether to allow a child to take medication for an emotional or behavioral problem may be one of the toughest choices they will ever face. When a son or daughter needs help, parents need more than a brief medical consultation--and more than a prescription slip. As seen on Oprah.... Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood through Adulthood by Edward Hallowell, M.D., and John Ratey, M.D. Through vivid stories of the experiences of their patients (both adults and children), Drs. Hallowell and Ratey show the varied forms ADD takes - from the hyperactive search for high stimulation to the floating inattention of daydreaming - and the transforming impact of precise diagnosis and treatment. Learning Disabilities A to Z by Corinne Smith, Lisa Strick This book is about helping youngsters with learning disabilities hold onto their dreams. It is also about helping their mothers and fathers negotiate the maze of challenges that so often leaves parents and students alike feeling overwhelmed and helpless." Writing with warmth and compassion Corinne Smith and Lisa Strick explain the causes, identification, and treatment of learning disabilities and present a wealth of practical strategies for helping youngsters become successful both in and out.

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