review
A survival guide for children and young people who have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), as well as for those around them. With ADD and ADHD, the brain’s own way of working can make it difficult for you to do certain things such as sitting still or keeping your attention somewhere. The book is suitable for children between ten and fourteen years old.
Details of the book
- Title: The AD (H) D Survival Guide
- Original title: The Survival Guide for kids with ADD or ADHD
- Text: John F. Taylor Ph.D.
- Illustrations: Tad Herr
- Cover: Marieka Heinlen (adapted from Inne Van den Bosche)
- Publisher: Abimo Publisher (Dutch version)
- Year: 2008 (second edition)
- ISBN: 978 90 5932 3438
- Pages: 119
- Genre: children’s book, health
- Target group: children between ten and fourteen years old
The structure of the book on ADD and ADHD
The book starts with a comment on the characteristics of ADD and ADHD, an introduction, followed by eight chapters, a closing word, a glossary and a message for parents, teachers and caregivers.
The chapters
Introduction or beginning of this book
Is it a challenge for you to get ready for school? Do you find it difficult to pay attention at school? Is it difficult for you to fall asleep at night? This book can help you if you have been diagnosed with ADHD. ADHD stands for: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Chapter 1: What is ADHD?
This chapter tells what ADHD stands for. In a group of 100 school-age children, about 3 to 7 children could have AD (H) D. There are three types of ADHD: ADHD hyperactive-impulsive type, ADHD inattentive type, ADHD combined type.
Chapter 2: A little better every day
Children with ADHD have a number of traits that make them different from others. For example the unstoppable energy, enthusiasm. They can be perceived positively by others, but also as difficult. It’s important to think about your good sides. Consider what you are doing. Step-by-step plan: what is the situation, how can I approach the situation and make three plans, try out the best plan and evaluate whether it was a good plan.
Chapter 3: Seeking Help for ADHD
There are many people ready to help you: a kind of ADHD team. Several experts can determine that you have ADHD. Experts are psychologists and psychiatrists. A pediatric neurologist can also make the diagnosis. Later in this chapter: what you need to know about medicines, what are the signs that a medicine works, side effects of medicines.
Chapter 4: Eating the Right Foods
Healthy food is important. In this chapter, you’ll find information about five nutrients that can help you control ADHD: vitamins, proteins, minerals, good fats and oils, and water. Four foods to watch out for: foods and beverages you may be allergic to, foods with bad fats and oils, foods rich in carbohydrates, foods and beverages containing chemical products.
Chapter 5: Life on the home front
You spend a lot of time with the members of your family, they can give you tips and support you in controlling your ADHD. Tips for living together in a fun way with parents and the adults in your family. How can you deal with brothers and sisters in a good way. Have fun with family members.
Chapter 6: Six Ways to Succeed in School
Many children with ADHD like to be in school, but most children have problems there too. Finding it difficult to sit still or to remain silent. Teachers can get angry when others in the classroom are disturbed. Many children with ADHD follow adapted education at school. Tips for school: move in such a way that nobody notices, help the teacher without asking, take a break to unwind. Pay attention to the right things, stay organized, study sensibly.
Chapter 7: Seven Ways to Make and Stay Friends
Feel good about yourself, use polite and friendly language, listen and show your compassion, participate and share, try new activities, help others, resolve conflicts in peace.
Chapter 8: Eight Ways to Deal With Strong Feelings
Sometimes it feels like you should never do anything wrong without making people angry. Strong feelings that can occur: stress, anger, fear, sadness. If you don’t have anyone to talk to, you can call the Kindertelefoon, for example. Take care of yourself, get moving, do breathing and relaxation exercises, be creative, hang out with a friend, talk to an adult.
After the chapters
After the eight chapters follow:
- Final word
- My evolution map (working on challenges)
- Glossary
- Message for parents, teachers and caregivers
Two fragments
Having ADHD can really be a challenge? and not just when it comes to schoolwork and teachers. ADHD also affects how you interact with other people. Maybe things aren’t going well with your parents or other family members at home. You may also find it difficult to make friends or get along with other children. It may seem like someone is always mad at you.
Stay orderly. Many children with ADHD are really careless. Their rooms are usually a mess and often they cannot find important things. How important is order? Well, losing your backpack under a bunch of dirty clothes is a good way to be late for school. Keeping your room (and other rooms you come into) tidy helps you make everyday things run better.
My opinion
An educational book for children diagnosed with ADHD. Parents and family members can also learn a lot from the tips in the book. A kind of quiz follows after each chapter, so that a child can check whether they have understood the content of the chapter.