Books About Attention Issues

In this last post about attention issues, I want to suggest a few books that may be helpful. Some are written for kids, some for adults.

Please keep in mind that attention issues are not just in persons (kids and adults) that are diagnosed as having ADHD. We all have times when maintaining attention is a challenge. If paying attention is affecting your child's performance at home and/or school, here are some resources that may be helpful.

BOOKS WRITTEN FOR KIDS (helpful for parents and teachers, too)

All Kinds of Minds by Dr. Mel Levine

This book has been around awhile (1993). It’s the first book I’d read that framed learning differences in a positive way. It presents the stories of 5 students as they cope in a regular classroom. Each student has a learning difference in a different area – attention, reading, memory, language and social skills.

The student stories section is followed by more information about each of the issues and provides ideas for helping to increase student success. This author’s website also provides extensive resources. www.allkindsofminds.org

The Survival Guide for Kids with ADD or ADHD by John F. Taylor, Ph.D.

This book offers lots of information for kids with attention issues. The chapter titles give a good idea of the scope of information  covered:

What is ADHD?

Make Each Day Go Better

Getting Help for ADHD

Eating the Right Food

Life on the Home Front

Six Ways to Succeed at School

Seven Ways to Make and Keep Friends

Eight Ways to Deal with Strong Feelings

Learning to Slow Down and Pay Attention by Kathleen G. Nadeau, Ph.D. and Ellen B. Dixon, Ph.D.

Part 1 of this book gives a series of short checklists for kids to complete. They cover school, friends, self and home. It seems they
might be quite helpful to a child who is struggling but doesn’t know why.

Part 2 covers things other people can do to help. It encourages kids to turn to the adults in their lives for support.

Part 3 gives ideas that can help the kids learn to help themselves. It covers many areas, including way to remember, homework, problem solving and making friends.

Part 4 suggests projects that kids can do with their parents, based on what the kids have identified as areas they want to change.

BOOKS WRITTEN FOR ADULTS

101 School Success Tools for Students with ADHD by Jacqueline S. Iseman, Ph.D., Stephan M. Silverman, Ph.D. and Sue Jeweler

This book is written for teachers and parents. I see it as a valuable resource to consult when issues arise. It includes reproducible
checklists, worksheets and charts to support learning and behavior change. It’s a bit overwhelming at first, but it does offer excellent ideas.

ADHD: What Every Parent Needs to Know by Michael I. Reiff, MD, FAAP

This book offers comprehensive information on ADHD. It covers diagnosis, medications, managing at home, behavior therapy, school, advocating for your child, adolescence, alternate treatments and the future. I think it would be a good book to read cover-to-cover or as a resource to consult as issues arise.

For previous posts on attention issues, see Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

As a parent of a son with attention issues, I know how challenging life can be - for the child, the parents and the siblings. Hang in there! Some small changes can bring positive results. Please share in the Comments box - what works for you?

Gail