Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents
From Scientific American
Although the book is targeted at the parents of ADHD children, it will serve as a useful resource for teachers and others involved in the care and education of these children….This book is unique in its up-to-date and clear presentation of the scientific underpinnings of the disorder and the pragmatic, empirically based approach to intervention that it encourages. It is also very well organized and readable; it is probably the best available resource of this type.
–This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From The New Yorker
Dr. Barkley, a master in the field, has written a superb book for parents and all others interested in ADHD. Full of the most up-to-…
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This is an incredibly thorough and educational book. Barkeley is a pioneer in research on ADHD and a genuine authority. But he leans too much on the pathological/medical view of ADHD, and by the end of the book, I was exhausted just thinking about the road ahead of me in raising two boys with ADHD. Fortunately, I read the review here suggesting other books (like Driven to Distraction and the Thom Hartman books), and I expanded my reading education about ADHD considerably by reading those books, too. However, I do recommend starting with Barkeley – to get facts and ideas about management of ADHD, especially if you have young children. But take his suggestions with a grain of salt, too – my gut tells me that asking my child’s teacher to implement an elaborate “chips and points” type program at school is not really the way I want to go. Also, Barkeley is a little dry and if you are an adult with ADD, you might put this one down before you finish. Nonetheless, it is a well researched and thoughtfully presented book, and I recommend it highly, so long as you read other books about ADHD/ADD, too.
3.0 out of 5 stars
A good reference
Making the Connection: A Parent’s Guide to Medication in ADHDDr.Barkley is a recognized expert in the field of ADHD.
As the parent of an ADHD child, I have read many books on this disorder. This one contains many practical tips that you can use, but also sets down some large guiding principals. I like the fact that Dr. Barkley challenges us to become “executive parents”, ones that take charge of our childs professional and educational care, something I feel we all need to keep in mind. He arms us with facts to dispel the myths that abound about ADHD, integrating the latest scientific findings with anecdotes from his years of working with ADHD patients and their families.
There are several chapters that offer programs that you can implement starting today to help your child control and replace undesirable behavior with appropriate, positive behavior. There are two chapters that give you answers to questions like, I know he(she) has ADHD, but how can I get him (her) to (finish his homework, do the dishes, pick up dirty clothes, get up in the morning, stop pushing other kids, pu t on socks in less than 22 minutes)… just fill in the blank. His suggestions take commitment and consistent effort from us as parents before we see results from our child, but they do work. Some steps may bring better results than others in your child. But if you gain some sanity and peace in your house and family again, isnt it worth the effort? I think the biggest challenge will be for those parents with ADHD themselves to make a consistent effort, an issue that Dr. Barkley does not address.
He does, however, r emind us to keep it all in perspective. He suggests that we focus on what is really important in our lives each day. Is getting to soccer practice on time more important than arriving there prepared and leaving home in a peaceful and loving attitude? H e challenges us to step outside our need to get our child to behave in certain ways, and to first understand the challenges that s/he faces every minute of the day. Then we can work together to build on the childs strengths and differences in a positive way.
There were times when I felt overwhelmed by the programs I needed to implement just to help my child get through the week successfully. And I do wish that he would incorporate a most positive “slant” on the ADHD traits into his books to give us mor e hope (but I just pull out one of Thom Hartmann’s books when I need that). Dr. Barkley’s books are ones that you need to keep on your shelf if you have a child with ADHD so that you can refer to a new suggestion when a “tried and true” solution is no lon ger effective. This is one I recommend to all the parents I know with ADHD children under the age of 12.
2.0 out of 5 stars
This book is out of date
I recently bought this book to help me with my own ADHD child. I thought I knew what ADHD was and this book only confused me.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent for parents of ADHD children
This book was recommended by our son’s child development doctor after his diagnosis of ADHD. It is an excellent book with lots of suggestions for understanding and working with…
1.0 out of 5 stars
unsatisfied
i purchased this book but i never received it in the mail. I placed the order Jan 19, 2009. I paid for it but never got the product, I’m so disappointed.
5.0 out of 5 stars
practical help for families
I have used this book in my clinical practice as a psychologist and most of the parents of the clients I work with have found this book to be a valuable, practical guide.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very Helpful
This has been very helpful and insightful. I recommend to anyone dealing with a child with ADHD.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Getting the Facts Straight about ADHD
Finally, a book that doesn’t talk down to parents, but lays all the facts, research and myth busting information on the line.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Helpful, scientific resource
As a parent of a child who is seriously affected by ADHD, I find this book an excellent resource. My child’s disability goes way beyond simple attention difficulties, and Barkley…
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good reference material
I’m a year into the search for help for my 8 year old son with AD/HD. Reading this book at first was a drag….
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Book that I recommend.
There are a lot of books from so-called experts.
The reality is that the best book out there is Barkley’s ADHD and The Nature of Self-Control.