Reviewer: Michael S. Goldsby, PhD, CCRP (Family Psychiatry of The Woodlands)
Description: This highly anticipated second edition further explores the 10 lessons learned by the author in his internationally recognized research over the past three decades about ways in which to help children with ADHD to succeed in life - without the use of medication. This updated edition follows the structure of the author's own Monastra ADHD Parenting Program (MAPP) that he espouses in parenting classes at his clinic, with an emphasis on teaching parents 10 effective nonmedication strategies that are geared for success.
Purpose: One purpose of this second edition is to detail the newest developments in diagnosing ADHD, so that parents and professionals can better help children with ADHD to develop improved attention, behavioral control, and social skills. Further, while the previous edition provided a foundation for teaching new life skills to children with ADHD, this update expands on those lessons and offers new information and a framework for teaching values like generosity, kindness, and compassion. Globally, the author states that he hopes that what parents learn from this second edition will guide them in raising a joyful, confident child.
Audience: Like the first edition, this update is an effort to synthesize the available medical, nutritional, educational, and psychological research so that it can be used by parents with ADHD children as a guidebook, or by health professionals conducting classes for these parents.
Features: This edition builds and expands upon the 10-lesson foundation that the author so brilliantly set forth in the first edition. New to this edition are the state-of-the-art procedures and tests for diagnosing ADHD and empirically supported psychological treatments for ADHD, including neurotherapy. Also new is information on teaching life values such as kindness, generosity, and compassion to children with ADHD who otherwise would likely have difficulty grasping these concepts on their own. Chapters discuss in great detail the establishment of family rules and structure, eating a balanced diet, and promoting the ADHD child's sensitivity toward others. The book also focuses ample attention on effective psychological treatments for promoting the child's attention, memory, problem-solving ability, and social development, now and into adulthood.
Assessment: There are few researchers and authors in the field of ADHD who have the name recognition and universal respect that the author of this highly anticipated second edition does. Dr. Monastra presents the material in easy-to-understand lessons that make this second edition the must-have resource for parents with ADHD children. For parents seeking new approaches and empirically proven methods to maximize their child's potential in the classroom, the playground, and team settings, as well as in family situations, without relying solely on medications, this second edition is the perfect prescription. Novel learning approaches and new empirical research data, along with the collaboration of renowned psychiatrists, pediatricians, family practitioners, educators, counselors, and developmental specialists, make this the must-have book for parents and professionals who want to help children with ADHD succeed.
