ADHD 2.0
Kjrstin says: This is a great revamp from Hallowell and Ratey. Good actionable ideas to help kids regulate. Very strengths based approach. Helpful for parents looking for alternatives or additional supports besides medications.
Video Summary Link: Authors Ned and John on ADDitude Magazine
Teaching Teens With ADD, ADHD & Executive Function Deficits
Megan says: We are all familiar with the basic diagnostic criteria for ADHD, but we often overlook that these symptoms can play out in other ways. This book is a great introduction to the fact that ADHD can affect many different areas of our lives. Though this book is geared toward teaching teens, the principles are beneficial for anyone with ADHD in their family.
Chris A. Zeigler Dendy’s Resources and Tips Page on her website, full of great information and supports.
12 Principles for Raising a Child with ADHD
Kjrstin says: Dr. Barkley gives parents a great template to work from. You don’t have to read cover to cover. I love the principle about being a shepherd, not an engineer. This helped me as a parent much more than I expected it would.
Here’s Dr. Barkley discussing this topic in an hour, with slides.
The Explosive Child
Megan says: Raising a neurodivergent or strong-willed child can be hard. This is a great book because it teaches parents the how and why of holding boundaries (so you aren’t holding useless boundaries). One of the best strategies this book focuses on is the art of compromise. When is it appropriate to compromise with your child? When is it not appropriate? And how learning to see the other person’s point of view can help your child learn empathy.
Dr. Greene is great at explaining so much about kids, here’s a good, more recent video.
Brain-Body Parenting
Kjrstin says: While directed more towards parents of younger children, this book fabulously highlights the importance of regulating our nervous system, which is HUGE for all of us ADHDers. Helpful tips for parents to navigate their own “platform” as Dr. Delahooke calls the brain-body connection. And tips for helping kids navigate and regulate their own platforms. And how co-regulation happens between parent and child. I see this as a profoundly impactful dynamic in ADHD families.
Here is a great discussion of the book with Dr. Mona Delahooke at an online summit for 2e kids. 2e (twice exceptional) kids are kids that have advanced abilities and also lagging abilities (think really bright in one area, but also struggling in another). ADHD and ASD kids often are in this category.
Driven to Distraction
Megan says: This is a great introduction to ADHD, written by 2 doctors that have ADHD themselves. It normalizes the struggles, highlights the strengths, and talks about an emotional “spin cycle” that is important for every parent of an ADHD child to understand. This is a foundational ADHD text that has been updated and continues to be a great resource.
Here is a video of Dr. Hallowell discussing the gifts of ADHD, which is a common theme in his books.
Raising Human Beings
Kjrstin says: This books gives great tips for creating collaborative discussions with kids. Dr. Greene’s principle of “Kids do well if they can” truly shifts toward skill building and away from the unintentionally destructive philosophy of blaming kids’ behavior on desire “Kids do well if they wanna.”
Here is a video of Dr. Greene discussing more about communication with kids.
Taking Charge of ADHD
Kjrstin says: This is like the ADHD encyclopedia for parents. It has some of the same info as 12 Principles, but also so much more. I use it more as a reference than a read cover to cover book (I also have ADHD, so of course that’s how I want to do it).
There are lots of videos, articles and books by Dr. Barkley. Here is a video about how emotions play an important part of ADHD.
Anatomy of Peace
Kjrstin says: While not specifically about ADHD, this is a great book that helps all of us look at our own views of self and others and gives tools to reframe them, so we can find more peace within.
Here is a TEDxTalk by Jim Ferrell, who is one of the founders of the Arbinger Institute. He discusses some of the foundational principles in the book.
ScreamFree Parenting
Megan says: Don’t let the title mislead you into thinking that this book is only for parents that feel out of control. This book is a must-read for any parent. It focuses on how being aware of your own behavior and emotions can directly affect your child’s behavior and emotions.
Kjrstin says: This is a great glimpse into how our families are connected little systems and how what we do as parents has impact on our kids and how what our kids do has impact on us.
Here is author, Hal Runkle, discussing the book in a 20 minute video.
The Power of Validation
Kjrstin says: The authors of this book do a fantastic job of explaining how we accidentally invalidate our children (and others as well) with our language and behaviors. This book helps explain what validation is and is not. It gives clear explanations, examples and ways to practice. If you find that you keep inadvertently keep locking horns with your child or they shut down no matter how you approach them, this might give you some good options to try. I was also surprised as just how nicely this book lined up with my own parenting and therapeutic approaches. One of my favorite parenting books to recommend.