12 principles for raising a child with ADHD

Clinical psychologist Barkley successfully distills the most practical material from his comprehensive parenting manual, Taking Charge of ADHD, into a concise and accessible guide. Devoting a chapter to each of 12 "principles," he begins by laying out his position that ADHD is a biological disorder, not the willful "behavior problem" educators and fellow mental-health professionals sometimes treat it as. Barkley further explains that children who have the disorder struggle with executive function in general, as well as impulsivity. He encourages parents to work with their children to develop a deeper sense of time beyond the present (in the chapter "Make Time Real") and a greater awareness of the consequences of their actions (in "Promote Your Child's Self-Awareness and Accountability"), but first and foremost to "Use the Keys to Success" by having one's child professionally diagnosed, identifying his or her particular strengths and talents, finding resources to develop these abilities, and accepting and supporting one's child unconditionally. Barkley also recommends letting go of less important demands, such as household chores, and, for the sake of one's own well-being, cultivating mindfulness and forgiveness. Parents in Barkley's target audience should find his guide to be a valuable and reassuring go-to. (Oct.)

Barkley (Taking Charge of ADHD) returns with a book for parents of children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) who are pressed for time and looking for quick, reliable solutions. Barkley disagrees with experts who label ADHD a "gift," contending that ADHD cannot both be a gift and a serious disability that requires services. At the same time, the author cites success stories of those such as TV star Ty Pennington and Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps, both of whom have the condition. Good parenting was essential to the achievements of these famous faces, the author explains, as Phelps's family taught him to adopt routines and Pennington was guided to choose a career that took advantage of his unique strengths. Barkley here advocates a shepherd model of parenting based on protecting, nurturing, routines, and self-care to address typical "problems" in ADHD children, such as slow neurodevelopment, running on autopilot, and being a sensation seeker. VERDICT Parents of ADHD children will likely find this a helpful resource, though not all will agree with the author's conclusions.