From Chaos to Calm: Effective Parenting Of Challenging Children with ADHD and Other Behavioral Problems

We have a very strong willed daughter who can be quite defiant and had many days with temper tantrums especially when turning off the TV or tablet for bedtime. Getting her to brush, comb her hair, change her clothes, eat a meal, pick up toys, use the potty, or let us change her diaper ( I know she's getting a little old for diapers..) could also turn into a disaster pretty easily. As a Psychiatry Resident I turned to searching textbooks and journal publications for ideas of how to handle behavioral issues with my daughter, but didn't find the guidance I was looking for. Then a couple of days ago I picked up this book up at a Barnes and Noble and could not put it down. The scenarios with the little boy for bedtime and morning describe a typical scene with my 3 1/2 year old!The ideas of token economy and modeling finally clicked. We decided no TV (including watching on phones, or tablets!) after 8:30 and that meant no TV for mom and dad either. We came up with a system using Chuck e Cheese tokens. We implemented both last night and had immediate results! My daughter did whine for TV, but we held firm and offered puzzles, toys and other games until she became tired. We then took out the tokens and she got so excited she ran to the bathroom and brushed her teeth, then got changed and in bed in less than 10 minutes! She got 3 tokens last night for brushing, changing, and getting in bed on time.She got another 3 for getting brushed and dressed this morning, which happened faster than ever. We had to take away 2 for not listening when it was time to change her poopy diaper and calling her dad stupid. But she got one back after she let me change her. She actually came up to me and said "I want to change my diaper now." We decided 10 tokens this week equals a trip to Chuck e cheese :-) , she's at 5 tokens so far. We thought getting the reward early would have a more powerful positive reinforcement.

Some of the references are outdated (game boy, phone line in room, etc.) but the strategies and content are great and actually work. Coming from an ADHD Dad and 7yo son.

Love this book!!! Our son was diagnosed about 3 years ago and is now 9 years old- I would recommend this book to any parent with an ADHD child. There are a lot of things that we’ve changed in our own routine simply because of this book. It also helped me understand more of what’s going on in his head and how I should be responding to him when he’s struggling.

If I knew then what I know now.... As my children are grown I think the book has its limitations for me. I got it because I wanted more ideas for working with kids on the autism spectrum while training a therapy dog for them to get them to give me more focus and interest. I gave the book to my daughter who is a mental health counselor who works with kids and their families. I think it will help her a great deal more than it helped me although I do want it back. I th ink it has a lot of good ideas and strategies that would be easy to follow and I like that you get the child in question's input on what the parents are doing.

If you need info on some stuff thst your wondering what your child does or why or if they have problem this is a good insight book to have my got some sensory problems and this helped understanding some of it great book helpful will recommend

While I haven't read it completely yet, this book has been very eye opening for me. I have become a parent to such a child later in life, actually my first parenting experience. Reading through the child's eyes has certainly opened mine. I even bought an extra copy for the staff library at the school he attends to assist them in fully understanding him...

Using the recommendations from this book has in just a few weeks produced a dramatic shift in attitude and behavior for our 7YO who was uncooperative and often defiant. Understanding how to construct appropriately structured routines and incentive systems has made for smoother mornings with substantially less yelling from me.

This book will never leave my bedside! So thrilled that I got to read it . It is practical book and gives you a glance into a real family life.

Unbelievably fast delivery and v good products