Monitor - July/August 2016

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You hoped your child’s tantrums would fade once she started elementary school. You hoped she’d be able to share. You hoped she’d be calm and happy after wearing herself out at recess…instead, her energy bubbles out all over the classroom.

No matter how often you remind your teen: “look at me when I’m speaking,” “respect others’ personal space,” “quit freaking out over everything!” he just doesn’t seem to understand. For most kids, these are momentary glitches.

For some, learning to relate to others doesn’t come easily.

When children have attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), even if their medication smoothes out the worst of the bumps, they still may have a lot of trouble in social situations like school.

Teaching Life Skills to Children and Teens With ADHD

describes the Life Skills Program created by author
Vincent J. Monastra at his ADHD clinic. It features practical
strategies for helping children and teens develop essential life skills at home, school, or in a
support group setting. Some of these skills include:

• Engaging others in conversations

• Seeking out confidence-building experiences

• Responding appropriately to teasing

• Establishing friendships and social networks

• Trying group activities to avoid isolation

• Developing healthy eating, sleeping and exercise habits

• Solving problems and getting organized

• Showing sensitivity to others’ emotions

TEACHING LIFE SKILLS TO CHILDREN
AND TEENS WITH ADHD
A Guide for Parents and Counselors
Vincent J. Monastra, PhD

CONTENTS

Introduction
Life Lesson 1. Succeeding in Life Isn’t Easy,
but It Starts Out Simple: Eat, Sleep, and
Exercise
Life Lesson 2. Making Yourself Heard by
Staying Calm
Life Lesson 3. Getting What You Want in Life
Without Getting Into Trouble
Life Lesson 4. Being Confident, Part 1: Master
Something That Matters to Your Peers
Life Lesson 6. Finding Out What Others Like
to Talk About
Life Lesson 7. Sometimes Making Faces Can
Be a Good Idea
Life Lesson 8. Ignoring Teasing Will Not Make
it Go Away
Life Lesson 9. Every Day, Find Ways to Show
Appreciation
Life Lesson 10. Kindness is Contagious
Life Lesson 12. Persistence Pays
Final Thoughts
Supplemental Resources | Index
About the Author | About the Cartoonists

ALSO OF INTEREST
AN APA LIFE TOOLS® BOOK
Parenting Children
With ADHD

10 Lessons That Medicine Cannot Teach

SECOND EDITION Vincent J. Monastra, PhD 2014. 252 pages. Paperback. AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE®

List: $16.95

APA Member/Affiliate: $16.95

ISBN 978-1-4338-1571-3

Item 4441019

Succeeding With Adult ADHD Daily Strategies to Help You Achieve Your Goals and Manage Your Life Abigail Levrini, PhD, and Frances Prevatt, PhD 2012. 299 pages. Paperback. AVAILABLE ON AMAZON KINDLE®

List: $19.95

APA Member/Affiliate: $19.95

ISBN 978-1-4338-1125-8

Item 4441017

Young Children With ADHD Early Identification and Intervention George J. DuPaul and Lee Kern

2011. 242 pages. Hardcover.

List: $49.95

APA Member/Affiliate: $39.95 ISBN 978-1-4338-0963-7 Item 4316129

AD3057

Each chapter includes exercises to help you teach, model, and guide your child in trying out these skills. Interactive checklists, quizzes, and guided journal entries are provided as tools for reflection and for engaging children and teens in ways that are interesting and fun.