From the ArcaMax Publishing, Sylvia Rimm Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/sylviarimm/s-641562-942662
Q: I'm at my wits' end. My daughter has Attention
Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder. She is very witty and intelligent, but
she has a hard time obeying authority and getting along with people.
She's been this way since she was 18 months old. She's now 14, in the
ninth grade, and on medication. Are there any programs/therapy that
teaches teens how to get along with peers? I'm in the Atlanta area.
A: There's no doubt that learning social skills is important for all
teens and children who have ADHD problems and sometimes inappropriate
social skills. Most counselors are trained to help children learn
social skills, and group therapy is often available. Your daughter's
psychiatrist or physician can probably recommend someone in your area.
Fortunately, there are also many books that can be helpful, especially
to girls. Publishers like American Girl and Free Spirit Publishing
provide many books on social skills, and if your daughter is sensitive
to her problem, she'll probably appreciate them. In addition to
therapy, you might even enjoy sharing some of these books with your
daughter and talking them over as you read them together. I know you
would find my own book, "See Jane Win For Girls" (Free Spirit Press,
2003), helpful to your daughter.
For free newsletters about "See Jane Win for Girls" or social skills,
send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the address below.
Q: I am a very responsible parent of a 1-year-old. My girlfriend and I
would like to know how to make a baby be quiet without taping its
mouth shut. My daughter won't stop crying. Please answer as soon as
possible!
A: You may absolutely feel like taping your daughter's mouth shut, but
please don't ever, ever do that. A 1-year-old baby that cries
continuously is undoubtedly having a serious problem. I assume you've
ruled out hunger and you've fed her enough. Your next step is urgent
-- you should get her to a physician to talk about that crying. The
doctor will ask you when and under what circumstances she's crying.
The continuous crying could be caused by many physical problems or by
allergies. The doctor may have to do some tests or scans to help
identify possible problems. I'm sure you've tried holding her to
comfort her, but I know that parents can't hold a baby all day and
night. After the doctor has ruled out all medical problems, if the
baby is still crying, you could see a psychologist or a parenting
expert to guide you in parenting. If there isn't a health problem,
you'll find you can quickly learn to ease your baby's discomfort and
enjoy her. By one year, babies can be in very nice routines if there's
nothing medically wrong.
For a free newsletter about raising preschoolers or the book "How to
Parent So Children Will Learn" (Great Potential Press, 2008), send a
self-addressed, stamped envelope to the address below.
Dr. Sylvia B. Rimm is the director of the Family Achievement Clinic in
Cleveland, Ohio, a clinical professor of psychiatry and pediatrics at
the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, and the author
of many books on parenting. More information on raising kids is
available at www.sylviarimm.com. Please send questions to: Sylvia B.
Rimm on Raising Kids, P.O. Box 32, Watertown, WI 53094 or
srimm@sylviarimm.com. To read features by other Creators Syndicate
writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at
www.creators.com.
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