February 15, 2021May 17, 2023 by Vivian Dunstan

Beyond Behaviours : Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children’s Behavioural Challenges

A PARADIGM SHIFT FOR CAREGIVERS THAT WILL REVOLUTIONIZE THE WAY YOU APPROACH, TREAT OR PARENT A CHILD WITH CHALLENGING OR EXPLOSIVE BEHAVIOURS.

When you are confronted with a child who is troubled, disruptive, oppositional, defiant or angry – whether you are a parent or a teacher – it can be difficult to know the best way to support them. Traditional methods of ‘shaping’ a child’s behaviour can often be at best ineffective, at worst distressing, for child and adult alike.

Drawing on 30 years of experience, internationally known paediatric psychologist Dr Mona Delahooke describes these troubled behaviours as the ‘tip of the iceberg’, important signals that point to deeper, individual differences in the child that we need to understand and address before we can resolve behavioural challenges. Using the very latest neuroscientific research Beyond Behaviours makes the case that many children who can’t seem to behave simply don’t have the developmental capacity to do so – yet.

This book uses neuroscientific findings to help you deconstruct behaviour challenges, and to discover their cause and triggers for your child. It will show you how to apply this knowledge across a variety of behaviour spectrums, from children diagnosed with autism or other forms of neurodiversity, to those who might have been exposed to toxic stress or trauma during their early years. There are practical strategies to implement at every stage, backed up by impactful worksheets and charts, with a strong emphasis not on ‘managing’ behaviour, but instead on helping children and families build positive experiences to counteract the stress and pressure felt by everybody when you’re working, or living, with a child who has behavioural challenges.

Accessible, practical, warmly supportive and steeped in research and clinical expertise, Beyond Behaviours offers a break-through book which guides us – parents and caregivers alike – to the realisation that the most important tool in our toolkit is always our connection with the child standing in front of us.

February 15, 2021May 17, 2023 by Vivian Dunstan

12 Best Principles for Raising a Child with ADHD

Over decades of research and work with thousands of families, Russell A. Barkley has become a leading authority on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in kids and teens. He has learned what a huge difference parents can make in supporting their children’s success–as well as how overwhelming it can be. This concise guide presents 12 key parenting principles for dealing with common behavioural, emotional, and school challenges. By cultivating a mindset of acceptance and compassion–together with an understanding of the executive function deficits of ADHD–you can strengthen your loving connection with your child and help your whole family thrive. Filled with practical suggestions and quick-reference lists and tips, this is the perfect book to read cover to cover or pick up any time you need extra support.

January 3, 2021May 17, 2023 by Vivian Dunstan

ADHD Go-To Guide

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common mental-health condition in children and is present in
most countries around the world. Although there is an abundance of literature on ADHD with plenty of scientific information,
this condition remains controversial and often under-diagnosed.

Many books have been written for parents about ADHD but most of them are quite scientific. They can be difficult to
navigate, especially if you are a parent with some symptoms of ADHD yourself.

This book is a go-to guide for parents and teachers, providing up-to-date knowledge in a simple, easy-to-read format. It
is filled with information your doctor would like to provide, but is often unable to do so in the limited appointment times
available. This book also gives a framework and practical tips for how you can manage and advocate for your child in
different settings, with or without medication. It summarises evidence to date for medication and alternative therapies,
examines commonly held beliefs about ADHD, and debunks myths.

ADHD Go-To Guide book has been written by a developmental paediatrician (Desiree Silva) and an ADHD coach (Michele Toner), both of
whom are passionate about improving the lives of children with ADHD and their families. They both have over 20 years of
experience in the field and recognise the need for this practical guide.

December 2, 2020May 17, 2023 by Vivian Dunstan

What Were You Thinking?

Third grader Braden loves to be the center of attention. His comic genius, as he sees it, causes his friends to look at him in awe. But some poor decision-making, such as a few ill-timed jokes in class and an impulsive reaction during gym class that leads to a classmate on the floor in tears, results in Braden’s teachers and mother teaching him all about impulse control. Will the tips provided by the adults in Braden’s life help him see a better way to manage his impulses? Find out in this hilarious story by Bryan Smith.

September 25, 2020May 17, 2023 by Vivian Dunstan

iGen : Why Today’s Super-Connected Kids Are Growing Up Less Rebellious, More Tolerant, Less Happy–and Completely Unprepared for Adulthood–and What That Means for the Rest of Us

As seen in Time, USA TODAY, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and on CBS This Morning, BBC, PBS, CNN, and NPR, iGen is crucial reading to understand how the children, teens, and young adults born in the mid-1990s and later are vastly different from their Millennial predecessors, and from any other generation.

With generational divides wider than ever, parents, educators, and employers have an urgent need to understand today’s rising generation of teens and young adults.

Born in the mid-1990s up to the mid-2000s, iGen is the first generation to spend their entire adolescence in the age of the smartphone. With social media and texting replacing other activities, iGen spends less time with their friends in person-perhaps contributing to their unprecedented levels of anxiety, depression, and loneliness.

But technology is not the only thing that makes iGen distinct from every generation before them; they are also different in how they spend their time, how they behave, and in their attitudes toward religion, sexuality, and politics. They socialize in completely new ways, reject once sacred social taboos, and want different things from their lives and careers. More than previous generations, they are obsessed with safety, focused on tolerance, and have no patience for inequality.

With the first members of iGen just graduating from college, we all need to understand them: friends and family need to look out for them; businesses must figure out how to recruit them and sell to them; colleges and universities must know how to educate and guide them. And members of iGen also need to understand themselves as they communicate with their elders and explain their views to their older peers. Because where iGen goes, so goes our nation-and the world.

August 30, 2020June 2, 2023 by Vivian Dunstan

The Dip : A practical guide to take control of screen addiction and reconnect your family. For parents of teenagers

In a world overwhelmed with screens, the current guidelines for limiting screen use seems impossible to achieve by ourselves, let alone for our technology-dependent kids. Establishing healthy boundaries around devices is no easy task and trying to unglue our kids’ eyes from screens can be a never-ending battle. With technology being used more and more at school and for homework, it’s difficult to know where to draw the line. In an ever-evolving digital age, how can we overcome our frustration with our kids’ device addictions and establish reasonable boundaries in our homes?

In her new book, The Dip: A practical guide to take control of screen addiction and reconnect your family, Clinical Psychologist Dr Danielle Einstein provides answers to the real-life challenges of implementing the national guidelines on screen time within families. With over 20 years’ experience, Dr Einstein helps you guide your kids towards positive technology use through six concise chapters that break down and explain the following:

Why are we so addicted in the first place? The reality of smartphone and device use: understanding the factors that lure us in and play with our moods. How to develop ‘smart’ device boundaries for your family. Why should we develop our own boundaries? Ok, so how do I put this into practice? Step-by-step guide to screen-time controls.

Including quick tips, step-by-step guidelines and an informative video (on www.thedip.com), The Dip will not only help you and your kids develop healthy relationships with screens, but also learn how to re-connect as a family.

June 3, 2020May 17, 2023 by Vivian Dunstan

All Birds Have Anxiety

Life as a bird can be stressful! From worrying about airplanes, windows, and getting enough worms to eat, it is clear that birds can be anxious beings. Through a light-touch, quizzical depiction of bird behaviour, All Birds Have Anxiety uses colourful images and astute explanations to explore with gentle humour what it means to live with anxiety day-to-day, and how to begin to deal with it.

Following the style of the best-selling All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome and All Dogs Have ADHD, wonderful colour photographs express the complex and difficult ideas related to anxiety disorder in an easy-to-understand way. This simple yet profound book validates the deeper everyday experiences of anxiety, provides an empathic understanding of the many symptoms associated with anxiety, and offers compassionate suggestions for change.

The combination of understanding and gentle humour make this the ideal introduction to anxiety disorder for those diagnosed with this condition, their family and friends and those generally interested in understanding anxiety.

June 3, 2020May 17, 2023 by Vivian Dunstan

What to Do When You Worry Too Much : A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety

What to Do When You Worry Too Much is an interactive self-help book designed to guide 6-12 year olds and their parents through the cognitive-behavioral techniques most often used in the treatment of generalised anxiety. Engaging, encouraging, and easy to follow, this book educates, motivates, and empowers children to work towards change.

It includes a note to parents by psychologist and author Dawn Huebner, PhD.

June 3, 2020May 17, 2023 by Vivian Dunstan

When My Worries Get Too Big! : A Relaxation Book for Children Who Live with Anxiety

Worry and anxiety are on an upswing. In fact, anxiety is the most frequent of all mental disorders in children. High levels of stress and big emotions related to social situations, sensory issues, or general frustration are common in children who live with anxiety. Such stress can lead to a loss of control, resulting in aggressive behaviour, such as screaming, throwing things or even hurting someone. Prolonged anxiety can also seriously impact success in academic achievement and cause children to avoid social and extracurricular activities.

Now with a special section on evidence-based teaching activities for parents and teachers alike, this bestselling children s classic just became even better and more relevant. Engaging and easy to read, this illustrated children’s book is filled with opportunities for children to participate in developing their own self-calming strategies. Children who use the simple strategies in this charming book, illustrated by the author, will find themselves relaxed and ready to focus on work or play!

June 3, 2020May 17, 2023 by Vivian Dunstan