For decades, millions of parents have been told that they are primarily responsible for things gone wrong with their children. Mothers and fathers have internalized this message, producing an unrealistic and damaging sense of guilt, and even betrayal. Parents do affect their children, but how much? Our children are not born as blank slates. They come to us encrypted with their own predilections, biases, strengths, and weaknesses, many of which are as beyond the control of parents as determining their child's gender or eye color. Here, for the first time, is a scientifically grounded examination of the controversial idea that nature-in the form of genetic blueprints-may have far more influence on how children develop than a particular style of parenting. Parents reeling from the idea that they don't have much impact on how their children think, feel, and behave, will find both surprise and comfort in psychologist David Cohen's riveting account of the importance, and limits, of inborn traits. Dr. Cohen weaves together a rich tapestry of research in behavioral genetics to illustrate the degree to which biology, rather than parenting, can impact a child's personality, values, and aptitudes. Identical twins separated at birth are reunited in mid-life to discover that they both drive the same car, have held the same jobs, named their sons James, and married women with the same first name not once-but twice. Yet siblings reared together in the same family environment often grow up to have very different interests, abilities, and beliefs. The nurture correlation between good parenting and child development fails to explain how, of two children raised in a loving and supportive home, one grows up to be a pillar of the community, while the other becomes a drug abuser. Parents have been blamed for problems ranging from antisocial behavior to autism to schizophrenia-disorders which Dr. Cohen reveals have a strong genetic component. On the flip side, parents who weren't able to give their offspring a consistently safe and supportive home environment have happily taken the credit when their children grow up to be well-adjusted, hard-working members of society. The truth of the matter is that, if sufficiently strong, inborn potentials can trump parental influence, no matter how positive or negative. Some traits manifest themselves in such unexpected and uncontrollable ways that, for better or for worse, one's child may indeed seem like a perfect stranger. Stranger in the Nest puts a human face on the ages-old nature-nurture debate, providing a gripping, scientifically grounded examination of parental influence on children's development. Any parent who has ever questioned what he or she did wrong-or right-must read this book. Do children's aptitudes and interests depend more on genes than parenting? The author of this riveting read answers 'Yes' to this question -- and draws on two decades of research in behavioral genetics to support this provocative perspective.

Most parents have the intelligence, ability and motivation to effectively assess and intervene in a wide range of childhood and adolescent difficulties and disorders. The book provides a guide for parents and teaches them how to: Conduct a Parental Assessment using systematic procedures to complete and record a biopsychosocial history and evaluation of current functioning; Understand and evaluate the range of elements contributing to childhood difficulties, disorders and psychological and pharmacological treatments; Evaluate a child's response to treatment; Provide therapeutic interventions based on principles of behavioral and play therapy techniques. The parent who uses this book before consulting a professional will better know what they need and what they want. This is a particularly important guide for parents of children who may require medication to be considered as part of their treatment. Dr. Bill J. Duke is an assistant professor of Child Clinical Neuroscience and Family Medicine at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine. Dr. Duke has specialized in the treatment and measurement of psychological and pharmacological treatment response in children and adolescents for the past twenty years.

Most children fall into five basic personality types that stem from inborn physical characteristics: the sensitive child, the self-absorbed child, the defiant child, the inattentive child, and the active/aggressive child. Stanley Greenspan, M.D., is the first to show parents how to match their parenting to the challenges of their particular child. He identifies and vividly describes these five universal temperaments and then, with great empathy, shows parents how each of these children actually experiences the world and how to use daily childrearing to enhance an individual child's strengths and talents.

Playground Politics is the first book to look at the neglected middle years of childhoodfrom kindergarten to junior highand to help parents understand the enormous emotional challenges these children are facing. In witty, vivid stories, Dr. Greenspan brings to life the major emotional milestones of these years, when children move from the shelter of the family to the harsh rivalries of playground politics, and toward an independent self image. His empathy for the turmoil children bring home from school, and for the parents who try to help, is deep and reassuring. } The Grade School Years; Aggression, Competition, and Rivalry; Self-Esteem and Peer Relations; The Real ABCs; Learning Challenges; Balancing Fantasy and Reality; Sexuality and Puberty; Five Principles of Healthy Parenting.

The book that applies Dr. Greenspan's developmental theories to a child's everyday life-with practical, delightful, deeply insightful observations and advice. Every parent wants to raise a bright, happy, and moral child, but until Stanley Greenspan investigated the building blocks of cognitive, social, emotional, and moral development, no one could show parents how and when these qualities begin. In this book Dr. Greenspan, the internationally admired child psychiatrist, identifies the six key experiences that enable children to reach their full potential. In Building Healthy Minds, he draws upon discoveries made in his research and practice as he describes the many ways in which games, fantasy play, and conversations with and without words encourage this development. No one has looked so deeply into the very earliest stages of human development, and no other book makes such vital and effective information available to every parent.

This encyclopedia is designed for medical students, undergraduates, parents, day care workers, and anyone concerned with the physical and emotional health of children. A survey of diseases, disorders, and defects affecting infants, children, and teenagers such as autism, lead poisoning, and respiratory distress syndrome. Plus, developmental topics, physiological systems, and pediatric specialties and procedures such as motor skill development, toilet training, and well-baby examinations, all written in a manner understandable to the general reader.

Why have children been excluded from discussions of the changing nature of power, and why are they invisible in national and international statistics? Taking a global perspective, Mary John considers how children learn about power, being powerful and the transformation of power relationships. Arguing that children are rarely included in debates on social accountability, freedom and autonomy and are excluded from statistics, she compares the situation of children to that of other powerless minority groups, 'silenced' because of their lack of economic force. While many books on children's rights focus on aspects of the 'three Ps' - provision, protection and participation - around which the convention is organized, Children's Rights and Power is innovative in the way it addresses the fourth P - power - which underlies all the themes and which characterizes adults' relationships with children. Mary John examines children in relation to current thinking about the nature of power, the role of competence within this, and how perception of power is determined by culture. As part of her field research she has studied and visited the night schools of Rajastan (where the members of the Indian Children's Parliament are elected); the rise in violence among Japanese schoolchildren; child labor in Mexico; and democratic schooling in Albany, USA. She argues that democracies are not only sought in the public sphere, they are created within the emotional intimacies of private social worlds. These worlds present the child with new challenges for the recognition and realization of their rightful autonomy and agency.

Genius! is an inspiring guide to nurturing the remarkable abilities of "attention different" (AD) children diagnosed with conditions such as autism, Asperger Syndrome, AD/HD, bipolar disorder, or Tourette Syndrome (TS). Drawing on their experiences with their own son, who has TS, George T. Lynn and Joanne Barrie Lynn offer a positive parenting philosophy and successful strategies for creating an affirmative social and emotional environment that unlocks the potential genius in 'neurologically eccentric' children. The authors emphasize the importance of identifying the signs of giftedness, providing the necessary care and mentoring, and using medication with due consideration of its benefits and limitations. They also acknowledge the need to confront the 'dark side' of atypical neurology -- obsessiveness, self-centredness and hyperactivity -- and offer helpful advice on ensuring parents' and carers' own emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being.

Dr. Laura Nathanson wrote The Portable Pediatrician to help parents find the joy in parenting and gain the confidence to quickly and easily assess their child's development, medical symptoms, and behavioral problems. Parents can't always visit their pediatrician every time they have a question, but fortunately with this book they have the next best thing.

Parents and carers of children with conditions such as autism, Down's Syndrome or other forms of developmental delay can do much to help encourage their child's development. Stepping Out provides parents and carers with practical advice, and fun games and activities to improve a child's skills in the six areas of development: cognitive; physical; sensory; language; social and emotional. The book also outlines the stages of child development so parents can place their child's progress in context. This book is particularly suitable for primary school children, exploring the standard stages of development in children aged 3 to 11. Sarah Newman tackles many general problems, such as sleep, behaviour and toilet training, which may be encountered by parents of children with any form of disability � physical, learning or sensory. Drawing on her own experience, the author offers advice for parents on coping with the stress of caring for a child with special needs and discusses issues associated with education. This illustrated book offers a wealth of information and imaginative ideas, with a comprehensive resources section.

Renowned authorities in their respective fields present the most up-to-date coverage of all that is known regarding child and adolescent psychiatry. Presented developmentally, prominent contributors have produced a body of knowledge that describes what children are, what they need, what hurts and helps them. Volume 1 deals with infants and preschoolers, Volume 2 with grade school children, Volume 3 deals with adolescence and Volume 4 with varieties of development. Volume 5 contains information on assessing, diagnosing and treatment planning for the range of psychiatric and psychologic problems children and adolescents may experience during their development. Volume 6 introduces the basic science of child and adolescent psychiatry and presents a myriad of treatment options available to psychiatrists. Volume 7 contains an overview of the history of the field of child psychiatry and examines contemporary issues facing child and adolescent psychiatists.

For students and practitioners in the helping professions, 12 articles address the seeds of hatred in children, and ways to unplant them. Covers: hate in nursery rhymes, roots of hatred in the family, child abuse, racial identity, religion, authority, class, gender, and mental handicap. Companion to How and Why Children Fail. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Our brightest, most creative children and adults are often being misdiagnosed with behavioral and emotional disorders such as ADHD, Oppositional-Defiant Disorder, Bipolar, OCD, or Asperger's. Many receive unneeded medication and inappropriate counseling as a result. Physicians, psychologist, and counselors are unaware of characteristics of gifted children and adults that mimic pathological diagnoses. Six nationally prominent health care professionals describe ways parents and professionals can distinguish between gifted behaviors and pathological behaviors.

Social play is about relating to others, playing and making friends � all of which are key elements of social inclusion, adjustment and well-being. The Social Play Record is a practical resource for assessing and developing social play in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) or difficulties with social interaction. This toolkit is designed to be used collaboratively with children, parents, carers and practitioners. It is suitable for assessing children of all learning abilities and stages of development, from early infancy to adolescence, and includes photocopiable materials, ideas for games and exercises. The toolkit is divided into three sections: the assessment section, for recording stages of social play and key abilities, such as independent and peer play, friendship and advanced group skills; the guidance section, which also gives information on what constitutes social play, its significance, development and how to address social interaction difficulties; the intervention section, which gives step-by-step directions for developing key social play skills. Parents, teachers and professionals working with or caring for a child with social interaction difficulties will find this toolkit an essential assessment resource.

Despite the wealth of research on infancy, this comprehensive handbook is the first to offer a broad interdisciplinary analysis of the developmental, clinical, and social aspects of infant mental health. With chapters written by scholars and clinicians from a variety of perspectives, the work is grounded in a relational view of infancy and applies the fruits of contemporary research in developmental psychology to the problems encountered in clinical practice. Extensive in its scope, this volume thoroughly covers models of development, risk conditions and protective factors, and social policy considerations, as well as assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis for all children from birth to three years of age. The broad initial chapters critically evaluate different models of development and developmental psychopathology, and the contexts of infant mental health, particularly the family. Subsequent chapters examine factors that may influence infant development, including adolescent motherhood, multiple family relationships, the consequences of poverty, and the effects of premature birth, parental mental illness, and maternal substance abuse. Issues of assessment, evaluation, and diagnosis are covered in detail, and separate chapters then focus on specific disorders--from traditional topics such as autism and failure to thrive to contemporary descriptions of regulatory and attachment disorders. An array of interventions --from practitioner-based models of psychotherapy to programmatic prevention and early intervention efforts--are presented. The final chapters on day care and custody illuminate social policy questions that can profoundly affect infant mental health. This book is unparalleled as a complete resource for a wide variety of professionals. Relevant to clinicians, investigators, and those concerned with social policy, it is an indispensable reference for psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, pediatricians, nurses, special educators, policy makers, and early intervention specialists. It also serves as an excellent text for students in these disciplines.