The Myth of the ADHD Child

420 Pages·2017·2.64 MB·English

by  Thomas Armstrong

Praise for The Myth of the ADHD Child, Revised Edition
“At a time when ADHD and the medications used to treat it are growing by
leaps and bounds, Thomas Armstrong asks parents to think critically about the
ADHD diagnosis, to value the uniqueness of their children’s different rhythms of
learning, attending, and behaving, and to appreciate and use the wide range of
non-drug strategies that are out there to help their kids prosper in school and
flourish in life.”
Michele Borba, EdD, bestselling author of The Big Book of Parenting Solutions, Building Moral
Intelligence, and UnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World
“Parents everywhere should read this book, not just those with kids diagnosed
with ADHD! Thomas Armstrong presents a wealth of strategies, ideas, tips, and
resources that will help parents nurture kids who feel good about themselves,
who have skills for coping with life’s challenges, and who practice learning
strategies that will help them succeed in the classroom and beyond. I
wholeheartedly recommend The Myth of the ADHD Child!”
Jack Canfield, coauthor of the bestselling Chicken Soup for the Soul series and The Success Principles
“. . . absolutely essential reading for parents, teachers, and others concerned with
children who struggle. Armstrong provides a lucid and comprehensive response
to the tragic overuse of medication for America’s children. Bursting the myths of
an established brain deficit, a single cause, and long-term effectiveness of drugs,
Armstrong discusses parental options with compassion.”
L. Alan Sroufe, PhD, professor emeritus of child psychology, Institute of Child Development, University of
Minnesota
“This is a fabulous book. Not only does Armstrong explain with balance and
clarity the evidence-based problems associated with the concept of ADHD; he
also provides a wealth of practical ideas, resources, and approaches to help the
parents of any kid who is presenting with challenging behavior, especially those
who have or might attract a diagnosis of ADHD. Professionals and parents alike
will benefit enormously from reading this.”
Sami Timimi, MD, consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry, Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation
Trust; visiting professor of child psychiatry and mental health improvement, University of Lincoln

An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC
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New York, New York 10014
First published under the title The Myth of the A.D.D. Child by Dutton, a member of Penguin Putnam Inc. 1995
This revised edition published by TarcherPerigee 2017
Copyright © 1995, 2017 by Thomas Armstrong
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Armstrong, Thomas, author.
Title: The myth of the ADHD child : 101 ways to improve your child’s behavior and attention span without drugs, labels, or coercion /
Thomas Armstrong, PhD.
Other titles: Myth of the A.D.D. child | Myth of the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder child
Description: Revised edition. | New York, New York : A TarcherPerigee Book,
[2017] | Revision of: Myth of the A.D.D. child. 1995. | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016056894 (print) | LCCN 2017001964 (ebook) | ISBN 9780143111504 (paperback) | ISBN 9781101992807
(ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder—Diagnosis—Moral and ethical aspects. | Behavior disorders in children—
Treatment. | Child rearing. | Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder—Treatment—Moral and ethical aspects. | Problem children—
Behavior modification. | BISAC: FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS / Children with Special Needs. | FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS /
Learning Disabilities.
Classification: LCC RJ506.H9 A76 2017 (print) | LCC RJ506.H9 (ebook) | DDC 618.92/8589—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016056894
Neither the publisher nor the author is engaged in rendering professional advice or services to the individual reader. The ideas,
procedures, and suggestions contained in this book are not intended as a substitute for consulting with your physician. All matters
regarding your health require medical supervision. Neither the author nor the publisher shall be liable or responsible for any loss or
damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestion in this book.
While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers, Internet addresses, and other contact information at the
time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors or for changes that occur after
publication. Further, the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web
sites or their content.
Cover design: Isaac Tobin
Cover image: smartboy10 / Getty Images
Version_1
This book is dedicated to my father,
William B. Armstrong, MD
CONTENTS
Praise for The Myth of the ADHD Child, Revised Edition
Title Page
Copyright
Dedication
Contents
Preface
SECTION I: The ADHD Myth and Its Shortcomings
Chapter One: The ADHD Blob Rolls Over America and the World
Chapter Two: Why the ADHD Myth Is Not a Very Good Story
Chapter Three: Why Medicating Kids to Make Them Behave Is Not a Very
Good Idea
SECTION II: Why There’s a Nationwide and Worldwide ADHD Epidemic
Chapter Four: Reason #1 for America’s ADHD Epidemic: We Don’t Let Kids
Be Kids Anymore
Chapter Five: Reason #2 for America’s ADHD Epidemic: We Don’t Let Boys
Be Boys Anymore
Chapter Six: Reason #3 for America’s ADHD Epidemic: We Disempower Our
Kids at School
Chapter Seven: Reason #4 for America’s ADHD Epidemic: We Pass Our Stress
on to Our Kids
Chapter Eight: Reason #5 for America’s ADHD Epidemic: We Let Our Kids
Consume Too Much Junk Media
Chapter Nine: Reason #6 for America’s ADHD Epidemic: We Focus Too Much
on Our Kids’ Disabilities and Not Enough on Their Abilities
Chapter Ten: Reason #7 for America’s ADHD Epidemic: Too Many People
Have a Vested Economic Interest in Seeing It Continue
Chapter Eleven: How the ADHD Experts Defend Their Disorder (And Why
Their Arguments Tend to Be Pretty Lame)
Chapter Twelve: The Value of Multiple Perspectives in Improving a Child’s
Behavior and Attention Span
SECTION III: 101 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Behavior and Attention
Span without Drugs, Labels, or Coercion
Strategy #1: Let Your Child Fidget
Strategy #2: Channel Creative Energies into the Arts
Strategy #3: Emphasize Diversity Not Disability
Strategy #4: Enroll Your Child in a Martial Arts Class
Strategy #5: Make Time for Nature
Strategy #6: Hold Family Meetings
Strategy #7: Teach Your Child Focusing Techniques
Strategy #8: Discover Your Child’s Best Time of Alertness
Strategy #9: Encourage Hands-On Learning
Strategy #10: Build, Borrow, or Buy Wiggle Furniture
Strategy #11: Consider Alternative Healing Options
Strategy #12: Take Care of Yourself
Strategy #13: Provide a Balanced Breakfast
Strategy #14: Give Your Child Choices
Strategy #15: Remove Allergens and Additives from Your Child’s Diet
Strategy #16: Use Music to Focus and Calm
Strategy #17: Teach Your Child Self-Monitoring Skills
Strategy #18: Use Effective Communication Skills
Strategy #19: Take a Parent Training Course
Strategy #20: Nurture Your Child’s Creativity
Strategy #21: Hold a Positive Image of Your Child
Strategy #22: Provide Appropriate Spaces for Learning
Strategy #23: Encourage Your Child’s Interests
Strategy #24: Establish Consistent Rules, Routines, and Transitions
Strategy #25: Celebrate Successes
Strategy #26: Make Time for Your Child to Play
Strategy #27: Be a Personal Coach to Your Child
Strategy #28: Build Resilience in Your Child
Strategy #29: Give Instructions in Attention-Grabbing Ways
Strategy #30: Limit Junk Food
Strategy #31: Empower Your Child with Strength-Based Learning
Strategy #32: Support Full Inclusion of Your Child in a Regular Classroom
Strategy #33: Teach Your Child How His Brain Works
Strategy #34: Eliminate Distractions
Strategy #35: Promote Daily Exercise
Strategy #36: Foster Good Home–School Communication
Strategy #37: Strengthen Your Child’s Working Memory
Strategy #38: Limit Entertainment Media
Strategy #39: Promote Flow Experiences
Strategy #40: Use Online Learning as an Educational Resource
Strategy #41: Show Your Child How to Use Metacognitive Tools
Strategy #42: Teach Emotional Self-Regulation Skills
Strategy #43: Teach Your Child Mindfulness Meditation
Strategy #44: Let Your Child Engage in Spontaneous Self-Talk
Strategy #45: Engage in Family Exercise and Recreation
Strategy #46: Share Stress Management Techniques
Strategy #47: Identify Mobile Apps That Can Help Your Child
Strategy #48: Match Your Child with a Mentor
Strategy #49: Find a Sport Your Child Will Love
Strategy #50: Provide a Variety of Stimulating Learning Activities
Strategy #51: Teach Goal-Setting Skills
Strategy #52: Provide Immediate Behavioral Feedback
Strategy #53: Work to Promote Teacher–Child Rapport
Strategy #54: Consider Neurofeedback Training
Strategy #55: Use Touch to Soothe and Calm
Strategy #56: Provide Opportunities for Learning through Movement
Strategy #57: Make Time for Plenty of Humor and Laughter
Strategy #58: Spend Positive Time Together
Strategy #59: Discover Your Child’s Multiple Intelligences
Strategy #60: Help Your Child Develop a Growth Mind-Set
Strategy #61: Use Natural and Logical Consequences as a Discipline Tool
Strategy #62: Provide Access to Natural and Full-Spectrum Light
Strategy #63: Cook with Foods Rich in Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Strategy #64: Consider Family Therapy
Strategy #65: Pep Up Each Day with at Least One Novel Experience
Strategy #66: Provide Positive Role Models
Strategy #67: Discover and Manage the Four Types of Misbehavior
Strategy #68: Co-Create an Internally Empowering Behavior Mod Program with
Your Child
Strategy #69: Use Aromas to Calm and Center
Strategy #70: Employ Incidental Learning
Strategy #71: Rule Out Other Potential Contributors to Your Child’s Behavior
Strategy #72: Suggest Effective Study Strategies
Strategy #73: Provide Your Child with Real-Life Tasks
Strategy #74: Use Time Out in a Positive Way
Strategy #75: Enhance Your Child’s Self-Esteem
Strategy #76: Avoid Exposure to Environmental Contaminants
Strategy #77: Make Sure Your Child Gets Sufficient Sleep
Strategy #78: Activate Positive Career Aspirations
Strategy #79: Teach Your Child to Visualize
Strategy #80: Play Chess or Go with Your Child
Strategy #81: Have Your Child Teach a Younger Child
Strategy #82: Help Your Child Become Self-Aware
Strategy #83: Utilize the Best Features of Computer Learning
Strategy #84: Let Your Child Play Video Games That Engage and Teach
Strategy #85: Get Ready for the Thrills and Chills of Augmented and Virtual
Reality
Strategy #86: Consider Alternative Schooling Options
Strategy #87: Have Your Child Learn Yoga
Strategy #88: Find an Animal Your Child Can Care For
Strategy #89: Support Your Child’s Late Blooming
Strategy #90: Consider Individual Psychotherapy for Your Child
Strategy #91: Create a Positive Behavior Contract with Your Child
Strategy #92: Engage in Positive Niche Construction
Strategy #93: Help Your Child Develop Social Skills
Strategy #94: Lobby for a Strong Physical Education Program in Your Child’s
School
Strategy #95: Support Your Child’s Entrepreneurial Instincts
Strategy #96: Use Color to Highlight Information
Strategy #97: Have Your Child Create a Blog
Strategy #98: Work to Enhance Your Child’s Social NeTwork
Strategy #99: Encourage Project-Based Learning at Home and in School
Strategy #100: Show Your Child Work-Arounds to Get Things DOne
Strategy #101: Teach Your Child Organizational Strategies
Notes
Index
About the Author