Review
Living with a child who can't control movements or thoughts or emotions can leave parents feeling pretty out of control, too. We may feel that negotiating with kids weakens us, and that profiving a safety net weakens them, but without those thuings days can devolve into cyles of fighting and failure.Maybe the most important thing about ADHD: Living without Brakes is that is gives parents permission to give kids with ADHD - the sort of support and stress releif they need to function successfully. These children require a departure from the standard techniques of firm discipline and learning from mistakes, and if you've been fighting that bad fight without success, it's a releif to know there are other approaches.Many of the ones included in this zippy little book come froo other longer and less zippy works, making it a great introduction to a lot of text you will want to examine in more detail. This is sort of the attention-deficit version of an ADHD help bppk, highlightes by cartoon illustrations and "quizzes" that summarize the chapter in a way that makes it very clear with answers are right and wrong. And if the first 130 pages are still too much for you to wade through? The last thirtyfive summarize the whole book in an even briefer package. That little bit may be perfect for passing on to teachers or family members who are really never going to read those books you recommend. Particularly if they have a negative view of your child's behaviour or your way of handling it, the positive attitude and simplified explanations here may turn their attention to a more productive path.--About.com
A concise and highly accessible book containing information about ADHD for parents and professionals.--Current Awareness Service
Dr. Kutscher has brilliantly accomplished exactly what he has set out to do. This book is wonderfully concise yet all-inclusive while remaining an easy read for parents and educators alike. The parenting and educational strategies are a great combination of proven methods that are realistic and practical to implement. Most of all, this book will help parents and anyone else who works with these children thoroughly understand how they think and why they function the way they do.--Heidi Bernhardt, National Director of the Centre for ADHD/ADD Advocacy Canada
Even if parents, teachers, and therapists read no further than the table of contents, they will gain a hugely valuable set of guidelines for helping children with ADHD. Of course, they'd best continue reading, because Dr. Kutscher fleshes out each guideline in the realistic-but-optimistic style his readers have come to expect I cannot imagine a more clear, concise, and empathetic guide. Reading this book is like sitting down for a leisurely chat with an extremely compassionate, informed, and down-to-earth physician.--Gina Pera, author of Is It You, Me, or Adult ADD?
His positive solutions for parents are based around four rules: keep it positive; keep it calm; keep it organised; and the fourth is keep going with rules 1 to 3.--Cerebra
Martin Kutscher is a paediatric neurologist and understands the nature of ADHD as well as the perspectives and experiences of parents, teachers and children. He explains ADHD in a clear and engaging style that will ensure that his book will be read, appreciated and the practical strategies implemented at home and at school. I strongly recommend Living Without Brakes as the book of first choice for parents of a child with ADHD.--Tony Attwood, author of The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome and Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals
Parenting a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is demanding, and there are many misconceptions about the diagnosis. But there is help as we learn more about the different facets of ADHD. For clarity, advice, and a healthy dose of optimism, we turned to Martin Kutscher, M.D., a pediatric neurologist and the author of the book ADHD: Living Without Brakes. His best advice: Stay positive.--Scholastic Parent & Child
This enlightening book captures the complexity of living in a world that is not designed for children with ADHD... Read this one from cover to cover for a concise, yet thorough, review of what living without brakes really means for ADHD kids.--Additude
Thoroughly recommended for parents, families and those who work with children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).--Youth in Mind
Review
Living with a child who can't control movements or thoughts or emotions can leave parents feeling pretty out of control, too. We may feel that negotiating with kids weakens us, and that profiving a safety net weakens them, but without those thuings days can devolve into cyles of fighting and failure.Maybe the most important thing about ADHD:Living without Brakes is that is gives parents permission to give kids with ADHD - the sort of support and stress releif they need to function successfully. These children require a departure from the standard techniques of firm discipline and learning from mistakes, and if you've been fighting that bad fight without success, it's a releif to know there are other approaches.Many of the ones included in this zippy little book come froo other longer and less zippy works, making it a great introduction to a lot of text you will want to examine in more detail. This is sort of the attention-deficit version of an ADHD help bppk, highlightes by cartoon illustrations and ""quizzes"" that summarize the chapter in a way that makes it very clear with answers are right and wrong. And if the first 130 pages are still too much for you to wade through? The last thirtyfive summarize the whole book in an even briefer package. That little bit may be perfect for passing on to teachers or family members who are really never going to read those books you recommend. Particularly if they have a negative view of your child's behaviour or your way of handling it, the positive attitude and simplified explanations here may turn their attention to a more productive path.
From the Publisher
Introduction. 1. The ADHD Iceberg: More Problems than We Expected. 2. Rule #1: Keep It Positive. 3. Rule #2: Keep It Calm. 4. Rule #3: Keep It Organized and other School Treatments. 5. Rule #4: Keep it Going. 6. Medication Treatments for ADHD. 7. For Kids to Read. 8. Summary. Appendix 1: Behavioral Checklist. Appendix 2: Childhood Index of Executive Functions (ChIEF). Appendix 3: Annotated Reading List. References. Index
About the Author
Martin L. Kutscher MD is Assistant Clinical Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology of New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY, and a partner of Pediatric Neurological Associates in White Plains, NY, where he has worked since 1987 with children who have seizures or other special needs. Dr Kutscher is board certified in Pediatrics and in Neurology with Special Competency in Child Neurology. He received his BA from Columbia University, his MD from Columbia University's College of Physicians and Surgeons, and completed a pediatric residency at Temple University's St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. His neurology residency and pediatric neurology fellowship were completed at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
