The explosive child : a new approach for understanding and parenting easily frustrated, chronically inflexible children

A groundbreaking approach to understanding and parenting children who frequently exhibit severe fits of temper and other intractable behaviours, from a distinguished clinician and pioneer in this field, now updated to include the most recent research. Almost everyone knows an explosive child, one whose frequent, severe fits of temper leave his or her parents standing helpless in their fear, frustration, and guilt. Most of these parents have tried everything—reasoning, behaviour modification, therapy, medication—but to no avail. They wonder if their child is deviant or just plain bad. Dr. Ross Greene has worked with thousands of explosive children, and he has good news: these kids aren't bad, and neither are their parents. Rather, explosive children suffer from a physiological deficiency in frustration tolerance and flexibility. Throughout this compassionate book, Dr. Greene demonstrates why traditional treatments don't work for these kids and offers a new conceptual framework for understanding their behaviour, along with new language to describe it. He explains the latest neuroscience findings about the importance of flexibility, and, most important, he shows parents specific, practical ways they can recognize the signs of an impending explosion, defuse tension, and reduce frustration levels for the entire family. For parents, psychologists, educators and ADHD groups. In addition to the scientific foundation of the book, Greene addresses parents in practical ways that will help show results in difficult children and their effect on families. We've all seen an "explosive child": one who exhibits intense temper outbursts, sudden mood swings, extreme noncompliance, and verbal and physical aggression. For parents who seem to have tried everything, finally there is hope. In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Ross Greene provides a practical, compassionate approach to treating these children, who may be diagnosed with any of various psychiatric disorders, including oppositional-defiant disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), bipolar disorder, and Tourette's disorder. Drawing upon recent advances in the neurosciences and his extensive experience working with challenging children, Dr. Greene explains that they are not willfully destructive. Their behaviors stem from brain-based deficits in two critical developmental skills: flexibility and frustration tolerance. With Dr. Greene's sensitive, expert advice, you will find ways to defuse explosive episodes, reduce tension, and build a warm, lasting relationship with your child. An experienced therapist offers groundbreaking--and compassionate--techniques for helping "chronically inflexible" children, who suffer from excessively immoderate tempers, showing how brain-based deficits contribute to these problems and offering positive and constructive ways to calm things down. Original. 40,000 first printing. Jennifer, age eleven, wakes up, makes her bed, looks around her room to make sure everything is in its place, and heads into the kitchen to make herself breakfast.