Quirky, Yes-- Hopeless, No: Practical Tips to Help Your Child with Asperger's Syndrome Be More Socially Accepted
In Quirky, Yes—Hopeless, No, Dr. Cynthia La Brie Norall and Beth Brust present short lessons, structured around specific topics from A-Z that address the social challenges faced by Asperger’s children and teens. Since everyday “people skills” do not come naturally to children with Asperger’s, they need training in such simple activities as:\ • How to greet others and make eye contact\ •How to let go and move on to new tasks\ • How to cooperate and ask for help\ •How to pay compliments\ •How...
Search in google:
In Quirky, Yes—Hopeless, No, Dr. Cynthia La Brie Norall and Beth Brust present short lessons, structured around specific topics from A-Z that address the social challenges faced by Asperger’s children and teens. Since everyday “people skills” do not come naturally to children with Asperger’s, they need training in such simple activities as: • How to greet others and make eye contact •How to let go and move on to new tasks • How to cooperate and ask for help •How to pay compliments •How to discern someone’s true intentions • How to handle teasing and bullying • How not to be rude. Based on Dr. Norall’s twenty years of experience diagnosing and treating thousands with Asperger’s, this book will share her insights gained from helping so many friendless Asperger’s children become more approachable, less stuck, and finally able to make, and keep, a friend or two. Publishers Weekly In 2000, educational psychologist Norwall created the Friends' Club, a nonjudgmental, stress-free environment where kids with Asperger's syndrome could learn to communicate effectively, make friends and succeed in social settings. Certain aspects of social awareness-greeting others, asking questions, listening without interruption and looking someone in the eye and smiling-do not come naturally to Asperger's kids, but with guidance, coaching and practice, children can conquer these essential people skills and no longer unintentionally get into trouble because others misunderstand their words or actions. This book, based on Norwall's outreach work, is designed to be a handy, practical guide. Beginning with two chapters of bulleted info and FAQs to explain and identify the signs and symptoms of the condition, it presents 85 Lessons for Decoding Asperger's Children, arranged alphabetically from acceptance, anger and annoying behavior through peer pressure, and even "Telling Your Child He Has Asperger's." Each useful, carefully worded entry addresses kids' behaviors and their parents' concerns, gives examples from real situations and offers suggestions for change or, as is often the case, acceptance. Although a dozen or more experts are cited, the book is conversational in tone, full of insights and will help and encourage parents and their Aspie or high-functioning autistic kids alike. (Aug.)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Note to the Reader xiiiAcknowledgments xvIntroduction: How Friends' Club Began xviiAbout the Experts Cited xxiiPart 1 Asperger's Syndrome and Your ChildWhat Are the Signs of Asperger's Syndrome? 3Frequently Asked Questions About Asperger's Syndrome 5Getting Through to Your Asperger's Child or Teen 12Diagnosis 16Parental Sainthood and Your Need for Support 20Part 2 85 Lessons For Decoding Asperger's ChildrenAcceptance 27Acquaintance Versus Friend 29Admitting When You're Scared 32Alone Time 34Anger and Frustration 36Annoying Behavior 39Anxiety 41Apologizing 43Appearance 46Asking for Help 49Awareness 52Birthday Parties 58Bluntness and Unintentional Insults 63Bullying and Bullies 66Calming Down and Focusing 71Change and "Change-ups" 73Compliance 76Compliments 80Compromise 83Conversation 86Cooperation 92Courtesy 94Curiosity About People 97Dating and Gender Talk 99Depression 102Discipline 106Disorganization 109Embarrassment 112Emotions 115Empathy 119Eye Contact 122Fear 127First Friendships 130Giving and Handling Money 133Greetings 135Grooming and Personal Hygiene 139Holiday Gatherings 142Homework 146Humor 150Indecision 153Initiative 156Intentions 160Leaving the House 162Letting Go and Refocusing 165Listening to Others 168Literal Language 171Looking Like You're Paying Attention 174Losing Gracefully 176Manners 178Meltdowns 182Moving On to New Things 189Obsessions and Obsessive Behavior 191Peer Pressure and Avoiding Dares 195Perfectionism and Unrealistic Expectations 199Perspectives and Point of View202Phone Skills 206Physical Inactivity 209Problem Solving 212Reading Minds and Faces 214Remembering Names 219Responding to Others 222Rudeness 224Rules 228Sarcasm 231Self-esteem 233Selfishness 235Self-regulation or "Stimming" 237Sensory Sensitivities 240Slang and Idioms 246Social Stories 249Sportsmanship 254Staying Calm 257Strengths and How to Cultivate Them 259Taking One's Leave 263Talking with Peers 266Teamwork 270Teasing 273Telling Your Child That He or She Has Asperger's Syndrome 276Thinking in Pictures and Patterns 280Time Blindness 284Travel 287Vacations and School Breaks 291Waiting 296"White Lies" and Sparing Others' Feeling 299Writing Things Down 302Part 3 ResourcesDSM-IV-TR Diagnostic Criteria for Asperger's Disorder 307Glossary of Terms 309Sample E-mail from Parent to Teacher at the Beginning of the School Year 313Further Information About Bullying 315Internet Resources 323Further Reading 326Games 338Index 341
\ Publishers WeeklyIn 2000, educational psychologist Norwall created the Friends' Club, a nonjudgmental, stress-free environment where kids with Asperger's syndrome could learn to communicate effectively, make friends and succeed in social settings. Certain aspects of social awareness-greeting others, asking questions, listening without interruption and looking someone in the eye and smiling-do not come naturally to Asperger's kids, but with guidance, coaching and practice, children can conquer these essential people skills and no longer unintentionally get into trouble because others misunderstand their words or actions. This book, based on Norwall's outreach work, is designed to be a handy, practical guide. Beginning with two chapters of bulleted info and FAQs to explain and identify the signs and symptoms of the condition, it presents 85 Lessons for Decoding Asperger's Children, arranged alphabetically from acceptance, anger and annoying behavior through peer pressure, and even "Telling Your Child He Has Asperger's." Each useful, carefully worded entry addresses kids' behaviors and their parents' concerns, gives examples from real situations and offers suggestions for change or, as is often the case, acceptance. Although a dozen or more experts are cited, the book is conversational in tone, full of insights and will help and encourage parents and their Aspie or high-functioning autistic kids alike. (Aug.)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.\ \ \ \ \ \ Library JournalPicking up on the description used by Perri Klass and Eileen Costello in Quirky Kids: Understanding and Helping Your Child Who Doesn't Fit In, licensed educational psychologist Norall and children's-book author Brust utilize an easy-to-follow alphabetical format to present 85 issues facing children and teenagers with Asperger's syndrome. Topics cover wide ground, from dealing with anger and frustration to birthday parties to phone skills to white lies. Also addressed are the crucial issues of bullying and cyberbullying. The book contains a useful sample letter for parents to send to teachers at the beginning of the school year, a glossary of terms, further information about bullying, and lists of recommended reading, Internet sites, and games. VERDICT Norall and Brust offer much-needed practical advice in a readable style, although many parents would disagree with blanket statements such as, "Asperger's kids also have no curiosity about other people." As the authors point out, parents now have access to a variety of essential resources and supports; this book is one.—Beth Safford, Nevins Memorial Lib., Methuen, MA\ \ —Beth Safford\ \
