**Finalist for a Books for a Better Life AwardA pediatric neuropsychologist presents strategies to help parents of special-needs children navigate the emotional challenges they face.**As diagnosis rates continue to rise for autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, and other developmental differences, parents face a maze of medical, psychological, and educational choices – and a great deal of emotional stress. Many books address children’s learning or behavior problems and advis...

Researcher, thought leader, and New York Times bestselling author Brené Brown offers a liberating study on the importance of our imperfections—both to our relationships and to our own sense of selfThe quest for perfection is exhausting and unrelenting. There is a constant barrage of social expectations that teach us that being imperfect is synonymous with being inadequate. Everywhere we turn, there are messages that tell us who, what and how we’re supposed...

The Angry Octopus story teaches children relaxation techniques for controlling anger and emotions, calming the mind and body, and lowering stress and anxiety. These research-based techniques are woven into this award-winning story, so children will read the story and learn the technique. The sea child teaches the Angry Octopus how to use muscle relaxation and belly-breathing to control anger before it erupts.This effective stress and anger management techniques focuses awa...

Often described as "social phobia's cousin" and misdiagnosed as autism, selective mutism is a debilitating fear of speaking in some situations experienced by some children. The disorder usually presents in children before the age of five, but it may not be recognized until the child starts school. When requested to speak, children with selective mutism often look down, blush, or otherwise express anxiety that disrupts their engagement with people and activities. Selective mutism is related...

Children love to turn self-doubt into self-belief. Children relate to the dolphin in this story as the sea creatures show him how to believe in himself. Watch your child increase self esteem and build inner strength as the sea creatures weave a web of positive statements. This “feel good” technique can be used to bolster self-image, manage stress and anxiety, and accomplish goals. This encouraging story will bring a smile to your face and give your child a tool that will last a lifetime.

A father’s exhilarating and funny love letter to his daughter with Down syndrome, this inspirational memoir shows how a vibrant and infectious approach to life has something to teach all of us about how we can better live our own.Jillian Daugherty was born with Down syndrome. The day they brought her home from the hospital, her parents, Paul and Kerry, were flooded with worry and uncertainty, but also overwhelming love, which they channeled to “the job of building the better Jillia...

Children will love to experience belly breathing with playful sea otters and a sea child. This effective, self-calming technique also known as “diaphragmatic breathing” can have a positive impact on your child’s health. Proper breathing can lower stress and anxiety levels. It can be used to decrease pain and anger as it opens up and balances the nervous system affecting the entire body.Other benefits of using belly breathing are:

Children ages 4-7 love to pretend that they are the bear or the boy as they practice deep breathing. This effective stress and anger management technique is widely accepted and used by both traditional and holistic communities. The technique focuses on belly breathing also known as diaphragmatic breathing. Breathing is calming and can have a positive impact on your child’s health and immune system. It can lower stress and anxiety levels. It can be used to decrease pain and anger. This is t...

What would you do if your child suffered with something so severe it affected every aspect of her life?And what if your cries for help fell on deaf ears at every turn? You'd follow your gut and fight until someone listened. And that's what Chynna Laird did. When she was just three months old, Jaimie's reactions to people and situations seemed odd. She refused any form of touch, she gagged at smells, she was clutzy and threw herself around and spent most of her day ...

Drawing from her experience as a brain tumour survivor, person living well with chronic illness, and her experience in social work and professional writing, Ingrid Exner weaves together a survival guide of helpful health and lifestyle tips to empower those with pre-existing health conditions as well as those interested in increasing their overall health and well being. Her beautiful photography accompanies each tip, enhancing both the meaning and the aesthetic value of this book.

From bedtime tantrums to bedwetting, sleep problems can be one of the biggest sources of worry and frustration for parents of children with special needs. Help is here in this down-to-earth, nonjudgmental guide, packed with widely tested, easy-to-use techniques that work for all children, with and without disabilities. This fully updated edition includes help for parents who usually struggle with nighttime problems. Without preaching or proposing a “one right way” to solve problems, psycho...

The gentle and powerful way to turn feelings of distress into helpful action'Life can be demanding enough without us causing ourselves greater upset because we "don't feel happy". Instead, let's welcome all our feelings of distress, all our thoughts and beliefs about life's challenges, and focus on transforming these in a way that is helpful for us.'In How to Cope, psychologist and clinical director of depression awareness charity Aware Dr Claire Hayes takes a good look at our thoughts and...