ADHD Helpful Books

ADHD: What Every Parent Needs to Know – the American Academy of Pediatrics’ official book on ADHD and covers everything from initial evaluation, behavior therapy, the role of medication, and more.

Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents – Written by ADHD expert Russell Barkley and the #1 book choice by ADDitude Magazine for anyone raising a child with ADHD. It covers all of the ADHD basics and also provides an 8-step behavior management plan to help families keep peace at home.

The Disorganized Mind: Coaching Your ADHD Brain to Take Control of Your Time, Tasks, and Talents – A book by ADHD Coach Nancy Ratey; it helps people understand why/how ADHD gets in their way and what they can then do about it!

What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew – Written by psychologist Sharon Saline, who has more than 25 years of experience counseling young people and their families. The book provides real world examples and provides a framework

for parents to shift the dynamic to ease everyday challenges.

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Books and Online Resources for Parents

Being a parent is fun, exciting, and very challenging! You’ve probably noticed that the amount of parenting advice and products available is overwhelming. This list is meant to serve as a starting point to narrow your search for guidance on specific topics. It was created from both my own research plus hearing success stories from parents like you!

I recommend picking ONE resource that sounds like a good fit– trying multiple methods tends to confuse/overwhelm people with TOO MANY tips/tricks. Advice overload discourages us from trying anything because we don’t know where to start. This also goes for social media: if scrolling leads to feelings of doubt, guilt or inadequacy, it’s time to unplug!

Infancy

Cribsheet – a book written by economist Emily Oster. She breaks down the facts and numbers of various parenting choices and misinformation. It’s a concise and easy to read book; a nice reminder that there’s not “one right way” to parent!

Taking Cara Babies – Everything sleep! Founded by Cara Dumaplin, this online resource is offered through for-purchase online classes as well as a free blog with articles covering almost any question you may have such as safe sleep, sleep regressions, napping, etc. Anecdotally, this seems to be a fan favorite!

• Disclaimer #1: This resource recommends waiting until at least 5 months before any formal sleep training. I personally, as a pediatrician, recommend waiting until 6 months – if your baby is waking up and seems hungry before they’re 6 months old, I trust them that they need to eat!
• Disclaimer #2: Nursing moms! Remember that if you stop breastfeeding overnight (either due to sleep training or your baby naturally going long stretches without waking) that your milk supply may drop! This doesn’t happen to everyone, but it’s an important factor to consider. Even though your baby is asleep, you may still need to wake to pump at least once overnight to maintain supply.

The Happy Sleeper – Another sleep guide, but in book form, by Heather Turgeon and Julie Wright (both MFT’s – marriage and family therapists). This approach enforces regular check-in’s, whether your baby is awake/upset or not. The idea is for check-in’s to not necessarily always be for settling your baby, but rather let them know you’re there and support them.

Breast and Bottle Feeding Resources – Of course, I’ll first and foremost recommend our great Lactation Consultants from our clinic! Please schedule an hour-long lactation visit with either Molly or Holly for some hands-on and in-person assistance! If time or distance makes coming into our office challenging, here are some options to check out:

• Feed The Baby – A book by lactation consultant Victoria Facelli. A comprehensive guide that is evidence-based and scientific but also emotional and validating. Includes illustrations and links to video demonstrations.
• Kellymom.com – A straightforward website that has articles on almost everything breastfeeding. The website author follows Attachment Parenting philosophy and synthesizes information from multiple reputable sources.
• Exclusivepumping.com – A website for moms who plan to breastfeed via a breast pump! It is a supportive and judgment-free website that covers everything from increasing supply to weaning and product reviews to cleaning tips.

Safe in the Seat– a website that offers for-purchase courses on everything carseats/car safety. Broken down by ages. Also has a free youtube channel.

• Disclaimer: Don’t forget that your local fire department is a FREE resource! Firefighters are trained as child passenger safety seat technicians and can assist you with installation and proper fit. If you live in Asheville, you can call 828-259-5636 between 8AM-6PM Mon-Thurs to make an appointment.

Toddlers and School-Aged Children

Cribsheet – Outlined above. Also covers toddler-age topics like potty training, discipline, and milestones.

123-Magic – Originally published in 1995, this book has been around for a while! It gives families a method that keeps parents’ emotions in check to calmly redirect their children. It covers how to 1. Help your kids stop doing the things you don’t want them to do, 2. Motivate your kids to start doing the things you do want them to do, and 3. Bond with your kids!

Good Inside – A modern approach! This book was written in 2022 by child psychologist Dr. Becky Kennedy and focuses on the idea that You are Good Inside and that Your Kids are Good Inside. She shifts the focus from discipline to connection and offers “a way to raise kids that sets them up for a lifetime of resilience, confidence, and self-regulation.” Also a podcast!

The Explosive Child – By Dr. Ross Greene for parents whose child responds to routine problems with extreme frustration – crying, screaming, kicking, etc. This is a book based in science but still provides a compassionate and practical framework.

Now Say This: The Right Words to Solve Every Parenting Dilemma – This book is by the same authors as “The Happy Sleeper” (above). Uses a 3-step model: 1. “Attune” – tell your child you understand their feelings, 2. “Limit set” – state the limit/rule, and 3. “Problem Solve” – give choices on ways to move forward. Lots of scripts and examples on what to say!

• Disclaimer: Remember developmental milestones! Toddlers are starting to grasp how the world works. However, their use of logic is still developing and explanations that are lengthy or multi-step are not well understood.

Solid Starts – This is one of my personal favorites. It is a website, but also offered as a phone app. It offers multiple for-purchase courses but has plenty of free blog posts. My favorite tool is the “First Foods Database”, which allows you to search for specific foods to learn about how to prepare them, at what age you can offer them, and any tips on what to expect during or after eating. Also filled with short videos of babies/children eating to show normal eating mechanics.

Feeding Littles – From what I can tell, a very similar resource to “Solid Starts”; written by a registered dietician and occupational therapist. Their approach uses baby-led weaning. They offer free blog posts, for-purchase online courses, and cookbooks. In my opinion, the benefit to this website is the OT input on topics, especially on sensory differences.

How to Talk So Your Kids Will Listen – …And Listen So Your Kids Will Talk. A down-to-earth approach, with updated insights and suggestions, this book provides strategies to solve problems and build foundations for lasting relationships.

ADHD

ADHD: What Every Parent Needs to Know – the American Academy of Pediatrics’ official book on ADHD and covers everything from initial evaluation, behavior therapy, the role of medication, and more.

Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Authoritative Guide for Parents – Written by ADHD expert Russell Barkley and the #1 book choice by ADDitude Magazine for anyone raising a child with ADHD. It covers all of the ADHD basics and also provides an 8-step behavior management plan to help families keep peace at home.

The Disorganized Mind: Coaching Your ADHD Brain to Take Control of Your Time, Tasks, and Talents – A book by ADHD Coach Nancy Ratey; it helps people understand why/how ADHD gets in their way and what they can then do about it!

What Your ADHD Child Wishes You Knew – Written by psychologist Sharon Saline, who has more than 25 years of experience counseling young people and their families. The book provides real world examples and provides a framework for parents to shift the dynamic to ease everyday challenges.

Pre-teen and Teenager

Michele Finkelstein – Local therapist who works with parents of anxious children to work on parenting and coping skills. Website: mfinktherapy.com and phone: 828-367-9447

Ask Dr. Lisa – Podcast that covers mostly pre-teen/teenage parenting advice (but not always!). Hosted by psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour and journalist Reena Ninan. Episodes are about 20-30 min and available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts App, etc

Untangled – Also by Dr. Lisa Damour, but in book form. This book specifically goes over how to “guide teenage girls through the seven transitions into adulthood.”

If you like this book, you may also enjoy her other two books:

• Under Pressure – a guide to addressing the alarming increase in anxiety and stress in girls from elementary school through college
• The Emotional Life of Teenagers – guide to help parents understand their teenagers’ intense and often fraught emotional lives, and how to support them through this critical developmental stage

This is So Awkward – a book written by a pediatrician and puberty educator, this book covers everything that parents want and need to know about modern puberty and how to talk to their kids about it. It goes over both physical and emotional changes as well as the new challenges faced by children today including social media, understanding gender identities, newly-potent drugs, and more.

• Note: I also think it’s important to have puberty books that your child can read and review on their own. There are tons of options out there that are written for kids to understand. Some favorites include “The Care and Keeping of You” and “Guy Stuff: The Body Book for Boys”.

Anxiety

What To Do When You Worry Too Much – One of my favorites! A workbook for kids age 6-12 (though great really for any age!). A way to bring cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) into your home without any waitlist. A wonderful option for kids and parents to practice coping skills together. Remember that coping skills take a lot of time and practice; this book is meant to be read slowly over time.

• Note: There are several other books in the “What To Do When…” series that covers topics such as:
  •  Anger – “When Your Temper Flares”
  • OCD – “When Your Brain Gets Stuck”
  • Negativity – “When You Grumble Too Much”
  • Difficulty Sleeping – “When You Dread Your Bed”
  • Nail Biting and More – “When Bad Habits Take Hold”

CBT Toolbox for Children and Adolescents – Another workbook, written by Lisa Phifer and very similar to “What To Do When”, but written for an older age group and may be more useful for adolescents. Also covers a wider range of topics such as Trauma, ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, Depression, and Conduct Disorders

See “Under Pressure” above

Glitter Jars – you may have heard of glitter jars already, but if not, check out this website to get started! The jar acts as both a timer (it takes 2-3 min for the glitter to settle after shaking up the jar) and a mindfulness exercise as kids watch the glitter settle and calm themselves to return to the present moment. https://www.firefliesandmudpies.com/glitter-timers/

Autism

Quirky Kids: Understanding and Helping Your Child Who Doesn’t Fit In – Written by Pediatricians Perri Klass and Eileen Costello, this book defines various medical terms and provides a roadmap for families with children with or without a “formal” diagnosis of autism spectrum to lead a rich, fulfilling life!

Local Resource: Arms Around ASD – a non-profit group that provides free or very reduced-price events and activities for children with autism and their families. Check out their website to learn more: armsaroundasd.org

Local offices that offer autism-specific therapy: Key Autism Services, Hopebridge, and Asheville TEACCH

Other

PedsDocTalk – a podcast that covers it all, so it didn’t feel right to put it in just one category above. Podcasts are usually 20-30 min long and include interviews with experts in the field of Pediatrics, answering questions directly from parents.

Below is a list of links to asthma medication administration videos for provider, nurse and patient use. 

• How to Use a NebulizerHow to Use a Nebulizer
• How to Use an Inhaler with Spacer and Mask
• How to Use an Inhaler with Spacer
• How to Use a Dry Powdered Inhaler
• How to Use a Twisthaler

Spanish:

• How to Use an Inhaler with Spacer

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By changing the way parents interact with their children daily around language and literacy, we will prepare children for lifelong success. We do this through a two-generational lens and with an understanding of social determinants of health, and their impacts on the lives of children and families throughout the Carolinas.

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