When the Labels Don’t Fit
We’re kicking off our fall guest speaker schedule with the author of a new book that both Amy and I really resonate with – “When The Labels Don’t Fit
Many children do things that seem odd or excessive at various points in their development. Though some do need professional help, many are victims of a culture that’s far too quick to attach a label such as ADHD, social anxiety, or bipolar disorder to every child who’s hard to manage or doesn’t fit in. Barbara Probst asks: Is there really something wrong with all these children, or is there something wrong with the way they’re viewed, categorized, and treated? WHEN THE LABELS DON’T FIT proposes a radical new perspective: instead of viewing unusual or puzzling behavior as a symptom of disorder, we need to view it as exactly what it is: the extreme or out-of-context expression of a trait like perfectionism, intensity, or curiosity.
Please leave any questions you have for Ms. Probst here on the blog, and we’ll see what we can do to incorporate them into the show!
Angela:
I notice that most of the author’s suggestions for dealing with the expression of challenging traits involve planning ahead to avoid potential conflicts, meltdowns, or problems. While I agree these methods are most effective, does she have some ways for dealing with the expression of these traits while they are in progress? (It is normal to miss the boat at least some of the time with planning ahead). How do you help a child transition to a new activity in the moment they are having difficulty? How do you help a child make a choice in the moment of choosing?
Also, what does the author suggest for children with specific anxieties. For example, my eight year old is afraid his 5 year old brother will get lost… so in public places he is constantly telling him to come on, stay with us, hold hands, etc. If we lose sight of his little brother for even a second he goes into a panic. To a certain extent he worries about everything, but some things he worries about more profoundly. Another of his big worries involves Mommy being late to pick him up from school. He reminds me daily to be on time (I am never late). How do I help him with this?
What are the advantages and disadvantages to having a label with the public school system?
13 September 2008, 7:34 pm