Debra Burdick - Mindfulness for Kids with ADHD: Skills to Help Children Focus, Succeed in School, and Make Friends

This wonderful, practical book is full of help and heart. Drawing on both sides of the brain, and integrating thinking and feeling, it has tons of specific suggestions and activities for kids and their parents. Its fun, to the point, encouraging, and hopeful. A real gem.

Rick Hanson, PhD , author of Resilient

Debra Burdick has done it again! She has written a very informative, easy-to-digest book to help children, parents, and helping professionals use mindfulness strategies to navigate through common life issues facing children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Since children with ADHD have trouble paying attention, the focus on present-centered mindfulness skills is very intuitive and effective. Her easy-to-follow structure, using For You to Know, a case example, and For You to Do for each tip, makes each activity very clear and engaging. A great resource for parents and children alike!

Judith Belmont, MS, LPC , author of the Tips and Tools for the Therapeutic Toolbox series

Mindfulness for Kids with ADHD goes beyond the title. In fact, the skills in this book can be used by those of any age, including young children and their parents, teachers, and helping professionals. The mindfulness activities are perfect for parents to do with their kids, and also for teachers to integrate into their classrooms. The information is easy to unpack, expand, and apply to meet the needs of different children in real-life situations. The timing of this book is perfect with all the challenges in our world today to help our kids adopt mindfulness and self-awareness as a way of life.

Nancy Hayes, MS , educator, special education coordinator, and elementary school principal

Debra Burdick has crafted the perfect resource for children with ADHD. This book is filled with fantastic, age-appropriate activities that can help children maximize the power of mindfulness to control their symptoms of ADHD. Parents may find themselves using the book themselves as the exercises are useful to us all. Outstanding in every respect!

Ellen B. Braaten, PhD , director of the MGH Learning and Emotional Assessment Program (LEAP), codirector of the The Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, associate professor at Harvard Medical School, and coauthor of Bright Kids Who Cant Keep Up and Straight Talk About Psychological Testing for Kids

I know lots of kids who moan and groan when they hear that it is time to practice mindfulness exercises. But these kids have yet to experience Debra Burdicks book for children with ADHD. Debra has a keen awareness of what it takes to help children with ADHD, combining a unique blend of helpful therapeutic techniques and good old fun. Thoughtful and well written, this book is sure to be a hit with ADHD kids, their parents, and teachers.

Lawrence E. Shapiro, PhD , author of How to Raise a Child with a High EQ and The Secret Language of Children

Publishers Note

This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering psychological, financial, legal, or other professional services. If expert assistance or counseling is needed, the services of a competent professional should be sought.

Distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books

Copyright 2018 by Debra Burdick

Instant Help Books

An imprint of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

5674 Shattuck Avenue

Oakland, CA 94609

www.newharbinger.com

Cover design by Amy Shoup

Interior illustrations by Zanne de Janvier

Acquired by Wendy Millstine

Edited by James Lainsbury

All Rights Reserved

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data on file

Contents

Foreword

Since this book is written for kids, I thought I would write this foreword for kids.

First of all, let me explain what a foreword is. It is not the opposite of a backword, and it is not the word you shout when you hit a really bad golf shot. Nor is it just one word. Rather, its a bunch of words that come at the beginning of a bookbefore the main part of the book, which makes it sort of like an introduction, but it isnt an introduction because it is shorter, and, well, it is a foreword, and after youve read this foreword youll know what a foreword is. In fact, youll be able to write a foreword yourself. When one of your friends, or one of your teachers, or your parents, or someone famous you know writes a book, you can say, Id be glad to write the foreword for you. This person will be impressed that you know what a foreword is and that you are willing and able to write one. You can add, Id even be willing to waive my fee. This will impress them even more.

Now, let me ask you a question. Do you know who Debra Burdick is? She is the person who wrote this book. Have you ever written a book? Some day you very well might, if you havent done so already. But then again, you might not. You might sail around the world instead, or invent a way to become invisible. Debbie is sometimes called The Brain Lady because she knows A LOT about the brainyour brain, my brain, everyones brain. I dont know if her friends call her Debbie or not. Her clients call her Miss Deb. Ive seen her online speaking, and she seems really nice, really smart, and really helpful, so Im pretty sure we can believe what she has to say.

This book is about mindfulness for kids who have ADHD. I know, B-O-R-I-N-G! But guess what? Its NOT! Its actually REALLY interesting! And really HELPFUL! I PROMISE!

Do you have ADHD? I do. I also have dyslexia, but thats another story.

In this book Debbie teaches us how to train our minds to focus more naturally, evenly, effortlessly, happily, and joyfully. She teaches us how to have fun learning instead of having to struggle. I promise.

Once she explains what mindfulness isits paying attention without distraction, if you can believe thatshe then teaches you how to do it, if you can believe that.

She then explains how to fix ALL KINDS of problems that come up for us all the timefeeling embarrassed, feeling like youre a loser, calming down during a test, dealing with worry, what to do when you feel really angry, and a whole bunch moreand she explains how to fix them in ways that are really simple and easy to follow. Like, she knows how to explain in ways you can follow and use and even explain to other kids, if you want to.

What I am saying is that this is an awesome book, and Debbie is an awesome teacher. She is SO GOOD. You really will like this book. But you do need to take it seriously. You have to pretty much study it to get all that you can get out of it. But what I am saying is that once you get started you will actually WANT to study it, because, unlike memorizing a bunch of stupid stuff, the stuff in this book will make your life better, happier, more successful, and easier.

So, please, give it a shot. Take your time. Do the exercises. Share them with your parents. I promise you, you will be glad you did. Soon, without knowing what happened, you will be practicing the ancient art of mindfulness. You can impress other people by telling them you are an expert in one of the most proven practices humankind has ever developed, and it is making your body, mind, and spirit better every day.

Read on, practice, prosper, and enjoy!

Edward Hallowell, MD

A Letter to Kids with ADHD

Hi there! How are you? I am so glad that you and this book found each other at just the right time.