8 Keys to Raising the Quirky Child: How to Help a Kid Who Doesn't (Quite) Fit in
|Series:||8 Keys to Mental Health|
A quirky child experiences difficulty fitting in and connecting with others usually due to an interpersonal style or behavior that stands out from the other kids. Maybe they are obsessed with a topic of interest or spend excessive hours a day reading, playing video games, or playing with just one toy. These kids are not so far afield as to fall on the autism spectrum, but they are unique, and their behaviors are not addressed in typical parenting books. This book defines quirky markers and offers strategies for parents to understand their children's brains and behaviors; to know what is developmentally appropriate, and what isn't; to understand how to reach their kids; and to help facilitate their social functioning in the world. It will calm the hearts and minds of parents who worry that their child doesn't fit in and offer hope to parents who need strategies to support their quirky child's overall development.
"There is no black and white dividing line between geeks, nerds, and the quirky, and mild autism or Asperger's. A few autistic traits can provide advantages-too many, a handicap. Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, and many famous musicians, if they were born today, might well receive an "autism" label in today's school system. Some kids are just quirky, and Eight Keys to Raising a Quirky Child will help those children succeed." -- Temple Grandin, author of The Autistic Brain and Thinking in Pictures
Mark Bowers, PhD, is a pediatric psychologist who specializes in neurodevelopmental diagnoses (i.e., Autism Spectrum, Asperger's, ADHD, and Learning Difficulties) and helping quirky kids develop social skills. He is in private practice at the Ann Arbor Center for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics in Ann Arbor, MI.