Product Description

Stanley Greenspan, internationally known for his work with infants, young children, and their families, and his colleague, nationally recognized child psychologist Serena Wieder, have for the first time integrated their award-winning research and clinical experience into a definitive guide to raising children with special needs. In this essential work they lay out a complete, step-by-step approach for parents, educators, and others who work with developmental problems. Covering all kinds of disabilitiesincluding autism, PPD, language and speech problems, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, and ADDthe authors offer a new understanding of the nature of these challenges and also specific ways of helping children extend their intellectual and emotional potential. The authors first show how to move beyond labels to observe the unique profilestrengths and problemsof the individual child. Next, they demonstrate the techniques necessary to help the child not only reach key milestones but also develop new emotional and intellectual capacities. Greenspans well-known floortime approach enables parents, as well as clinicians, to use seemingly playful interactions that help children actually move up the development ladder and often master creative and abstract thinking formerly thought beyond their reach. Including vivid case histories, the book also offers deep and compassionate understanding of the stresses and rewards involved in raising a child with special needs. whose amazing work with autistic and other special needs children is nationally known, and his colleague, child psychologist Serena Wieder, have integrated a lifetime of research and clinical practice into a single, comprehensive guide for parents. Covering all kinds of disabilitiesincluding cerebral palsy, autism, retardation, ADD, PDD, and language problemsthe book offers specific ways of helping all children reach their full intellectual and emotional potential. First the authors show how to move beyond the label and observe the strengths and problems of the particular child and the key milestones that must be reached. Next, they move step by step through the techniques necessary to help the child reach these milestones and show how to tailor these to each child. Finally, with a deep and compassionate understanding they outline the marital, educational, and social stresses and rewards in raising a special needs child.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #113130 in Books
• Published on: 1997-12-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 512 pages

Customer Reviews

the best resource available for parents of special needs ch
If you have a special needs child, please, please, please read this book. Greenspan's philosophy defies the tradition of standardized treatment programs and teaches parents to assess their child individually, then build on his specific strengths. His theory that constant, intensive intervention, in which the caregiver follows the child's lead and challenges him through his own emotions and desires, has revolutionized our son with PDD.

This book is the only work I have found that believes parents can actually do something about developmental delays, beyond helping their child to reach a predisposed "ceiling". It also explained many of the ambiguities relating to pervasive development and sensory disorders that had baffled us (and the professionals we work with) for many months.

I also recommend highly: The Out-of-Sync child by Carol Kranowitz (about sensory integration disorder) and Biological Treatments for PDD and Autism by Dr. William Shaw (an excellent resource on nutritional and vitamin issues)

Right on the mark for my child
Early in the book Dr. Greenspan described 3 components typically involved in develomentally delayed children: sensory input, sensory processing, and motor planning. This was the first time I had seen in print a description of exactly what seemed to be affecting my son. We have never had a diagnosis for him so I also appreciate that the book does not get bogged down in labelling a child. The developmental path that he suggests a child must follow gave us a fairly clear "map" to follow. Excellent book.

excellent resource for parents and therapists
this book is easy to comprehend. the book offers insight into the 'floor time' approach to therapy and play, as well as offering helpful ideas on coping with the stresses of being a special needs parent and family.

chapters are well-defined, clear-cut and easy-to-read. a must for anyone whose child has developmental delays!