Quirky Kids: Understanding and Helping Your Child Who Doesnt Fit In- When to Worry and When Not to W

---

However, a ground-breaking approach from the US is treating social difficulties in the playground in the same way as any other learning difficulty. Y et the new approach is not just for children on the autistic spectrum. According to Michelle Garcia Winner, the California-based speech and language pathologist, who helped pioneer the new thinking, the reason some youngsters are left out is because they come into the world with fewer social skills than others and may also become anxious and frustrated, making the issue worse.

While it takes the average youngster less than a second to read social cues, Michelle says it may take some children with social learning challenges a little longer, making it difficult for them to join in or say the right thing at the right time. I n a class of 30, that means up to three children will be left on the side-lines. They may look stoic at school over time it can build into depression and anxiety. I would love to see more friendship education in schools. This means that a socially awkward child who may find it easier to make on-line friends where the rules around social cues and engagement are different, can further retreat into themselves.

Y et, according to child development experts this could be putting them at a disadvantage in the wider world where emotional intelligence is increasingly valued and can be a key indicator of future success. H elping children develop their emotional intelligence through friendship, they argue, is as crucial as teaching them reading, writing and arithmetic. Through this interaction, children learn to be sensitive and establish their limits. Published August 31st by Ballantine Books first published To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. To ask other readers questions about Quirky Kids , please sign up.

Lists with This Book. Apr 08, Jennifer Hughes rated it really liked it Shelves: Sometimes we get so caught up in the diagnosing of a child that we forget that he basically is just a quirky kid. A diagnosis doesn't change anything about him. This book helped me reframe the way I was looking at my child at the time. May 19, Summer rated it really liked it Shelves: Here's a strange example of a book that I, personally, didn't enjoy, but which I admit is a good book nonetheless. I grabbed it off the shelf blindly thinking that it was about merely eccentric children, when actually it's about children with diagnosed disorders - autism, OCD, etc.

I'm fully secure in the fact that I was not a kid with any sort of developmental difficulty, I was just kind of weird, and therefore this book didn't help me in putting together the pieces of What Happened Back Then. I Here's a strange example of a book that I, personally, didn't enjoy, but which I admit is a good book nonetheless. It's otherwise a pretty good guide to helping out a relative or young friend with a developmental disorder. I know a neat little kid with sensory problems, and I hope that this and other books like it help her along in dealing with the challenges she faces.

Feb 29, bup rated it it was amazing Shelves: A favorite quote from the book: Jan 27, Ashley rated it really liked it. Apr 06, Lydia LaPutka rated it it was amazing.

See a Problem?

After 7 years of teaching kindergarten, I have had my share of quirky kids in my classroom, believe me! The statistics for autism are increasing which means we are seeing it more and more at school these days.

It seems like I get a quirky kid every year! This year I have two! I actually chanced upon this book when I was searching at the library on the bookshelves for a book about queen bees. Yes, I have those, too, in kindergarten! When the title captured my eye, I grabbed it!

I need any resourc After 7 years of teaching kindergarten, I have had my share of quirky kids in my classroom, believe me! I need any resource that might help me with my students! This book was very helpful and one I may be able to suggest to parents in the future. The difficulty of that is that it is tricky subject matter.

I had been using that word when describing one of my student's behaviors to his parents. So I suppose I could work that angle! But many parents are in complete denial or, due to their own quirkiness, just don't see it. Or don't see it as a problem. In that case, it would be hard to recommend this book!

Does your child struggle to make friends? They could be suffering from social dyslexia

I was glad the book addressed the fact that children like this often fall prey to bullies. That's something that does needs to be addressed.

More on family

Early intervention would be helpful to teach social skills and coping skills which may perhaps lessen some of the quirky behaviors or prevent them from becoming full-blown oddities. It was also surprising to relate many of the behaviors to my own son. He was difficult throughout his childhood and teens. Only once did a doctor comment that he might be on the autistic spectrum. The book is well written and comprehensive. I would have liked to read more about how to work with quirky kids in the classroom, but that was not the authors' goal.

Also, they are pediatricians and parents, not educators, so that makes sense. I know there are some good books out there about Aspergers. Now that summer is approaching, maybe I will have time to find one and read it! Aug 28, Marjorie Ingall rated it liked it Shelves: I thought this was going to be a look at eccentric kids who don't fit neatly into diagnostic categories. Instead, it's a general introduction to lots of different diagnoses: A very cursory look at a wide variety of behaviors that doesn't go into much depth about any of them, I suspect the book is a bit dated. I did like the reassuring tone, and the extensive quotes from parents about how they problem-solved.

But for parents who are str I thought this was going to be a look at eccentric kids who don't fit neatly into diagnostic categories. And for parents whose kids really don't seem to fit existing labels, a book that uses the catch-all term "quirky" for any kid with any sort of behavioral, neurological or psychiatric diagnosis isn't all that helpful; maybe there's a book out there about encouraging a kid's passions and helping him feel good about himself and advocating for him in school while also helping him negotiate his various quirks, but this isn't it.

Oct 28, Holly 2 Kids and Tired rated it really liked it Shelves: A great resource, especially if you have a child who is just different. Some kids and people just have issues that seem quirky, and may or may not be serious, so this is a great starting point in your research. Good overviews of different disorders and issues. The authors explain terms, discuss possible therapy options, coping strategies, and even available medications. I particularly like the section about dealing with teachers.

If you deal with quirky issues in your family, any book that gives A great resource, especially if you have a child who is just different. If you deal with quirky issues in your family, any book that gives coping mechanisms and tools for helping your child is a great addition to a library.

This one is no exception. Jul 02, Laura added it. I liked this book, but the title is deceptive. It sounds like a book for kids who are "quirky" but don't have a diagnosable condition like Aspergers, autism, or ADHD, and whether you should "worry" that your kid does have one of those conditions. It's actually mostly about kids on the spectrum, but is written in such a way that applies to those with a diagnosable condition and those without. The paragraph on picky eating and the importance of picking your battles carefully--especially with daught I liked this book, but the title is deceptive.

The paragraph on picky eating and the importance of picking your battles carefully--especially with daughters! Mar 30, Carrie added it Shelves: I thought this would be a book for parents of kids who are just High-strung, emotional, intense; sensitive, yet oblivious -- that kind of quirky.

• How to Become a Famous Writer Before Youre Dead: Your Words in Print and Your Name in Lights
• The Kukulkan Manuscript
• Understanding Intelligence (MIT Press)
• I Just Got Sacked, Now What?
• Lead With Your Customer: Transform Culture and Brand into World-Class Excellence
• Golden State
• The Compensation Solution: How to Develop an Employee-Driven Rewards System (J-B-UMBS Series)