Often described as "social phobia's cousin" and misdiagnosed as autism, selective mutism is a debilitating fear of speaking in some situations experienced by some children. The disorder usually presents in children before the age of five, but it may not be recognized until the child starts school. When requested to speak, children with selective mutism often look down, blush, or otherwise express anxiety that disrupts their engagement with people and activities. Selective mutism is related to social anxiety and social phobia, and more than 90 percent of children with selective mutism also manifest symptoms of one of these problems.

This book is the first available for parents of children with selective mutism. It offers a broad overview of the condition and reviews the diagnostic criteria for the disorder. The book details a plan you can use to coordinate professional treatment of your child's disorder. It also explains the steps you can take on your own to encourage your child to speak comfortably in school and in his or her peer group. All of the book's strategies employ a gradual, "stepladder" approach. The techniques gently encourage children to speak more, while at the same time helping them feel safe and supported.

Angela E. McHolm, Ph.D., is director of the Selective Mutism Service at McMaster Children's Hospital in Hamilton, ON. The Selective Mutism Service offers outpatient psychiatric consultation to families and professionals such as school personnel, speech and language pathologists, and mental health clinicians who support children with selective mutism. She is assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University in Hamilton, ON.

Sleep problems in children and adolescents are very common and often the cause of concern and distress for both the child and the family. They can affect behaviour, learning and sometimes physical health. There are many possible causes for sleep problems, some psychological, others physical, and this book will help you to identify and explain problems in your own child, leading you to the appropriate advice or treatment as necessary.
The book starts by explaining the importance and nature of sleep and the changes that occur as your child grows up. It then describes why children may not sleep well at different ages from babyhood to adolescence, the causes of being excessively sleepy during the day, and the types of unusual behaviours or experiences that a child can have at night. The various types of treatment needed for these problems are explained.
The later chapters discuss those children who are especially liable to have sleep problems, the ways in which sleep problems may be mistaken for other conditions, the ways in which unsatisfactory sleep can be spotted at home and at school, and how to get help for your child's disturbed sleep.
Throughout the book, cases are described to illustrate how children with various sleep disorders have been correctly diagnosed and treated. The book is intended to raise awareness of the importance of children's sleep disorders, as well as their recognition and treatment. It is written mainly for parents but will also be of interest to anyone involved in the care and welfare of children.

The Sunday Times Bestseller A fully illustrated, practical guide full of essential skills and knowledge that school didn't prepare us for 'We all learned how to take tests at school, but then we went out into the world and found ourselves underprepared! And the worst thing anyone can feel is helpless. So I've filled this book with over 100 of the most vital life skills and tools that will not only save you money and give you confidence, but may even save a life.' - Myleene x This book will empower you, and your family, with essential knowledge to tackle everyday challenges. Packed full of advice, They Don't Teach This At School is full of information and tips on: * Escaping from a burning building * Dealing with medical emergencies * Getting a good night's sleep * How to be a good listener * Talking about racism * How to write a CV and apply for a job * Saying hello (and more) in different languages * Coping with a plumbing crisis * How to change a plug and a fuse * Checking the pressure on car tyres * Stopping your mouth burning when you've eaten something spicy * What to do if you're lost * How to feel confident about speaking in public

This wise and funny book presents a revolutionary yet highly practical approach to childcare: leave them alone.
""The Idle Parent" came as a huge relief to the whole family. Suddenly, it was okay to leave the kids to sort it out among themselves. Suddenly, it was okay to be responsibly lazy. This is the most counterintuitive but most helpful and consoling child-raising manual I've yet read."-Alain de Botton, author of "The Pleasures and Sorrows of Work" and "The Consolations of Philosophy"
"The most easy-to-follow-without-being-made-to-feel-inadequate parenting manifesto ever written . . . A godsend to parents."- "The Sunday Times"
"Add liberal doses of music, jovial company and deep woods to play in- all central to the idle, not to say Taoist, life-and you have a recipe for bright, happy people with need of neither television nor shrink. Who could ask for more?"- "The Evening Standard"
In "The Idle Parent," the author of "The Freedom Manifesto" and "How to Be Idle" applies his trademark left-of-center theories of idleness to what can be one of the thorniest aspects of adult life: parenting.
Many parents today spend a whole lot of time worrying and wondering- frantically "helicoptering" over their children with the hope that they might somehow keep (or make?) them flawless. But where is this approach to childcare getting us? According to Hodgkinson, in our quest to give our kids everything, we fail to give them the two things they need most: the space and time to grow up self-reliant, confident, happy, and free. In this smart and hilarious book, Hodgkinson urges parents to stop worrying and instead start nurturing the natural instincts toward creativity and independence that are found in every child. And the great irony: in doing so, we will find ourselves becoming happier and better parents.