I adore Dr. Greene! I had the opportunity to attend a presentation about "Lost at School" in Michigan several years ago. Ross Greene, Ph.D. "gets" our kids. He reminds us again and again, "Kids do well if they can."
Stretch More is a kid made of a rubber band who is rigid and is learning to be flexible. The stories in the book are written about common events that happen in all our lives. Each story is broken down into parts where the reader is allowed to choose how he/she would respond in that situation and then the reader is directed to a new page to read material that follows up on that chosen response.
The Woodbine House promotional materials describe the concept of the book very well:
This is the first children's book to demonstrate Collaborative & Proactive Solutions, a therapy method that presumes kids act poorly because they lack the skills to deal with challenging situations. Together, parents and children learn how to defuse the tension and build a more supportive approach to improving behavior. A perfect book for kids ages 8-13 who have ADHD, Tourette's, OCD, or Asperger's that also includes an information section for parents."
My homeschooler and I dove right in. We read about the botched breakfast. Almost immediately, my girl found a way that she identifies with Stretch. We talk about how she is like Stretch, how she is different from Stretch. And of course, we don't read just the ending she would choose; instead, we read all the endings. The stories give us fuel for discussion later - something I am seeing more and more. My girl needs a long time to process a concept, and we revisit situations and the endings again and again as she processes another bit here or there. The stories themselves and the format of the book is very kid and teen friendly.
Peek inside! An excerpt of the book is here.
Table of contents is here.
Disclaimer: Woodbine House sent me a copy to review for you. I was not paid for this review and am not obligated to provide a positive review.
