It's So Much Work to Be Your Friend: Helping the Child with Learning Disabilities Find Social Success

As any parent, teacher, coach, or caregiver of a learning disabled child knows, every learning disability has a social component. The ADD child constantly interrupts and doesn't follow directions. The child with visual-spatial issues loses his belongings. The child with a nonverbal communication disorder fails to gesture when she talks. These children are socially out of step with their peers, and often they are ridiculed or ostracized for their differences. A successful social life is immeasurably important to a child's happiness, health, and development, but until now, no book has provided practical, expert advice on helping learning disabled children achieve social success. For more than thirty years, Richard Lavoie has lived with and taught learning disabled children. Rick's pioneering techniques and practical strategies can help children ages six to seventeen: Overcome shyness and low self-esteem; Use appropriate body language to convey emotion; Focus attention and avoid disruptive behavior; Enjoy playdates and making friends; Employ strategies for counteracting bullying and harassment; Master the Hidden Curriculum and polish the apple with teachers.