Book Recommendation: The Myth of the ADHD Child by Dr. Thomas Armstrong
101 Ways to Improve Your Child’s Behaviour and Attention Span—Without Drugs, Labels, or Coercion
If you’re a parent navigating a child’s distractibility, restlessness, or big emotions—The Myth of the ADHD Child by Dr. Thomas Armstrong is a compassionate and empowering read.
Instead of focusing on labels or medication, Armstrong offers 101 practical strategies to support your child’s development, attention, and emotional regulation—without coercion or shame.
Dr. Armstrong, a respected expert in developmental psychology and education, believes in honouring neurodiversity. His work invites parents and educators to move away from “fixing” a child, and toward understanding, connecting, and empowering them.
Here are 3 standout strategies from the book that we love:
🌿 Strategy 14: Give Your Child Choices
Are you spending your day telling your child what to do—and how to do it? When you offer choices, you hand back a little autonomy. And for many children, the act of choosing is calming. It helps them feel seen, respected, and in control.
Armstrong writes that the ability to choose is like a muscle—it gets stronger with use. Even small, structured choices can reduce resistance and build confidence.
Try offering:
• Choice of books – “Would you like to read Tom Sawyer or Huckleberry Finn tonight?”
• Choice of homework format – “Would you prefer to write an essay or do an interview with an expert on your topic?”
• Choice in routine – “Do you want to take your shower before or after dinner?”
When we give kids choices, we’re not giving in—we’re giving them space to develop independence, self-regulation, and decision-making skills.
🌿 Strategy 29: Give Instructions in Attention-Grabbing Ways
Does your child seem to tune out when you ask them to do something?
A key principle in developing attention-grabbing instructions is to make them vivid, compelling, and engaging. People—especially kids—are more likely to respond to something that moves, surprises them, or paints a picture in their mind.
Here are a few creative ways to break through the noise:
• Sing the instruction – “It’s time to brush your tee-eeeth!”
• Use a visual metaphor – Instead of “Turn off the lights,” say “Turn on the dark.”
• Engage the body – Toss a ball and say “Catch!”—then follow up with your message: “…and after that, let’s tidy your room.”
By adding colour, movement, humour, or imagination, you invite your child’s brain to pay attention in a more natural and non-confrontational way.
🌿 Strategy 7: Teach Focusing Techniques
Many children with attention challenges find it difficult to relax or stay grounded. Armstrong recommends using simple, playful exercises to help strengthen your child’s ability to focus and self-regulate—without pressure.
Try these techniques:
- Focused observation – Ask your child to choose an object in the room (like a leaf, toy, or candle) and focus on it for a full minute. Prompt them to describe their sensory experience:
“What colours do you notice? Does it have a texture or smell? What does it remind you of?” - Attention games – Try a fun staring contest with a toy or tree outside. The goal is to hold focus as long as possible. Last person to look away wins. It’s simple, playful, and builds the ability to concentrate over time.
- Relaxation cues – Teach slow, steady breathing with a visual anchor. Ask your child to imagine blowing out a candle or slowly filling up a balloon. These metaphors help them connect breath with calmness.
These focusing tools help kids feel more centred, present, and in control of their internal state—skills they’ll carry for life.
Why We Love This Book
This book is a gentle but powerful reminder that behaviour is communication, and that every child—regardless of diagnosis—has unique strengths waiting to be understood.
Whether you’re a parent who feels overwhelmed, judged, or just in need of a fresh approach, The Myth of the ADHD Child offers realistic, kind, and actionable strategies to help you reconnect and reframe.
✨ Highly recommended for families, teachers, and anyone who believes there’s more to every child than a label.
