Is it "Just a Phase"?: How to Tell Common Childhood Phases from More Serious Problems

by Susan Anderson Swedo, Henrietta L. Leonard

When to get help for toddlers to teens and what to do about: thumb-sucking, bed-wetting, separation problems, shyness, hyperactivity, nighttime fears, ADHD, school avoidance, misbehavior, eating problems and much more.

Is It "Just a Phase"? uniquely combines the advice of an expert pediatrician and an expert child and adolescent psychiatrist on the challenges a child faces from toddlerhood through adolescence.  Drawing on real-life examples, Doctors Swedo and Leonard give concrete guidelines for determining when a behavior is a common developmental phase and when it is a more serious problem.  With the latest medical research on issues that concern every parent, Is It "Just a Phase"? includes information on:  

Excessive activity and ADHD
  Picky eating, anorexia, and bulimia
Thumb sucking, other habits, and tic disorders
Shyness and social phobia
Excessive moodiness, depression, and bipolar disorder
Childhood fears and separation anxiety disorder

348 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1998

Reviews

[Gemma]

Good reference, and helpful for determining if your child's behaviour is normal or a cause for concern.

My one complaint is that Autism is barely mentioned. While it's fairly obvious when it's severe, mild Autism (Asperger's syndrome) is not as easy to spot. My son has Asperger's, and a lot of people are surprised when I tell them he has Autism, as it isn't easy to tell. I would have liked to have seen a chapter devoted to Asperger's.

[Lindsay L. Martin]

This was an excellent book on normal child development. I liked the examples of normal vs. abnormal behavior. The ideas on how to help your child through difficult phases were helpful and thoughtful.