The Wildest Colts Make the Best Horses: What to Do When Your Child Is Labeled a Problem by the Schools

Rating:
Summary: I wish my parents had read this book.
Review: I am a Wild Colt, much older and wiser now. Breeding has a way of showing that every child (and adult) is as unique as a snowflake and should be given the chance to become who they really are without chemical leashes. I was on Ritalin until I figured out I could refuse it. What Dr. Breeding proposes in this book is what I needed as a child, the space to become myself. My loving parents did what they thought was best for me but all I remember was feeling drugged and shuffling around kicking dirt during recess instead of intereacting and socializing with the other kids. My grades were awesome and I was well behaved; I was miserable. Read this book, there is truth here. Norman Moore

Rating:
Summary: Untamed wild colts DON'T make the best horses!
Review: I first read this book at a time when we were going through severe side effects from medicating my 7yr old son for ADD. I felt drawn to this book because it offered hope and alternatives to the medication route. However, having read the book I found that Dr. Breeding jumped to conclusions that were not well founded either through his own research or through the literature. His agenda in the book is clearly to dissuade readers from ever using medication for ADD again. Clearly, there is an abuse of ADD medication in the U.S. and for taking a stand against this I definitely applaud Dr. Breeding.

However, having read this book it clearly is an example of 'throwing the baby out with the bath water'. There are many children for whom medication makes a real difference in their lives. Why treat a chemical inbalance in the brain any different from another medical condition? We could equally well argue that any health problems we experience should be handled without medication.

We all agree that the wildest colts may make the best horses, but in real life, those wild colts MUST be tamed. If left to run wild they will most certainly NOT make the best horses. They must be trained and guided in love and consistency.

If medication enables our children to learn and be trained to develop into responsible and well-balanced adults, then I think we should be extremely careful before entirely disregarding the possible benefits of using medication.

In closing though, I still believe that Dr. Breeding's warning about overmedicating too many kids is an important one. Let's just be careful NOT to throw the baby out with the bathwater! If you read this book - please do so with an open yet critical mind!

Rating:
Summary: Not worth the money
Review: I praise Dr. Breeding in his quest to inform the parents of children who are subjects of an abused educational system. I found this book enlightening and would recommend it to all who would like to know the truth about ADHD.

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Book
Review: I thought Dr. Breeding's book was outstanding, because anyone dealing a child who is labeled a problem/disabled/special education would find comfort and understanding reading this selection. Appropriately dealing with situations that involve children who are considered a problem is a very daunting job if you do not know what you are doing. This book clearly describes and defines the problems that labeled children face in America.

Dr. Breeding has a style of writing which is easy to comphrehend, because he does an excellent job at explaining the topics he presents. For example, he doesn't just claim "drugging children is harmful." He provides a full and complete explanation of why parents should look at other options outside of medication for their children. So often parents are pushed, bullied, and shoved into the easy way to resolve problems with children, and end up paying greatly at a latter date. If you want an open and honest insight Dr. Breeding's book is a page turner.

I was impressed with Dr. Breeding's anti drugging stance, because almost every child I have ever seen be placed on medication perform poorly socially, academically, and emotionally in the long run. Even the few that do demonstrate excellence academically end up latter on with either a drug problem or taking even more drugs to focus. I appreciate a doctor's willingness to just tell the truth.

This book also highlights the important aspect of becoming a better parent, because it is much easier or more successful to parent children when you actually understand them. I think most parents find frustration with thier childre, because they do not understand, therefore, do not know how to effectively respond.

To date, I have now read a lot of writings by Dr. Breeding, and I find him to have a superior grasp of children's behavior. Typically I've resented any mental health professionals, but I like and trust Dr. Breeding. His website is a valuable source of information also for any parent or even teacher searching for the truth and understanding.

Rating:
Summary: Not worth the money
Review: If you'd like to read what has been regurgitated from every other anti-ADHD medication book, then this one is for you. However, if you prefer to read new information and original ideas on the topic, consider one of the many other alternatives. Reader reviews will steer you in the right direction. I'm afraid this book is not worth the money.