> Back to Newsletter Archive

Forest Cottage Centre Email Newsletter: March 2004

• The Top 6 Attachment Disorder Resources 
• Upcoming Workshops & Moms' Retreat
• Personality Quiz
  

One of the most frustrating tasks for parents and professionals working with a child with Attachment Disorder is finding the best resources.  There is a lot of information out there but not all of it is useful.  Most of us do not have spare time to plow through all of them.

To narrow it down, here are the resources that I recommend on Attachment Disorder:

• Raising Children who Refuse to be Raised by Dave Ziegler
• The Making and Breaking of Affectional Bonds by John Bowlby
• Building the Bonds of Attachment: Awakening Love in Deeply Troubled Children by Daniel Hughes
• Primal Wound: Understanding the Adopted Child by Nancy Verrier
• Parenting the Hurt Child: Helping Adoptive Families to Heal by Greg Keck and Regina Kupecky
• Don't Touch My Heart by Lynda Mansfield and Christopher Waldmann

All are available through the SNAP Library (Society of Special Needs Adoptive Parents), which all parents and professionals in Canada can access if they are members.  SNAP also produces a great newsmagazine on special needs topics, making membership worthwhile for everyone working in this field.

Notably, they have a huge list of attachment resources: books, audiotapes, and videos (25 pages worth).  You can call the library for a copy of their holdings ($5 for photocopying) or request it in a Forest Cottage Information package ($10).  To borrow from the library, one must be a member in good standing, and present a credit card number to pay for the postage of any library items sent. Also, if library items are not returned, new copies will be purchased and the total cost will be billed to the credit card. Borrowing time is one month and renewals can be granted, if requested. Verna, the librarian, is available on Mondays and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PST. She can be reached by email: verna@snap.bc.ca; by phone 604-687-3114; toll free 1-800-663-7627; or fax 1-604-687-3364. Those in the Lower Mainland can also use the library during regular office hours.

Some of the above books are out of print but may also be found in your local library or through a used bookstore.  You can also purchase other attachment and parenting books through the Forest Cottage Website where other recommendations are listed and links to Amazon.ca. 
Knowledge can be a huge help for parents and professionals working with challenging children.  There is so much information out there now that it pays to keep reading and learning.  If you would like feedback on a resource you are considering, feel free to e-mail me.

Next month:  Attachment Disorder and FAS: How to Parent A Child with Dual Diagnosis.

Have a great month!  

-Tanya Helton, Parent Coach

Upcoming Workshops

May 14-16, 2004 (Grande Prairie, AB): Forest Cottage will be hosting a Moms' Retreat at the Holiday Inn and Mirage Salon & Spa.  Join us for a relaxing weekend away.  Enjoy great meals, sunset coaching circles and spa treatments.  Detailed registration packages will be available shortly.  For more information or to receive a brochure, e-mail Tanya@ForestCottageCentre.com.

May 11, 2004 (Prince George):  Tanya and Dr. Geoffrey Ainsworth, Child Psychiatrist at BC Children's Hospital will co-present "Understanding Attachment Disorder," at the Children, Families, and Communities Conference.  For registration and session information visit www.cfcc-pg.ca .

June 11, 2004 (Kamloops):  Tanya will be providing two half-day workshops for BC foster parents at the Annual Foster Parent Association Conference.

Personality Quiz
Too often we forget to look at the personality of our children (and ourselves) as a piece of the treatment puzzle.  This month check out this cute and nonthreatening website that uses a personality quiz to determine which Winnie the Pooh and Friends character you are.  Kids can take it with help, which provides a great discussion and learning opportunity.  Feel free to share with me any interesting results you have!
 
To do the quiz visit:
http://www.half-asleep.com/pooh/interact/quiz/
 
Thanks to Jacqueline Janssen, Peace River Regional Coordinator for Adoptive Parents Association (AFABC) for this resource!