With one in 20 children in South Africa suffering from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), and an estimated one-million South African adults, All of These Things are Important to Me, the first fictional book about the condition, has been launched to create awareness for early detection and intervention.
The book, illustrated by David Griessel, is co-written by Prof Renata Schoeman, a psychiatrist, and the co-author of the South African management guidelines for ADHD, and celebrated author, Refiloe Moahloli. It explores the adventurous life of Zee in a short and colourful narrative in English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sesotho, and through its captivating storytelling, explains how a child with ADHD perceives and lives in the world.
The second part of the book offers a simple, but accurate explanation of ADHD: what it is, how it is diagnosed and how it is managed. It also offers valuable advice for parents, educators and health care professionals in understanding and managing ADHD.
The playful narrative of the book was intentional to ensure that children are entertained whilst parents use the scientific content as a resource to answer their questions about ADHD.
“We wanted to create a resource that would be accessible to as many South Africans as possible in native languages and in the voice of a child with which both children, parents and teachers, could resonate.”
“The manner in which ADHD is talked about with a child can have an enormous impact on their perception of their value in the world. The right books can help and in South Africa there are no resources available to guide parents, teachers and carers. Parenting a child with ADHD can be challenging if one is not equipped but if you seek the right knowledge you can untap the potential of your child and help them to cope with their symptoms better.”
Proceeds from the book will be donated to the Goldilocks and the Bear Foundation, founded by Prof Schoeman and athlete Nic de Beer in 2017, which funds and manages the screening of children in underprivileged areas, not only for the early detection and intervention of ADHD but also other mental health conditions and learning difficulties which are barriers to education.
The book is available for R100 from the Foundation ([email protected]) and via sponsorships will be donated to schools and public libraries to broaden the reach and awareness.
Image credit: Claire Greenspan Photography
