Does your imaginative, computer-proficient daughter tune out in the classroom? Does your spirited son become headstrong and aggressive when faced with the simplest decisions? Does your bold, energetic child have trouble focusing on basic tasks?

Millions of children–one in five–have what psychologist Lucy Jo Palladino, Ph.D., calls the Edison trait: dazzling intelligence, an active imagination, a free-spirited approach to life, and the ability to drive everyone around them crazy. Named after Thomas Edison–who flunked out of school only to harness his talents and give the world some of its finest inventions–the Edison trait is on the rise in our younger generation.

The heart of the issue is that they think divergently–they overflow with many ideas–while schools, organized activities, and routines of daily living reward convergent thinking, which focuses on one idea at a time. Drawing on examples from more than two decades of private practice, Dr. Palladino helps us cope with this challenging aspect of our child’s intellect and personality, explaining in clear terms:

– The three Edison-trait personality types: dreamers, discoverers, and dynamos
– The eight steps to understanding, reaching, and teaching your Edison-trait child
– The connection between the Edison trait and A.D.D.