Smart But Scattered

There's nothing more frustrating than watching your bright, talented son or daughter struggle with everyday tasks like finishing homework, putting away toys, or following instructions at school. Your "smart but scattered" 4- to 13-year-old might also have trouble coping with disappointment or managing anger. Drs. Peg Dawson and Richard Guare have great news: there's a lot you can do to help. The latest research in child development shows that many kids who have the brain and heart to succeed lack or lag behind in crucial "executive skills"--the fundamental habits of mind required for getting organized, staying focused, and controlling impulses and emotions. Learn easy-to-follow steps to identify your child's strengths and weaknesses, use activities and techniques proven to boost specific skills, and problem-solve daily routines. Helpful worksheets and forms can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size. Small changes can add up to big improvements--this empowering book shows how. See also the authors' Smart but Scattered Teens and their self-help guide for adults. Plus, an academic planner for middle and high school students and related titles for professionals.

"I told you, I'll do it later." "I forgot to turn in the stupid application." "Could you drive me to school? I missed the bus again." "I can't walk the dog--I have too much homework!" If you're the parent of a "smart but scattered" teen, trying to help him or her grow into a self-sufficient, responsible adult may feel like a never-ending battle. Now you have an alternative to micromanaging, cajoling, or ineffective punishments. This positive guide provides a science-based program for promoting teens' independence by building their executive skills--the fundamental brain-based abilities needed to get organized, stay focused, and control impulses and emotions. Executive skills experts Drs. Richard Guare and Peg Dawson are joined by Colin Guare, a young adult who has successfully faced these issues himself. Learn step-by-step strategies to help your teen live up to his or her potential now and in the future--while making your relationship stronger. Helpful worksheets and forms can be downloaded and printed in a convenient 8 1/2" x 11" size. See also the authors' Smart but Scattered (with a focus on 4- to 13-year-olds) and their self-help guide for adults. Plus, Work-Smart Academic Planner: Write It Down, Get It Done, designed for middle and high school students to use in conjunction with coaching, and related titles for professionals. Winner (Third Place)--American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award, Consumer Health Category

Uses key principles from the business world to help teens get organized, stay focused, and control their impulses.

"Meeting a huge demand, Peg Dawson and Richard Guare (authors of the bestselling Smart but Scattered books focusing on kids and teens) now provide a state of the art resource specifically geared to adults. Drs. Dawson and Guare offer expert guidance for boosting executive skills--the core brain based abilities needed to get more done with less stress. Readers will be drawn in by realistic examples, self quizzes, and science based tools for strengthening time management, organization, emotional control, and more. And what you can't change, you can work around! The book is packed with simple yet effective strategies for maintaining focus, conquering clutter, staying on top of work demands, and taming the chaos of family life. Numerous worksheets and forms (which purchasers can download and print in a convenient 8

Whether you're a young adult who is stalled on the journey to independence--or a concerned parent still sharing the family nest--this compassionate book is for you. Providing a fresh perspective on the causes of failure to launch, the expert authors present a 10-step plan that helps grown kids and parents work together to achieve liftoff. Learn why brain-based executive skills such as planning, organization, and time management are so important to success, and what you can do to strengthen them. You get downloadable practical tools for figuring out what areas to target, building skills, identifying a desired career path, and making a customized action plan. Vivid stories of other families navigating the same challenges (including father and son Richard and Colin Guare) reveal what kind of parental support is productive--and when to let go.

This book has been replaced by Coaching Students with Executive Skills Challenges, Second Edition, ISBN 978-1-4625-5219-1.

From executive skills experts Peg Dawson and Richard Guare, this large-format academic planner is specially designed for students in grades 6-12. It provides a system for keeping track of assignments and due dates while developing the crucial executive skills needed to succeed in school and beyond. Students are guided to build a daily study plan, manage their time, set short- and long-term goals, study for tests, and record their successes. They also get tools for evaluating their own executive skills in order to target their weaknesses and capitalize on strengths.

Set your child up for success with simple strategies to develop executive function in kids 4 to 12 Parenting a child who struggles with executive function—the skills that help us stay focused, manage our emotions, and plan ahead—can be a challenge, whether or not they have an official ADHD diagnosis. This book is filled with expert advice and actionable strategies that can help your smart but scattered child build the skills they need to thrive both at school and at home. Quick assessment tools—Better understand your child’s level of executive function and learn what motivates them, for stronger communication and connection. Expert advice—Learn how to build confidence and autonomy in your smart but scattered child with research-based guidance for helping them practice self-control, manage time, follow routines, beat procrastination, and more. Common sense explanations—Explore how executive function works in clear, simple language, and then apply what you learned through fun activities like using code words and making memory boards. Build better habits and routines in smart but scattered kids with this comprehensive parent’s guide to executive function.