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“Groundbreaking....Comprehensive, accessible, and hopeful....Dawson and Guare's work should be considered essential. (starred review).”

—Library Journal (on the first edition)


“I have read countless books on executive skills, but this one truly stands out. It has helped me both as an educator and parent. The authors clearly understand the challenges kids face and offer guidance without making parents feel like they’ve done something wrong. With such a wide range of approaches, there’s no doubt that every reader will discover something that works for them. This is a book I know I'll return to again and again when new challenges arise.”

—Stephanie O., Glen Gardner, New Jersey


“As both a teacher and parent, I am grateful that this book came my way! The real-life examples make the strategies easily applicable to the school and home scenarios that I see day in and day out. This book has helped me better understand my students' and my own children’s strengths and weaknesses, which allows me to adjust my support to their specific needs. I have lost count of the 'ah-ha' moments this book has given me. It is exciting to see children's academic and personal growth as I put what I’ve learned into practice!”

—Beth Kuschel, Teacher, First Lutheran Church and School, Elkhorn, Wisconsin


“As a pediatric neuropsychologist, I have recommended Smart but Scattered to hundreds—if not thousands—of parents. I didn’t think it was possible to improve on a classic, but the authors have done just that! With deep insight and empathy, the book provides abundant ideas and activities to increase executive function skills. Information about technology—a distraction for most 'scattered' kids—is a wonderful addition to the second edition. I love this book.”

—Ellen Braaten, PhD, author of Bright Kids Who Can't Keep Up


“This is the book I wish I had after nagging my children for the 25th time to put their toys away and do their homework. The chapter on the impact of technology on executive skills especially resonated with me. As a teacher, this will be my 'go-to' for my work with students and families struggling with executive skills. I can't wait to use the executive skills questionnaires to help parents determine their children’s strengths and challenges. The book includes easy-to-implement ideas and strategies for addressing areas of difficulty and using a child’s strengths to their advantage, interspersed with real-life examples.”

—Colleen Loeffler, Extended Learning Teacher, David's Star Lutheran School, Jackson, Wisconsin


“A revolutionary guide for parents. The second edition offers fresh perspectives on important issues like the impact of technology on developing minds. Smart but Scattered gives parents skills and confidence to enhance their child's success—with strategies that take just 5 to 10 minutes a day.”

—Julie Gettman, PhD, NCSP, ABSNP, Executive Director, School Neuropsychology Institute


“The second edition improves on the original masterpiece! The authors empower you to foster your child's self-awareness and growth—even if executive skills aren't your own strong suit. What sets this book apart is its user-friendly format, combining scientific insights with actionable advice. The questionnaires alone make the book worthwhile, providing crucial insights into your child's strengths and weaknesses. This is an invaluable resource for anyone dedicated to nurturing a child's potential.”

—Michael Delman, MEd, Founder and CEO, Beyond BookSmart


“This masterfully written book is an indispensable resource. It is packed with practical, evidence-based strategies that you can readily implement to support your child's development. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!”

—Lynn Meltzer, PhD, President and Director, Research Institute for Learning and Development, Lexington, Massachusetts; Harvard Graduate School of Education

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Table of Contents

Introduction

I. What Makes Your Child Smart but Scattered

1. How Did Such a Smart Kid End Up So Scattered?

2. Identifying Your Child’s Executive Skill Strengths and Challenges

3. How Your Own Executive Skill Strengths and Challenges Matter

II. Laying a Foundation That Can Help

4. Nine Principles for Improving Your Child’s Executive Skills

5. Modifying the Environment: A Is for Antecedent

6. Teaching Executive Skills Directly: B Is for Behavior

7. Motivating Your Child to Learn and Use Executive Skills: C Is for Consequence

III. Putting It All Together

8. Advance Organizer

9. Ready-Made Plans for Teaching Your Child to Complete Daily Routines

10. Building Response Inhibition

11. Enhancing Working Memory

12. Improving Emotional Control

13. Encouraging Flexibility

14. Strengthening Sustained Attention

15. Teaching Task Initiation

16. Promoting, Planning, and Prioritizing

17. Fostering Organization

18. Instilling Time Management

19. Increasing Goal-Directed Persistence

20. Cultivating Metacognition

21. When What You Do Is Not Enough

22. A Brief Look at Technology

23. The Role of Schools in Executive Skill Development

Parting Thoughts

Resources

Index

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About the Authors

Peg Dawson, EdD, is a psychologist who provides professional development training on executive skills for schools and organizations nationally and internationally. She was previously on the staff of the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders at Seacoast Mental Health Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Dr. Dawson is a past president of the New Hampshire Association of School Psychologists, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), and the International School Psychology Association, and a recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from NASP. She is coauthor of bestselling books for general readers, including Smart but Scattered, Second Edition; Smart but Scattered Teens; Smart but Scattered—and Stalled (with a focus on emerging adults); and The Smart but Scattered Guide to Success (with a focus on adults). Dr. Dawson is also coauthor of The Work-Smart Academic Planner, Revised Edition, and books for professionals including Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents, Third Edition.

• Author's website
• All titles by Peg Dawson
• Sign up for emails on upcoming titles by Peg Dawson (with special discounts)!

Richard Guare, PhD, BCBA-D, is a neuropsychologist and board-certified behavior analyst who frequently consults to schools and agencies on attention and executive skills difficulties. He is former Director of the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders at Seacoast Mental Health Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Dr. Guare is coauthor of bestselling books for general readers, including Smart but Scattered, Second Edition; Smart but Scattered Teens; Smart but Scattered—and Stalled (with a focus on emerging adults); and The Smart but Scattered Guide to Success (with a focus on adults) He is also coauthor of The Work-Smart Academic Planner, Revised Edition, and books for professionals including Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents, Third Edition.

• Author's website
• All titles by Richard Guare
• Sign up for emails on upcoming titles by Richard Guare (with special discounts)!

Colin Guare MS, BCBA, is a Rhode Island-based behavior analyst and writer. He is coauthor of bestselling books for general readers, including Smart but Scattered, Second Edition; Smart but Scattered Teens; and Smart but Scattered—and Stalled (with a focus on emerging adults). Mr. Guare currently works with schools, organizations, parents, and kids of all ages. He has a special interest in motivation and behavior change, and has worked on several projects developing new techniques to help adults seek and achieve their long-term career and personal goals.

• All titles by Colin Guare

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Audience

Parents of 4- to 13-year-olds; also of interest to teachers, school psychologists, and other mental health professionals who work with children. The approach is suitable for children with ADHD or learning disabilities as well as those without a clinical diagnosis.

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Special package offer: Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents, Third Edition, provides a comprehensive guide to school-based assessment and intervention. Coaching Students with Executive Skills Challenges, Second Edition, is packed with practical tools. The Work-Smart Academic Planner, Revised Edition, is designed for students to use in conjunction with coaching. Plus, bestselling parent recommendations—Smart but Scattered, Second Edition (with a focus on 4- to 12-year-olds), and Smart but Scattered Teens. Together, this is an essential executive skills package from Dawson and Guare.

Order all 5 items for $108.95, instead of $149.90 if bought separately!

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Previous editions published by Guilford:

First Edition, © 2009
ISBN: 9781593854454