Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary "Executive Skills" Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential Illustrated Edition

by Peg Dawson (Author), Richard Guare (Author)

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ISBN-13: 978-1593859879

ISBN-10: 1593859872

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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.

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Editorial Reviews

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"The best parent resource on executive skills that I have seen. As a parent of three children, one of whom has learning disabilities, and as a special education associate who works in the classroom, I highly recommend this book. It shows there is hope for children who are struggling, and offers practical, detailed advice."--L. Libbey, parent, Hampton, NH

"Filled with real-world examples and solutions, this easy-to-read book is the first comprehensive guide to the management of children's executive skills. It gets to the heart of the matter, offering both parents and teachers accessible and highly efficient means to cope with a gamut of obstacles faced by children of all ages and abilities."--Kristina Mecelicaite, MEd, special education coordinator, North Central Charter Essential School, Fitchburg, MA

"Do you feel stymied by your child's failure to live up to his or her potential? Have you run out of ideas about how to handle the situation? Look no further--this fascinating and readable book is packed full of useful ideas that will help you understand what the problem is and how you can help. It presents practical and proven techniques based on rigorous scientific research."--Peter Farrell, PhD, University of Manchester, UK; past president, International School Psychology Association

"If you've ever wondered why your child struggles academically or behaviorally--despite having the 'right stuff' to succeed--this book is essential reading. Drs. Dawson and Guare explain the importance of executive skills and provide science-based strategies that empower you to start helping your child today."--Sam Goldstein, PhD, coauthor of Raising Resilient Children

"Drs. Dawson and Guare translate cutting-edge research into meaningful, practical, well-organized, and easy-to-implement strategies that parents can use to enhance a child's natural executive abilities. This brilliant book is by far the best on the topic that I have read to date."--Russell A. Barkley, PhD, ABPP, author of Taking Charge of ADHD

"Groundbreaking....Compassionate and parent friendly....Dawson and Guare's personal anecdotes lend immediacy....Smart but Scattered is comprehensive, accessible, and hopeful....Dawson and Guare's work should be considered essential."

― Library Journal Published On: 2009-01-04

"Fun to read....This book is quite interactive....Questionnaires are provided both for children (of various ages) as well as parents, so that they can both see their strengths and weaknesses....Techniques to teach executive skills are shown in a step-wise manner, and planning sheets are available throughout the text....Another strength of this book is its focus on the emotional aspect of executive functioning, and providing strategies to bolster the emotional skill set of children....Strongly recommended for any parent who wishes to help their children maximize their potential, even if they do not have identified academic or behavioral struggles."

― Journal of the Canadian Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Published On: 2013-02-01

"The authors provide a satisfying framework for creating environmental supports in areas needed and supplying the hands-on direction necessary for children to function well and build confidence. While Susan Ericksen's distinct and assertive enunciation promotes respect for these ideas, her warmth also makes them sound inviting."

― AudioFile Published On: 2012-12-01

About the Author

Peg Dawson, EdD, is a psychologist on the staff of the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders at Seacoast Mental Health Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She also does professional development training on executive skills for schools and organizations nationally and internationally. 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, 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.

Richard Guare, PhD, is Director of the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders at Seacoast Mental Health Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Dr. Guare's research and publications focus on the understanding and treatment of learning and attention difficulties. He is a neuropsychologist and board-certified behavior analyst who frequently consults to schools and agencies. He is coauthor of bestselling books for general readers, including Smart but Scattered, 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. Guare is also coauthor of The Work-Smart Academic Planner, Revised Edition, and books for professionals including Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents, Third Edition.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Guilford Press; Illustrated edition (January 1, 2009)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 314 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1593859872
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1593859879
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.81 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 7.2 x 1.1 x 10 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #825,608 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #310 in Mental Health (Books)
- #397 in Children's Learning Disorders
- #518 in Attention Deficit & Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

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1,716 ratings

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Peg Dawson
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Peg Dawson, EdD, is a staff psychologist at the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders at Seacoast Mental Health Center in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, where she specializes in the assessment of children and adults with learning and attention disorders. Dr. Dawson is a past president of the New Hampshire Association of School Psychologists, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the International School Psychology Association. She is a recipient of the National Association of School Psychologists' Lifetime Achievement Award.
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Richard Guare
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Richard Guare, Ph.D., is a neuropsychologist and is Director of the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
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Customer reviews

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Amanda Nelson

Nonsensical pseudo science

Reviewed in the United States on March 10, 2018

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OMG I hated this book and even found it offensive.
Despite the claims on the cover, the entire approach of this book is nothing revolutionary, it's just straight up behaviorist methods: if you do what I like, you get a star; if you don't do what I like, you get a punishment. Lots of people I otherwise respect believe in behaviorism, and it can be very effective in the short term, but it can cause longterm problems.
But what I found really offensive about this book was its utterly baseless fear mongering: there are hypothetical examples of a day dreaming child growing up to have auto accidents. What??? Is there ANY scientific correlation between childhood daydreaming and auto accidents? Of course not! And even if there were, would you really rely on an eighteen dollar book to deal with it? There are other hints that because your ten year old gets distracted cleaning his room, he may "fail to launch." Or be unable to hold down a job. GIVE ME A BREAK. If messy rooms and not doing chores were predictors of later development, then wouldn't like 80% of adults still be living with their parents? And where is it shown that submission to adults' expectations results in greater independence in adulthood? I want to see that study. In fact, the one middle-aged guy I know who is unemployed and lives with his parents is extremely organized, punctual, etc. Go figure.
And this is from the parent assessment: “I believe in starting right away, no matter what the task…” WHO would answer yes to this? No matter what the task? You never reflect? You never pace yourself? You never weigh priorities? Where’s the self-help book for that guy?
Turns out the science behind this is very flimsy. Executive function is hard to measure. Even if you can manage to get your child to comply with behaviorist tactics without creating power struggles, there's no evidence of longterm benefit--certainly not in reading or math scores:
"But despite the promise and the hype — not to mention the many millions of dollars spent — it turns out there isn’t solid evidence that improving executive function actually leads to better grades. That’s the startling finding of a new meta-analysis, published in the journal Review of Educational Research, which looks at 67 studies of school-based programs that target executive function. In fact, this latest research found no support for the idea that improving those skills can lead directly to better test scores in reading or math."

415 people found this helpful

Helpful

teresa

Don't buy the Kindle version-buy the book

Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2015

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This book is actually really helpful as long as you buy the book and not the kindle edition. There are all kinds of helpful assessments and tables, that don't show up correctly on a kindle. I ended up buying the book too.

223 people found this helpful

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Jimmy

Maybe I'm Scattered too?

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2018

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I find this difficult to read. Seems to be longer and wordier than necessary. Perhaps my brain has become twitter adapted? Perhaps my kids get their executive function issues from me? I think the could accomplish the same objective in fewer, easier to read pages. (book is highly regarded and I'm sure the material is great - I just have a hard time reading it because of the writing style)

64 people found this helpful

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jessieinsanfrancisco

Be Prepared With a Notepad and Pen (or Laptop )YOU'LL NEED IT!

Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2018

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a tad interesting, but mostly confusing This is NOT an easy read, You have to be prepared. With a laptop or pen and pad. There is just so much information seeping through the pages. Don't get me wrong - I love the 'waiting room' books, this is just not the one. It is extremely comprehensive text. There s information overkill. Warning: if you buy this book, be mentally and physically prepared (see the suggestion of laptop above) Good luck!

33 people found this helpful

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Sandy Jones

Smart but Scattered

Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2017

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The title describes my daughter to a T. This book has been extremely helpful in learning how to work with her in a positive way and help her to take advantage of all the wonderful things about her. Smart but scattered children can be extremely frustrating and as parents we too often let the frustration guide us. This book helps to better understand this child and so keep the frustration from making the parenting decisions.

36 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Gives excellent insight into why ADHD children learn and respond differently ...

Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2016

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Gives excellent insight into why ADHD children learn and respond differently than children without these difficulties. Excellent advice and parenting techniques that actually work. If you are tired of repeating the same things over and over again to get your child to do something or everything, read this book.

47 people found this helpful

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NWMoominmamma

Facing my own weaknesses in helping my children

Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2011

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Another parent here. I have three highly gifted kids who nevertheless seem unable to accomplish simple tasks. A friend recommended this book, and it's forcing me to endure a complete paradigm shift, not only about my expectations for them, but of my own weaknesses in this area. Sure, I've had trouble staying organized, I start tasks only to leave them half-completed, and I feel like I have far more potential than I produce. But until I took the inventory for parents in this book, I didn't realize how truly weak my own executive skills are all around (unless I'm inspired, and then I'm a machine! ... just like my daughter). My husband took the quiz and -- not surprisingly -- his EF (executive function) skills are nearly off the charts on the other end. He laughed a little as he said he wondered how honest I was going to be, but he agreed with my self-assessment. Suddenly, I understand why a disastrous house sends me into tears, but he can get to work and make it spotless in a couple hours. But this book also showed me that it's not an inherent personality failure on my part -- it's that I never learned these skills properly! After just a weekend of talking about some issues together, my daughter (8) and I have created strategies to help us with our organizational skills. I'm also staying more patient with my 5-yr-old son, who is pretty much a 1 on emotional control (but quite good with organization).

This book isn't an instant silver bullet solution, but it provides new ways of thinking and conceptualizing about your children's (and your own) strengths and weaknesses. If your children are also very smart, I also *highly* recommend reading this book together with: Living With Intensity: Understanding the Sensitivity, Excitability, and the Emotional Development of Gifted Children, Adolescents, and Adults When you understand low and evolving EF skills in combination with overexcitabilities/intensities, you can finally stop asking, "What have I done wrong? Why are *MY* kids -- who are otherwise so bright and capable -- so sensitive/dramatic/disorganized/fidgety/distractable/loud/rebellious, etc.?" Because they *aren't* like other kids. They are shooting stars who will challenge but delight and amaze you! And the _Smart but Scattered_ book will help them manage those overexcitabilities through developing better executive skills.

700 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

C Vizard

If you explain slowly why we do things the way we do, kids will understand.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 9, 2018

Verified Purchase

This book is recommended reading if you're struggling to achieve academic successes with your pre-adolescent. Usefully, it points out that any executive skill deficiencies your child might be experiencing are probably experienced by you as well and that gets rid of those uncomfortable feelings when you notice your child doing exactly the same dumb things you did and still do. For example, I used to be shy of asking for help and I was told by a teacher that he is too. The book spills over with advice, anecdotes, warm-hearted stories of overcoming executive skill deficit and is laid out a bit like a text book. It's a large format and resembles those for Dummies books except the cover isn't such a bright color. It scans a long period of childhood, 4 to 13 years old, but I didn't become aware of it until my DS was 10. It's very good on verbal scaffolding where you look at details which might seem trivial but if you explain slowly why we do things the way we do, kids will understand. I think this is an important book.

8 people found this helpful

Amazon Customer

Great for sussing out why you and your child argue again and again about the same issue

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 30, 2017

Verified Purchase

Haven't waded through it all because there's quite a lot to read.
What is extremely useful is that it has questionnaires that elicit both the parent's and the child's cognitive strengths and weaknesses. And then individual chapters telling you how to develop those executive functions.
Now I know why my daughter and I argue a lot. Our brains are wired differently, so skills that I could do with my eyes closed, she finds impossible and vice versa. If you suspect that you and/or your child are ADHD/Autistic, this book can help you.

6 people found this helpful

Carolina

Bought it as a gift - I personaly liked it

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 1, 2020

Verified Purchase

I read only some pages and really liked it. Bought it for a parent because of her troubled daughter. Never had a feedback from the parent

LargeGandT

A good resource on executive function difficulties

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 25, 2017

Verified Purchase

Contains a lot of information on executive functions their dysfunction, and practical behavioural strategies to faciliate improvement. Relevant to those with (children with) ADD/ADHD.

David

Good principles. Needs to cut the fat.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 5, 2017

Verified Purchase

The principles delivered in this book are good. However there is far too much waffle in my opinion. It's a hard slog to get through it all. The author's main points could easily have been covered in a book half the size.

3 people found this helpful

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