Smart but Scattered
The Revolutionary Executive Skills Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential
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Smart but Scattered
Buy Now for $19.46
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Narrated by:
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Jessica Geffen
About this listen
All kids occasionally space out, get sidetracked, run out of time, or explode in frustration—but some do it much more often than others. If you have a “smart but scattered” child, take heart. This encouraging guide is grounded in research on the crucial brain-based skills that 4- to 13-year-olds need to get organized, stay focused, and control their impulses and emotions. The expert authors guide you to identify your child's executive strengths and weaknesses, boost skills that are lacking, fix everyday routines that don't work, and reduce everyone's stress. Including new research, new and updated vignettes, and "A Good Place to Start" suggestions for each skill, the revised and updated second edition features a new chapter on technology and a greatly expanded school chapter. Helpful practical tools can be downloaded and printed.
See also the authors' 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).
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2025 The Guilford Press (P)2026 The Guilford PressCritic Reviews
"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