Solving Executive Function Challenges Book Review

I was looking for some books about Executive Functioning and how I could help my son improve his organization and get him unstuck.  We have been having a tough year this year so I was hoping that

Solving Executive Function Challenges: Simple Ways to Get Kids with Autism Unstuck and on Target by Lauren Kenworthy Ph.D.was going to have those answers.  The beginning quickly jumped into examples of different children doing the same actions of getting ready for school or doing things in school which was interesting.

How can you help kids with autism be flexible, get organized, and work toward goals—not just in school but in everyday life? It's all about executive function, and this quick problem-solving guide helps you explicitly teach these critical skills to high-functioning children with autism (Grades K-8). Used on its own or in tandem with the popular Unstuck and On Target! classroom curriculum, this practical guide shows how to embed executive function instruction in dozens of everyday scenarios, from morning routines to getting homework done. Designed for therapists, teachers, and parents, these highly effective techniques give children the skills they need to navigate each day, reach their goals, and succeed inside and outside the classroom.
THIS BOOK HELPS YOU:

• Understand executive function—why it's important and why it's challenging for children with autism
• Teach three skills critical to success: flexibility, goal setting, and organization
• Use consistent scripts and key words to help children process your message
• Model desired behaviors —and fade your guidance as children generalize skills
• Provide simple, effective visual cues that keep kids unstuck and on target
• Keep it fun and positive, with tips on creative, playful ways to teach executive function skills

PRACTICAL MATERIALS: Dozens of specific, easy-to-do examples; "Goal, Plan, Do, Check" scripts and worksheets that break down tasks into small, achievable chunks; key words and phrases that help kids stay on target; reproducible visual aids; sample IEP goals.
Help children with autism

• Compromise with family and friends
• Turn "big deals" into "little deals"
• Move on to Plan B when Plan A doesn't work
• Make plans and carry them out
• Solve problems independently
• Be a good friend
• Handle disappointments and unexpected events
• Avoid "whims" that get them off track

I hope that you check out this book with great examples and information on how to improve situations with kids with executive functioning problems.  I learned a lot in this book and really think that it was easy to read and quick with still being helpful.  The hardest thing about non-fiction texts are that they sometimes get bogged down with details and make them hard to read.  This book mixed charts, lists and examples well to illustrate points.  The most helpful part for me was the list of the strengths of ASD which includes a long list including behaving with honesty and integrity, being genuine and open, willing to follow clear rules and schedules, charming innocence and great sense of humor.  It helps to look at the positive features and not just the negative features but there are negatives to each set of positives.  The thinking portion was very interesting because it includes memorizing information easily, unusually strong long term memory, attention to details, perfectionist, thinks and solves problems logically, and able to main focus on interesting activities well.  Though the wording doesn't always work for us because I tried trying to turn big deals into little deals and just the words were something my son got stuck on because everything is the end of the world when it is happening so how could it possibly be made smaller.  I think that there are a lot things including a concrete list of items to add to a 504 or IEP for special help.  I am glad that I read it and I think that this book was really helpful with advice throughout each section.