Smart But Scattered Book Review

I got this recommendation for a book to help me figure out how to help my son become more organized.  It took me awhile to read it because there was so much information but I was happy that I did!  Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary "Executive Skills" Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential by Peg Dawson is an amazing reference book with tests and charts to help make things better based on individual challenges.

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” child 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. Small changes can add up to big improvements--this empowering book shows how.

Thought this was an amazing book that had lots of great tests and hints to get you working to help your child's weaknesses.  It also helps determine parents and children's weaknesses because sometimes we can't help if we have the same weaknesses if we haven't dealt with our own issues.  Although we are best to help if we have already overcome challenges that we can help with so the book helps parents as well.  I thought it was great to see different ways to help my son and myself communicate and not get to the place where we are both upset.  I really think that this is a great resource for all people dealing with kids even if they aren't there own because it helps to understand how other people may see things different from yourself and how to work together for the best outcome.  I enjoyed the book even though it took a long time to read.  I highly recommend it to anyone dealing with issues with their kids in school and staying organized.  It has helped us a lot so that we don't end up doing all of the work and my son never learns the coping mechanisms.  I hope that this will prepare him for later in life to live to his best.  I hope that many others check it out and see for yourself but this might be a good one to buy because it will take a lot of renewals from the library to get through it all unless you are more dedicated to reading it every day.