Recommended Resource – Smart but Scattered helps kids and parents reach their potential.

By Alissa Marquess Zorn on June 30, 2016 (updated September 7, 2017)

I just discovered Smart but Scattered and I’m thrilled to have stumbled on this book that is giving me so much insight into how to develop my own and my kids abilities to organize, plan, deal with strong emotions, and move towards life goals. These doctors of education emphasize that the important thing is to start with people’s strengths and let those be what helps them gain strength in other areas.

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. – From Smart but Scattered

Why I’m Gaining Compassion from this book as well:

Smart but Scattered also says that it’s easier to help a child who has similar executive skills deficiencies to your own, whereas if they have gaps in areas that have come naturally to you, it’s harder to know how to help them. This is such an insight into the places my mom and I struggled while I was growing up – as a naturally organized, time-conscious person, she completely could not understand why I had problems keeping my space clean and turning in homework on time. Since she also lacked the experience of having to build those tools, she didn’t know how to help me build them.

Smart but Scattered gives tons of plans, frameworks and printable charts for helping you help your child develop the skills they need – so you don’t have to already know it yourself.

Impulsive behavior from Smart but Scattered

Bedtime Routine

Who I’d recommend Smart but Scattered to: Parents or educators who have children ages 4-12 who perplex them. If you have a child who seems like they *could* be doing great, but somehow they’re always a bit scattered, or discombobulated – this may give you solutions to helping that child thrive. If you read this and think ‘I wonder if I could use help with these skills’, or ‘My teen could use this help.’ you may also enjoy the books for those age groups:

In Three Words: Organized, Empowering, Framework