"Smart but Scattered" is a well-known book and approach focused on understanding and helping children (and others) who have strong intelligence but struggle with executive skills such as organization, focus, time management, and impulse control. It is based on brain research about the developmental skills needed for these functions. The book offers practical guidance for identifying strengths and weaknesses, boosting these skills, fixing daily routines, and reducing stress, particularly in children aged 4 to 13 but also extended to teens and adults through other related books. The concept of "smart but scattered" typically applies to kids who may have attention difficulties or executive functioning challenges, but who are intellectually capable or gifted. The approach includes skill-building exercises and strategies for parents and educators to help these children reach their potential despite the difficulties caused by scattered executive skills.
The book and its authors also emphasize that executive skills develop slowly, often lagging behind intellectual ability, creating a mismatch especially noticeable in middle school years when demands increase but the brain's frontal lobes are still maturing.
Besides the main book for children, there are related resources and editions focused on adolescents, emerging adults struggling with independence, and adult success using the executive skills framework.
Would a summary of the executive skills covered or the specific strategies recommended be helpful?
