The Everything Parent's Guide to Children with Executive Functioning Disorder: Strategies to help your child achieve the time-management skills, ... in school and life

by Rebecca Branstetter

The vital skills children need to achieve their full potential!

Being organized. Staying focused. Controlling impulses and emotions.

These are some of the basic executive functioning (EF) skills children need to function and succeed as they grow. But what can you do if your child is struggling with one or all of these skills? With this hands-on guide, you'll learn what EF difficulties look like and how you can help your child overcome these challenges. Psychologist Rebecca Branstetter teaches you how to help improve the executive functions, including:

With checklists to help enforce skills and improve organization, The Everything Parent's Guide to Children with Executive Functioning Disorder is your step-by-step handbook for helping your child concentrate, learn, and thrive!

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction, Family, Education, Psychology, Adhd

256 pages, Paperback

First published November 18, 2013

About the author

Rebecca Branstetter, Ph.D., is a school psychologist, speaker, and author on a mission to help children thrive by supporting school psychologists, educators, and families.

She is the founder of The Thriving School Psychologist Collective, an online community dedicated to improving mental health and learning supports in public schools, as well as the co-creator of the “Make It Stick Parenting” course, which provides parents tools to build their child’s social-emotional learning, and the “Peace of Mind Parenting” course to support families during distance learning.

A sought-after speaker and national media expert, Rebecca’s expertise in supporting school psychologists, parents, teachers, and students in the public school system has appeared in various publications, including Huffington Post, NPR, CNN, Education.com, and Parents Magazine.

She and her husband are proud parents to two daughters and two furry husky dogs in the San Francisco Bay Area. For more information on Rebecca’s work, visit rebeccabranstetter.com.

Reviews

[Mia Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an extremely helpful book for those of us parents trying to help a kid with Executive Functioning Disorder. A disclaimer is that currently the DSM does not recognize EFD as an official stand alone disorder. It is usually grouped into a subclass of ADD /ADHD. However my kid does not have ADD, she can focus and doesn't have hyperactivity but she does have a lot of the issues associated with executive functioning. Not being able to adequately plan and categorize things, excessive blow ups, etc. This book breaks down the issues and give some good common sense things you can do to help them. It isn't just defining some loosely created terms. I liked that it gave a complete description of a problem, then ideas of WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT - which is really what I needed as mom. I know how my kid struggles I just needed some ideas that can HELP her. Since reading this book we have applied a lot of its strategies and they have helped a bit. Some of them we are still working on, some didn't go so well but many of them did. She is functioning better in school and for the first time she has friends !
I am glad I read it and wouldn't have change that.

[Psicoleggimi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ogni genitore spera che il proprio figlio inizi il nuovo percorso col piede giusto perché, si sa, chi ben comincia è a metà dell’opera!

Ma prima di tutto dobbiamo chiederci: cosa c’è alla base di un anno scolastico sereno e senza ansia? Una buona organizzazione! È per questo che vi proponiamo “Impara ad organizzarti” di Rebecca Branstetter, psicologa scolastica specializzata in disturbi dell’apprendimento.

L’autrice spiega che alla base di una buona organizzazione ci sono le Funzioni Esecutive (FE), ossia tutte quelle abilità cognitive necessarie al raggiungimento di un obiettivo. Tra queste troviamo autoregolazione, memoria, organizzazione, flessibilità, concentrazione ecc...

Tutte queste funzioni vengono svolte dalla corteccia prefrontale, zona del cervello che continua a svilupparsi fino ai primi anni dell’età matura, quindi le FE possono essere allenate e migliorate.
L’autrice descrive ogni singola FE e ci da utili suggerimenti per il miglioramento di queste, come ad esempio il modo di allestire l’ambiente domestico o quanto aiuto dare al proprio figlio. Inoltre in appendice ci fornisce le migliori strategie per supportare le 10 principali funzioni esecutive.

È un libro utile per gli scolari, ma anche per gli adulti che vogliono imparare a pianificare ed organizzarsi.

Recensione di Psicoleggimi

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides parents with basic information and descriptions of the Big 10 Executive Functions. The easy to read, relatable examples, and manageable recommendations are helpful in providing parents with "answers" and next steps.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful resource and explanation of the 10 executive functions, the first time time I've seen a list like this compiled in one place. This is mostly directed at parents of younger children, but still useful to know some fundamental tricks.

I appreciated the tone of becoming a more mindful, less judgemental parent in the sample digital version I read before ordering the print version. But they are not the same so be sure you know which version you are getting.

[Chiara F. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Utile manualetto sull’educazione al corretto espletamento delle funzioni esecutive necessarie per essere produttivi ed efficienti in ambito scolastico, a partire dalla scuola dell’infanzia fino all’università.

Niente che un esperto di apprendimento non possa conoscere, ma utile soprattutto a quei genitori che non sanno come gestire le difficoltà scolastiche dei figli in merito ad ordine, concentrazione ed autocontrollo.

[Anna Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Consigliatissimo a quei genitori che hanno bisogno di consigli utili per aiutare i propri figli nell'organizzazione delle attività quotidiane, partendo dalla spiegazione del motivo per cui a volte anche per noi è difficile compiere quelle azioni che per altri sono tanto facili. Mi ha aiutato a comprendere di più i miei figli e le loro difficoltà.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the way this book was outlined by areas of opportunity, and then there were good sub-tips based on age and experiences. There was a great summary of what parents can do overall, it would have been nice to have home tips for each section.

[Shana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mostly targeting parents of young children. But useful breakdown of 10 key trouble areas of executive function for people with executive function disorder/ADHD etc.
Helpful to see those separate as areas for growth that can be addressed one by one.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Had a lot of good info. in it. Had to get used to the organization at first though.

[Lindsey Smoak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobooked this one for my capstone project!

[Teresa Alici · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and practical as an introduction to how to deal. Very very good.

[Corinne Yee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good information and tips to help you help your children.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has been revolutionary for our family! If your child struggles in the areas of organization, task completion, focus, etc... this book is full of helpful information!