By Peg Dawson, EdD, and Richard Guare, PhD
The first two lines of this book are as follows: “There’s nothing more frustrating than watching a son or daughter who has so much to offer struggle with the typical tasks and functions of everyday life. The other kids in the class can write down third-grade homework, remember to take the math book home, and then finish the assignment before bedtime. Why can’t your (kid) do that?”
Part I of this book provides inventories that a parent can use to evaluate their child’s executive functioning strengths and weaknesses. Inventories are provided for grades 1-3, grades 4-5, and grades 6-8. (Inventories for other age groups are online and easily accessible.)
Part II is titled Laying a Foundation That Can Help and includes ten principals for improving your child’s executive skills as well as how to motivate your child to learn and improve their executive skills.
Part III is titled Putting It All Together and it is the bulk of this book; it includes ready made plans for teaching your child to strengthen attention and working memory, complete daily routines, foster organization, just to name a few. Additionally, the book provides suggestions for working with the school.