Smart but scattered teens : the "executive skills" program for helping teens reach their potential /

More psychologists, parents, and developmental counselors are examining the why when it comes to understanding the strange and puzzling behaviors of tweens and teens. Here, best-selling authors Richard Guare and Peg Dawson (Smart but Scattered), along with Colin Guare, look at brain development research to help readers understand (and suffering teens overcome) the vexing impulses and time-management issues that plague many adolescents. The book's "executive skills" are the critical tools needed to solve problems, manage time, and perform tasks. As many parents know, tweens and teens often lack these abilities, which, according to the authors, stem from the brain's frontal lobe, where its functions are not fully developed in teenagers. If parents can better comprehend brain development, they can help even the most disorganized, reckless teens exhibit more sensible and responsible behavior. The book includes lots of anecdotes and commentary; readers can skip around to relevant chapters or read straight through. Verdict A very helpful addition to parenting shelves, comparable to David Walsh's Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids.-Linda Beck, Indian Valley P.L., Telford, PA (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.