Blog

Check out our variety of resources and tips on Executive Function support, ADHD, mental health, and more

All blog posts

By Beyond BookSmart | Oct 04, 2024

Is It Possible to Develop ADHD as an Adult?

ADHD is often thought of as a childhood condition. However, many adults who experience challenges with focus, organization and impulsivity may be surprised to learn they have ADHD. While the symptoms may present differently in adults than in children, ADHD can significantly impact an adult's life at work, at home and in relationships.

By Beyond BookSmart | Oct 03, 2024

“Why Do I Keep Losing My Things?” 7 Tips to Help You Keep Organized If You Frequently Misplace Your Possessions

Misplacing things can be a huge source of frustration for both young people and adults. It's not that you're careless or not trying hard enough. In fact, you probably experience more inconvenience from losing your possessions than anyone else.

By Beyond BookSmart | Oct 02, 2024

6 Ways You Can Help Your Child Become Better at Prioritizing Tasks

Prioritization skills become important for most children around the time they start going to school. There's only so much time in a day to work on things like art projects and homework. It takes some prioritization to make sure the important things get done well and on time. At this age, different after-school activities and interests like youth group, scouts and spor...

By Beyond BookSmart | Oct 01, 2024

“How Can I Be More Disciplined?”: 10 Ways You Can Build Your Self-Discipline

Once you reach high school, your parents or caregivers, teachers, coaches, and mentors will start expecting you to manage responsibilities at home and at school with a little more independence. This is when you might start hearing more messages about laziness, motivation and self-discipline. Indeed, many of your bigger goals in life will take a combination of life ski...

By Beyond BookSmart | Sep 30, 2024

Why Is Time Management Important for Children to Learn?

School-aged children have a daily routine with things they need to do at specific times. From getting ready for school and getting out the door to going to bed at night, things generally happen in the same order. To a certain extent, it can be pretty stable and predictable. However, life is full of changes. Each season brings different activities, different goals and ...

By Beyond BookSmart | Sep 29, 2024

3 Common Types of Sensory Issues in Those With ADHD

The world is filled with sights, sounds, smells and textures. For some people with ADHD, all of these sensations that cause stimulation can be a bit overwhelming. And trying to process all these overwhelming sensations can make it hard to focus on anything specific.

By Beyond BookSmart | Sep 28, 2024

8 Signs of High-Functioning ADHD in Children

Every child is special, and some kids have amazing brains that work in a unique way. These children may have trouble focusing on tasks or keeping things organized, but they also have incredible strengths and talents. This is called high-functioning ADHD. It’s important to remember that ADHD isn’t a weakness, but rather a different way to experience the world.

By Beyond BookSmart | Sep 27, 2024

Myth or Fact: ADHD Symptoms Can Get Worse With Age

Have you ever heard someone say that “kids will grow out of it” when talking about ADHD? While that may be true for some childhood habits, it doesn’t apply to ADHD. The truth is, ADHD is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder; it affects the way the brain develops and functions, and it can persist throughout a person’s life. That doesn’t mean the symptoms will stay ex...

By Beyond BookSmart | Sep 26, 2024

What Can You Do to Cope With ADHD Overstimulation?

The world can be a truly exciting place full of sights, sounds and things to touch — which is great for kids with curious minds who love to learn new things. But for some kids with ADHD, all that stimulation can sometimes become too much. It can be overwhelming and hard for them to know where to look or what to focus on with so much happening around them all at once.

By Beyond BookSmart | Sep 25, 2024

Poor Impulse Control: What Is It and Why Does My Child Have It?

We all have impulses, or moments when our brain urges us to take a specific action. It can be a small thing that we're tempted to do, like scratch an itch or roll our eyes. Or it can be something bigger, like yelling at someone or leaving the room to go do something else. We learn to control our actions as young children with some help from our caregivers and teachers...

By Beyond BookSmart | Aug 21, 2024

How to Help a Child Who Can't Sit Still in School

Does your child seem like a perpetual motion machine in class? They’re constantly squirming and fidgeting. You’re not alone. Many children can struggle with staying still, especially in structured environments like school. While occasional restlessness is to be expected, persistent difficulty focusing and managing energy can be a sign of an underlying condition like A...

By Beyond BookSmart | Aug 19, 2024

How to Help Your Child Avoid Burnout in School

The crisp autumn air, the smell of new notebooks, and the promise of fresh beginnings: The back-to-school season is upon us. While it can be an exciting time full of learning, for children with ADHD, the transition can be a delicate balancing act. The constant demands of school can lead to a hidden threat: ADHD burnout.

By Beyond BookSmart | Aug 15, 2024

13 Symptoms That May Indicate ADHD in Elementary-Aged Children

Does your child ever seem lost in a world of daydreams during class? Maybe homework takes forever because they can’t quite stay focused. Or perhaps they’re a whirlwind of energy, constantly on the move, blurring out answers before questions are even finished. These could be signs of ADHD, a common neurodevelopmental condition that affects an estimated 7 million childr...

By Beyond BookSmart | Aug 12, 2024

9 Accommodations That May Help Your Child With ADHD Succeed in School

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can present challenges in the classroom for the estimated 7 million children who live with ADHD. While your child may have ADHD, it’s important to remember it doesn’t define your child’s potential. With the right support and accommodations, your child with ADHD can thrive in school and reach their full academic potential...

By Beyond BookSmart | Aug 08, 2024

A Back-to-School Checklist for Parents of Kids With ADHD

Summer is winding down and the excitement, and maybe a touch of anxiety, of a new school year is creeping in. For parents of children with ADHD, this transition can feel particularly daunting. With a little planning and some proactive strategies, you can help set your child up for a successful school year.

By Beyond BookSmart | Aug 02, 2024

Executive Function Skills Through Age 12: A Guide for Parents

As your child gets older, they’re continuously developing and changing in every way, from physical appearance to personality. There are also many essential skills, such as Executive Function skills, that they can develop young and continue to improve as they get older. Executive Function skills are life management skills that help you plan, initiate, and achieve goals...

By Beyond BookSmart | Jul 31, 2024

How to Help Your Children Stay Organized as They Head Into the New School Year

When summer starts to turn to fall, that means one thing for many families: It’s back-to-school time. It’s natural for many habits and routines to be disrupted during summer break. As kids head back to school, parents can help their children get organized.

By Beyond BookSmart | Jul 29, 2024

Flexible Thinking: What Is It and What Makes It Such a Powerful Tool for Children?

When you have a particular opinion on something, or you’re used to viewing things in one particular manner, it can be difficult to adapt to new problems or ideas that come up. We all have our own perspectives and lines of thinking; however, we should try to evolve our thought patterns and adapt them when necessary. Even if it’s natural to want to just stick with what ...

By Beyond BookSmart | Jul 25, 2024

What You Need to Know About Auditory Processing Disorder

When you get told a large amount of information at one time, such as during an educational lecture, it can take a bit of time to process and grasp what you’ve been told. Did you know that there’s a type of disorder that can make it difficult for the brain to accurately perceive what’s being heard?

By Beyond BookSmart | Jun 28, 2024

Is It Common for Kids With ADHD to Have Trouble Sleeping?

It’s not always easy to get your kids to go to sleep at a reasonable hour, let alone get the recommended amount of sleep for their age group. Not only do they often want to stay up to watch a show or play “just one more game,” but they may also have a disorder that interferes with their ability to fall and stay asleep.

By Beyond BookSmart | Jun 25, 2024

How Can Teachers and Parents Address Impulsive Behavior in Children?

Whether your child is at home, in the classroom, or out in your community, you want them to be on their “best” behavior. That often means being considerate to the people and environment around them. While children may not understand the mechanics of socially acceptable behavior, impulsive behavior is often a point of concern for both parents and teachers.

By Beyond BookSmart | Jun 22, 2024

My Child Never Stops Talking or Moving: What Does It Mean?

Every child is different. Some have boundless energy with an extroverted personality. Others are more cautious and introverted. Both are completely OK. It’s important that your child develops their own sense of self without expectations from others. Even so, that doesn’t mean that you won’t be concerned about their behavior sometimes.

By Beyond BookSmart | Jun 19, 2024

Why Is My Toddler Not Listening to Me?

As a parent, you always hope that your child will listen when you’re trying to have a conversation, ask them questions or provide directions for a chore. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. It can sometimes feel like everything you’re saying is going in one ear and out the other, which can be frustrating.

By Beyond BookSmart | Jun 17, 2024

My Child Is Smart but Can't Focus: How Can I Help?

When you’re a parent, you want to make sure that your child is putting their all into everything they do, from homework to extracurricular activities. You know what they’re capable of, and you want to see that full potential in their results. But sometimes, their capabilities aren’t showcased in their grades.

By Beyond BookSmart | Jun 14, 2024

How Many Types of ADHD Are There?

There are a lot of stereotypes and misconceptions about ADHD. One popular theory that’s been disproven is that ADHD is a childhood disorder that kids will eventually outgrow. Some people with ADHD indeed notice fewer symptoms in adulthood after they’ve mastered the skills they need to function at their best. However many still need to work actively to manage their ADH...

By Beyond BookSmart | Jun 12, 2024

7 Early Signs of ADHD in Toddlers and Young Children

Most of the symptoms that signal ADHD in children sound like typical toddler behavior. It’s definitely true that all infants and toddlers can be impatient, impulsive, and fussy from time to time. But since you’re reading this article, you’ve likely wondered where the line is between “typical toddler behavior” and symptoms that indicate ADHD.

By Beyond BookSmart | Jun 10, 2024

ADD Vs. ADHD: What's the Difference?

Our understanding of ADHD and neurodiversity has been evolving for at least 30 years. Attention deficit disorder (ADD) with and without hyperactivity was added to the DSM-III (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) in 1980, but it had been conceptualized differently in previous editions. In 1987, the two types of ADD were removed from the DSM-III-R. In...

By Beyond BookSmart | Jun 07, 2024

Emotional Regulation as a Kid Can Be Challenging: These 7 Activities May Help

Some people think emotional regulation and “logic” skills like problem-solving are separate functions. But these processes are closely related. When our emotions are overpowering, we have a limited capacity to use the cognitive or “thinking” parts of the brain.

By Beyond BookSmart | Jun 05, 2024

9 Time Management Tools for Kids and Parents Managing ADHD

Each one of us has a unique relationship with time. Some people experience it differently than others, and you may be more aware of time passing (or less aware of it) than others. You may feel like you have very little time in the day to get things done, or you might feel like time is “on your side.”

By Beyond BookSmart | May 19, 2024

Is ADHD Genetic? What You Should Know

There are many things that our parents pass on to us, such as our belief system, eye color, and personality traits. Our genetics also play a significant role in overall health and wellness, which is why it’s often a factor in many diagnoses.

By Beyond BookSmart | May 15, 2024

How Can Kids With ADHD Become More Self-Motivated?

Have you ever watched your child start a project with boundless enthusiasm, only to get sidetracked by a stray butterfly or a captivating toy car minutes later? This may sound familiar if your child has ADHD. Kids with ADHD can struggle to stay focused, manage their time effectively and resist distractions — all factors that play a crucial role in motivation.

By Beyond BookSmart | May 13, 2024

What Is Revenge Bedtime Procrastination?

Revenge bedtime procrastination describes an increasingly common phenomenon where people deliberately delay going to sleep so they can indulge in leisure activities. It first came into use in a 2014 paper researching a new area of procrastination at bedtime. Revenge bedtime procrastination isn’t just about staying up late. The addition of “revenge” to bedtime procrast...

By Beyond BookSmart | May 12, 2024

11 Personal Hygiene Tips for People With ADHD

Ever feel like you start a task with gusto, only to get sidetracked by a squirrel outside your window moments later? If you have ADHD, this may sound all too familiar. ADHD can make sticking to routines, including personal hygiene tasks like showering, brushing your teeth and doing laundry, a constant battle.

By Beyond BookSmart | May 11, 2024

Tips to Help Your Child Keep Their Bedroom Organized If They Have ADHD

Most people like to have their space relatively clean and organized. However, for many children, it’s difficult to not only get their bedroom to be neat, but also to keep it that way for longer than a day. Nearly every parent knows what it’s like to have their child’s bedroom turn from a clean space where everything is in the right place to a disorganized mess after t...

By Beyond BookSmart | May 09, 2024

6 Ways to Help Your Child With ADHD Keep Up With Household Chores

Household chores help your children learn responsibility, gain independence and develop life skills that they’ll need in the future. But they’re not always enjoyable activities, so it’s not uncommon for your child to procrastinate on their chores or try to get out of them completely. If your child has ADHD, it can be even harder to get them to complete their chores ar...

By Beyond BookSmart | May 07, 2024

7 Classroom Management Strategies for Teachers of Neurodiverse Students

When you’re a teacher, it’s important to make sure that your classroom is managed in a way that works for your students. They each have their own needs and abilities that affect their learning.

By Beyond BookSmart | May 05, 2024

The Relationship Between ADHD and Low Frustration Tolerance

The first cues teachers and parents notice in a child who might have ADHD are typically behavioral. They might move around a lot, talk during class or get distracted often. When ADHD goes undiagnosed, these children are often channeled into behavior interventions instead. Researchers are now paying more attention to difficulties with emotion regulation. These are also...

By Beyond BookSmart | May 03, 2024

Understanding the Differences Between Dyslexia and ADHD

ADHD and dyslexia are both considered neurodevelopmental disorders. These are conditions involving differences in brain functioning that begin in developmental stages. The two have a high rate of co-occurrence, but there are some big differences to be aware of as a parent or an educator.

By Beyond BookSmart | May 01, 2024

8 Ways You Can Help a Child With ADHD-Related Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria

Many children with ADHD have a sense that they’re somehow different from their peers, even if they don’t have a diagnosis. These children are right; they are different — and that can be both a great thing and a source of challenges. And some children have a harder time bouncing back from failures, criticism and rejections than others.

By Beyond BookSmart | Apr 23, 2024

3 Reasons Why Learning What Motivates Your Child Can Pay Off

It can be challenging to motivate your child to do something they don’t want to do, and this may be especially difficult if your child also has ADHD. People with ADHD often have issues with motivation, and studies have shown that this may be because of disruption of the dopamine reward pathway. People with ADHD are more likely to have a dopamine deficiency, which can ...

By Beyond BookSmart | Apr 23, 2024

7 Tips for Organizing With ADHD: How to Organize Better

ADHD can impact many aspects of a person’s everyday life. It can make it difficult to complete a task in one sitting, pay attention during a conversation with a friend, or keep track of time while on a schedule. One of the most common challenges for people with ADHD is organization.

By Beyond BookSmart | Apr 22, 2024

Common Symptoms of ADHD in Girls

When your daughter’s teacher recommends testing for ADHD, it can be a big shock if you don’t know much about this neurotype. That’s a common experience for a lot of parents. Research on what ADHD looks like and the population of neurodiverse people who have it has progressed a lot in just the last 10 years.

By Beyond BookSmart | Apr 19, 2024

How to take control of perfectionism and procrastination

Nothing, and nobody, can be perfect, because perfect doesn’t exist. Even though we’ve all probably heard that at some point in our lives and acknowledge that it’s true, it can be difficult to stop ourselves from trying to reach perfection anyway.

By Beyond BookSmart | Apr 17, 2024

How to Stop Procrastinating: 8 Tips From Experts

There are many important tasks that make you want to groan in annoyance at the thought of completing them. Things like organizing your important documents, deep cleaning your bathroom and decluttering your attic are all responsibilities that you know must be done, but you’d rather do anything else instead. So you do. That’s an example of procrastination.

By Beyond BookSmart | Apr 15, 2024

9 ADHD Study Tips to Work Smarter & Boost Grades

Studying can be a challenge for any student, but if your child has ADHD, it may be even harder for them to do well in school, and they may spend a lot of time trying to study with poor results. However, this doesn’t mean your child isn’t smart, since bad grades may simply be due to difficulty concentrating on and retaining information.

By Beyond BookSmart | Apr 12, 2024

ADHD Paralysis: Understand & Beat It

When people talk about feeling paralyzed, they mean that their entire body essentially freezes up, despite how their mind may be filled with racing thoughts. Having your mind or body “paralyzed” can make you feel helpless and out of control of your own body. People with ADHD often report feeling paralyzed. ADHD paralysis is an overwhelming sensation that can interfere...

By Beyond BookSmart | Apr 10, 2024

The Differences Between ADHD Paralysis and Executive Dysfunction

Does your child with ADHD feel stuck or overwhelmed trying to complete everyday tasks? Do they struggle to even begin a chore or start their homework? It may not just be laziness that’s got your kid in a slump. Children with ADHD often struggle with motivation and completing tasks due to dopamine deficiency.

By Beyond BookSmart | Apr 08, 2024

ADHD Overwhelm: Why It Happens & How to Control It

Life can be stressful and hectic, which is why it’s completely normal to feel overwhelmed every once in a while. When your expenses are piling up too high or you have too many deadlines on your work calendar, it can put a heavy weight on your thoughts and emotions, especially if you have ADHD.

By Beyond BookSmart | Apr 01, 2024

Expert Stress Management Techniques for Students of All Ages

Stress has a notable impact on the overall quality of life for students at nearly every level. In the U.S., approximately 83% of teens are stressed due to school, with 63% labeling homework as a primary factor. For high school students in particular, approximately 31% feel overwhelmed due to their stress. When it comes to college students, 8 out of every 10 students e...

By Beyond BookSmart | Jul 31, 2019

Pets, Chores, & Other Nuisances: Negotiating Responsibilities at Home

Even though much of our work as Executive Function coaches focuses on helping students and adults work more effectively, you may be surprised to learn that we get a fair amount of questions during our presentations and talks that relate to managing a household, as well. And why not? After all, we use skills such as time management, emotion regulation, planning, and pe...

By Beyond BookSmart | Dec 02, 2013

Five Ways to Study Smarter in College

Editor's note: We asked Michele Hearn, Director of Adult, College and Distance Coaching, what advice she has been giving to college students heading toward final exams. Below, she offers her top five strategies to get through those last weeks of the semester with less stress. Share with your favorite college (or high school) student!

By Beyond BookSmart | Nov 18, 2013

Tutoring vs. Executive Function Coaching: Making an Informed Choice

Editor's note: From time to time, we will be asking guest bloggers to contribute to our blog. Mark Skoskiewicz, founder of MyGuru tutoring services, offers his perspective on how to discern a need for tutoring versus Executive Function coaching in students. Almost everyone I’ve ever met knows what a tutor is – someone with deep expertise in an academic subject or stan...

By Beyond BookSmart | Nov 04, 2013

Attention Soccer Moms! Focus on Staying Focused

We recently had a chance to chat with Dean M. Hebert, an applied sports psychology coaching professional and owner of Mindset for Performance LLC, an individual coaching and consulting company. He works with teams, athletes, parents, and coaches teaching the mental game of peak performance.

By Beyond BookSmart | Aug 18, 2013

Self Regulation: Decisions in College Have Consequences

"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" So asks poet Mary Oliver in The Summer Day, a perfectly named piece for this college counselor, advisor, administrator, and coach. Having spent nearly twenty years asking this same question to students arriving on my campus like clockwork every August, I am always prepared for the confusion tha...

By Beyond BookSmart | Aug 02, 2013

A Fun and Informative Blog About Quirky Kids

Academy MetroWest is a children's group therapy program in Natick, MA. They conduct small groups that meet weekly in a gymnasium setting. Groups center on cooperative physical play aimed at helping children and adolescents enhance self-image and social skills. The director of that program, Bruce Sabian, M.A., LMHC, is the author of the Academy MetroWest Blog - Thinkin...

By Beyond BookSmart | Jul 17, 2013

The Lost Art of Planning

Is our ability to plan ahead becoming a vestigial organ?

What are Executive Function skills?

Executive Function Skills are a set of cognitive skills that help individuals plan ahead, stay organized, regulate thoughts and behaviors, stay focused, and achieve their goals. Each of these skills can be taught, learned, and applied at any stage of life.

  • Time Management
  • Maintained Focus
  • Task Initiation
  • Stress Management
  • Organization
  • Prioritization
new website image templates (4)-2