Gifted and Distractible: Understanding, Supporting, and Advocating for Your Twice Exceptional Child

I recommend taking a look at the table if contents or you even remotely think this book might be relevant for you or your child. The information is arranged in small chunks, rather than long, wandering chapters, which I really liked. The first section deals with definitions, which is very helpful as I only recently learned the term 2E. There are lots of strategies - some of them I had discovered in my own so that was encouraging. Keep in mind that you're not meant to implement all of them - it can get overwhelming. Just choose the ones that are helpful for your situation.

This book is packed with useful information to help parents understand what makes their twice exceptional children tick and concrete, effective methods to help these children thrive, including numerous resource tools ranging from checklists to worksheets to summaries. The author's deep expertise is on full display in this engaging, well written, informative, understandable, thoughtful, and helpful book. While geared to parents with twice exceptional children, the book is also a valuable resource for educators who work with twice exceptional children and individuals who may be twice exceptional and looking for methods to help themselves thrive.

Lots of helpful information!

As an elementary school teacher, 2e adult, and parent of a 2e child, this book has been an invaluable addition to my teaching and parenting "arsenal." As I read it for the first time, I couldn't stop noticing my childhood experiences and those of my daughter. For the first time, I discovered that I am not alone in this way of seeing the world. Julie's strategies for helping 2e kids manage daily life are succicnt and right on target.My personal favorite strategy in the book (implemented in my classroom and home) is the heirarchy of responsibilities, expectations, and privileges. This way of thinking about the things we have to do and the steps we have to take is concrete enough for both kids and adults to break down broad tasks into manageable pieces. The tips for parents in advocating for their child's needs are also extremely helpful, especially when in the midst of navigating tough home-school relationships.I have recommended this book over and over to fellow teachers, counselors, and parents for help better understanding the perspectives of their "gifted and..." children, and children in general.

This book is approachable and informative.

Even though I don't have kids, Julie Skolnick's "Gifted and Distractible" has helped me show up better for the children in my life and improved my connections with adults as well. The book offers deep insights and practical strategies that are universally applicable.One powerful example is the "Parent Pivot" strategy. Skolnick describes a scenario where a parent shifts their reaction from frustration to curiosity when their child resists doing homework, asking open-ended questions to understand the child's perspective.This lesson resonates with me as an adult too. When I face challenging tasks at work or in personal relationships, instead of getting frustrated, I can pivot my approach by asking myself questions about what’s causing the resistance. Am I overwhelmed by the complexity? Do I need more information or a different strategy? This method fosters a better understanding of my own needs and leads to more effective and compassionate interactions."Gifted and Distractible" is filled with such practical advice, making it an enriching read for anyone interested in personal growth and better communication.

This book is FULL of easy to understand information about 2E kiddos, the many nuances of how giftedness can present itself, as well as many many strategies that you can use to support your twice exceptional gifted child immediately. I have read other books, and no book comes close to this one. It’s literally the only one you need to support you, your child or even student, and it is great to gift it to your family members or child’s teacher to educate them on understanding your twice exceptional gifted child. I have been a special educator for 23 years, and when I had my own 2E child, I learned things I did not know so not only will it help me with my own child, but it will make me a stronger teacher and advocate for this very misunderstood population. Buy this book, and it will tell you everything you need to know.

A must read for all 2e parents. Julie knows what she is talking about and offers great tips and advice on many topics of interest. My favorite chapter was on the A-R-T of Advocacy - which I find I have to do a lot as the parent of an amazing but often misunderstood 2e teenager.

I really loved this book! It has excellent strategies and offers insightful ways to reframe the struggles parents and children encounter. I really felt “seen” as a parent, trying to wade through the many and often at odds approaches to raising my child. We are going through the assessment process to gain a diagnosis and clearer picture of the strengths and struggles for my son but her advocacy chapter is helpful in navigating that road, and reframing our own perception to refill our compassion and resiliency bucket to better support our son.