Gifted and Distractible Book - With Understanding Comes Calm

Gifted and Distractible

UNDERSTANDING, SUPPORTING, AND ADVOCATING FOR YOUR TWICE EXCEPTIONAL CHILD

By Julie F. Skolnick, MA, JD

Paperback $18.00

Oct 17, 2023 | ISBN 9780593712696

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Oct 17, 2023 | ISBN 9780593712702

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ABOUT GIFTED AND DISTRACTIBLE

A practical, research-based guide that demystifies giftedness and learning differences in order to help “twice exceptional” children thrive.

Does your child exhibit giftedness and behavioral issues like meltdowns, power struggles, and difficulty relating to their peers? Are they out-of-the-box thinkers requiring different teaching and learning methods? It’s a widely held misconception that intellectual ability and social and emotional success go hand in hand. In fact, “twice exceptional” kids—those who are gifted and have simultaneous learning differences like ADHD, high-functioning autism, or dyslexia—are often misunderstood by parents, teachers, and themselves.
This much-needed and empowering guide reveals the unique challenges these remarkable kids face, and offers strength-based, hands-on strategies for understanding, supporting, and advocating for twice exceptional kids. In a world that labels them lazy, scattered, attention-seeking, and a problem that can’t be solved, these tools will help you reimagine the world through your child’s unique perspective—so you can help them thrive.

PRODUCT DETAILS

Paperback | $18.00
Published by TarcherPerigee
Oct 17, 2023 | 304 Pages | 5-3/16 x 8 | ISBN 9780593712696

OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE AUTHOR

Gifted and Distractible Parent Course

An in-depth companion to Gifted and Distractible, this course helps parents apply the book’s insights in real life. Through bite-sized lessons and live support, you’ll learn how to better understand your child, respond more effectively, and feel more confident in your parenting.

Gifted and Distractible Book Study

Read Gifted and Distractible alongside other parents of 2e children in a guided, supportive setting. This book study brings the content to life through discussion, reflection, and shared experiences, helping you feel less alone and more equipped as you parent your complex child.

ABOUT JULIE F. SKOLNICK

Julie Skolnick, M.A., J.D.,
is the Founder of With Understanding Comes Calm, LLC, and author of the award-winning book Gifted and Distractible. An internationally recognized expert on twice exceptionality (2e), Julie consults with parents of gifted and distractible children, mentors 2e adults, trains educators, and advises clinicians and organizations seeking strength-based, research-informed approaches to complex neurodivergent profiles.
With over a decade of experience supporting families and adults worldwide, Julie is known for translating nuanced theory into practical tools that reduce shame, increase clarity, and elevate self-confidence. Her work integrates gifted education, ADHD research, emotional regulation science, and positive psychology.
Audiences consistently describe her presentations as validating, rigorous, and actionable — often sharing, “I finally feel seen.”
Julie hosts courses, memberships, and book studies for parents, adults, and professionals, and publishes the widely read Gifted and Distractible newsletter.
She lives in Maryland with her husband and their three twice-exceptional children, who continue to inspire both her work and her humor.

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Schedule A G&D Book Study

Invite Julie to host Gifted & Distractible Book Study For Educators

Julie Skolnick, M.A, J.D. of With Understanding Comes Calm, LLC offers an in-depth book study experience for educators and administrators who want to study and learn together using the book Gifted and Distractible (Penguin Random House, 2023).

Learn More Here

Schedule A G&D Book Signing

Invite Julie Skolnick to discuss her book Gifted & Distractible with your group. These in person events are privately hosted in your chosen space and can include a discussion, Q&A, book sale & signing.

Email support@WithUnderstandingComesCalm.com

Julie's 20,000 Book Celebration 🎉

Thank You to Everyone Who Has Read or Listened to Gifted and Distractible!

Interviews About The Book

Good Morning Washington Gifted and Distractible Interview

Penguin Random House "This Is The Author"

Listen to Julie discuss her experience recording the G&D audio book

Listen To THe Podcast Here >

Praise for Gifted & Distractible

“Julie Skolnick’s compassionate and practical guide demystifies the complexities of both giftedness and learning differences, and shows both parents and professionals how to support twice exceptional kids to help them self-actualize.”

Scott Barry Kaufman, PhDHost of The Psychology Podcast and author of Transcend

“What a gift this book is to the family with a curious, clever, creative, and oh, so challenging 2e child! Julie Skolnick brilliantly guides parents (and anyone else listening) to understand 2e kids deeply, to employ hundreds of calming and compassionate strategies, and to advocate for gifted and distractible individuals, at home, at school, and out in the world.”

Carol Stock KranowitzAuthor of The Out-of-Sync Child

“A wonderful guide to twice exceptional/2e children and adults. Bright and disabled children are often misunderstood. Their intellectual gifts often mask their weaknesses. Their disabilities can present obstacles to their cognitive promise. Such uneven developmental profiles often lead to undernourishment of strengths and underestimation of impairment. In this comprehensive review, Skolnick shines a light on this complexity. This gem of a book will go a long way toward helping parents and children achieve, as Skolnick suggests, both understanding and calm. As a developmental pediatrician I give this book my strongest recommendation.”

Dan Shapiro, MDDevelopmental-Behavioral Pediatrician and creator of ParentChildJourney.com

“Gifted and Distractible is a wonderful resource that will make a valuable addition to the book collection of anyone working with 2e learners! Weaving stories with research and advice, Julie Skolnick takes a deep dive into the lives of 2e learners, describing their educational, social, and emotional needs. With practical tips and tools, this book will improve the quality of life for families by guiding parents toward both resources and solutions. Gifted and Distractible will be referred to over and over by caring advocates working to meet the challenging needs of the sensitive, asynchronous children in their lives.”

Edward R. Amend, Psy.DCo-author of A Parent’s Guide to Gifted Children and Clinical Psychologist at The Amend Group

“Gifted and Distractible is filled with important information and helpful models to frame approaches for understanding and supporting these special youngsters. Julie Skolnick presents issues using stories that all parents can relate to as they strive to nurture and support their 2e child. Filled with gems throughout, this is a book that parents will find helpful, interesting, and insightful.”

Susan Baum, Ph.D.Chancellor, Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education

“This comprehensive and timely book will be a life-saver for many overwhelmed parents of twice-exceptional children. Ms. Skolnick offers parents enormous insight into the inner experience of children who have advanced cognitive abilities and yet also have learning, attentional, and/or social differences, as well emotional challenges. Providing dozens of excellent strategies and experience-tested tools parents learn to advocate to teachers, administrators, coaches, and scout leaders -- and anyone else who has the potential for influencing their child in positive ways.”

William Stixrud, Ph.DCo-author of The Self-Driven Child and clinical neuropsychologist and faculty member at Children's National Medical Center and George Washington University Medical School

“Julie Skolnick has long been the go-to expert for helping parents and educators understand twice-exceptional kids, so I’m thrilled that she’s finally sharing her wisdom and insights in Gifted and Distractible so we can ALL work toward the best possible outcomes for these fascinating, complex learners! Comprehensive, nuanced, and actionable, Gifted and Distractible will certainly become the go-to book for any parent of a 2e child.”

Debbie ReberFounder & CEO Tilt Parenting, author of Differently Wired

“Gifted and Distractible is literally the 2e playbook to help parents understand their 2e child and help them thrive. Julie Skolnick, a passionate guide and advocate, set out to give families and all those who care about 2e individuals a roadmap filled with strategies to take action and create positive change. Mission accomplished! This comprehensive book is filled with Julie’s wisdom and experience on every page. Approachable, digestible, and actionable, Julie guides parents in bringing out the best in their 2e child and teaches how to help others do the same.”

Dan Peters, Ph.DLicensed Psychologist, Co-founder and Executive Director, Summit Center; author of Make Your Warrior a Warrior and co-author of Bright Complex Kids

I applaud the “Cycle for Success” process described in Gifted and Distractible, and I love everything about this book! Julie Skolnick is articulate, insightful, and honest. She draws upon her extensive knowledge and experience, and complements this with research that she has conducted across several fields of study. She conveys deep understanding about the 2e population, offers countless practical strategies to encourage children’s positive growth, lays forth steps for effective advocacy, and provides comprehensive worksheets that serve to punctuate the meaningful messages conveyed throughout this book. Gifted and Distractible is a must-read for families with twice-exceptional learners. Moreover, it will inspire and inform anyone seeking to support their child’s optimal development.

Joanne Foster, Ed.DAward-winning Author, and Gifted Education Specialist