Book Recommendation: Gifted and Distractible
Gifted and Distractible: Understanding, Supporting, and Advocating for Your Twice Exceptional Child
By Julie F. Skolnick
If you’ve ever wondered how a child can be both deeply curious and easily distracted, Gifted and Distractible by Julie Skolnick is the book you’ve been waiting for. Skolnick, founder of With Understanding Comes Calm, offers an insightful look into the inner world of twice-exceptional (2e) children: those who are both gifted and have learning or attention differences such as ADHD, dyslexia, or anxiety.
What makes this book stand out is how compassionate and actionable it is. Skolnick writes with warmth and clarity, helping parents and educators understand the unique emotional and cognitive profile of 2e learners. Through relatable stories and clear frameworks, she explains why gifted kids might struggle with regulation, organization, or focus even while demonstrating advanced thinking and creativity.
I especially appreciate how Skolnick emphasizes the power of understanding over fixing. She reminds readers that what looks like resistance or disorganization often stems from frustration, sensitivity, or perfectionism. By reframing these behaviors through empathy, adults can build stronger relationships and better support strategies for their gifted children.
You’ll walk away from this book with:
A deeper understanding of twice-exceptional learners and their needs
Practical strategies for home and school support
Tools for building emotional regulation and executive functioning skills
A renewed sense of compassion for how gifted brains experience the world
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or counselor, Gifted and Distractible is an invaluable resource for creating environments where complex learners can thrive—not despite their differences, but because of them.
⭐ 4.9/5 for insight, compassion, and practicality
🌿Laura
Explore more tools for supporting 2e learners on learnwithinterested.com/resources
Read More:
Gifted and Distractible by Julie Skolnick offers an empathetic, research-informed look at twice-exceptional learners. It’s packed with strategies for parents and teachers to support gifted kids who also struggle with focus, regulation, or organization.