Natalie's picks

Recommended Products

Tools, books, and a few personal favorites I actually recommend to the families I coach — organized by what they help with.

Some links on this page are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. I only recommend things I've personally used or vetted for this work.

Organization & Study Systems

A working system beats a good intention every time. These are the low-friction basics I point families toward first.

Post-it Tabs (6-Color Set)

Post-it Tabs (6-Color Set)

Color-code subjects or assignment types at a glance — a small visual system that makes "find my stuff" effortless.

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Dunwell 5-Subject Notebook

Dunwell 5-Subject Notebook

One notebook, five sections, hole-punched pages — fewer notebooks to lose track of.

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Forvencer 8-Pocket Binder Dividers

Forvencer 8-Pocket Binder Dividers

Pockets keep loose papers from disappearing into the bottom of a backpack.

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U Brands 5-Tab Binder Dividers

U Brands 5-Tab Binder Dividers

Simple, sturdy dividers with view pockets — an easy first system for a student who has none.

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Sliding Chore & Morning Routine Chart

Sliding Chore & Morning Routine Chart

A visual, tactile way to see the morning routine instead of relying on memory.

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Focus & Time Tools

For task initiation and time blindness — the two EF gaps that show up the most in my sessions.

Neuro Focus Gum

Neuro Focus Gum (Caffeine + L-Theanine)

A caffeine-free-feeling way to add a little alertness to a study block without a whole energy drink.

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Textured Calming Stickers

Textured Calming Stickers (36-Pack)

Discreet, reusable texture for a fidgety hand during homework or a test.

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Textured Pencil Grips

Textured Pencil Grips (24-Pack)

Bulk enough to keep one in every bag, binder, and backpack pocket.

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ONO Roller Fidget

ONO Roller Fidget

A compact fidget that fits in a pocket — good for the kid who needs their hands busy to think.

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Textured Worry Stones

Textured Worry Stones (8-Pack)

Calming without being distracting to the people sitting nearby.

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3-in-1 Visual Timer & Chore Board

3-in-1 Visual Timer & Chore Board

Combines a visual countdown with a task checklist — good for a student who needs to see time, not just be told it.

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WAFHX Rotating Timer Cube

WAFHX Rotating Timer Cube

Flip it to the number of minutes you need — the lowest-friction way to start a timed work block.

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Time Timer Home MOD
Most Recommended

Time Timer Home MOD

The visual countdown timer I recommend more than anything else — shows time passing instead of just counting down.

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Mindsight Timed Phone Lock Box

Mindsight Timed Phone Lock Box

Locks a phone away for a set commitment — useful when willpower alone isn't winning against a screen.

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Sleep & Calm

EF capacity isn't fixed — it runs on sleep and regulation. These are the tools I see help most with both.

Aromatherapy Nasal Inhaler Stick Bundle

Aromatherapy Nasal Inhaler Stick Bundle

A portable way to reset between classes or before a stressful task.

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Bluetooth Sleep Headphone Eye Mask

Bluetooth Sleep Headphone Eye Mask

Soft speakers built into an eye mask — for a teen who needs sound to fall asleep but hates earbuds.

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Sound Machine + Night Light

Sound Machine + Night Light

White noise plus a soft light in one — good for a brain that won't quiet down at bedtime.

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Sunrise Alarm Clock

Sunrise Alarm Clock

Wakes with light instead of a jarring sound — a gentler way to start a day that's often already hard to start.

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Red Light Therapy Desk Lamp

Red Light Therapy Desk Lamp

Warm light for evening reading and homework that won't fight your body's wind-down signals.

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Red Light Therapy Bulb

Red Light Therapy Bulb

An easy swap for a bedside lamp to support a better wind-down before sleep.

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Bluetooth Sleep Mask (MUSICOZY)

Bluetooth Sleep Mask (MUSICOZY)

Blocks light and plays calming audio at the same time — one less reason to reach for a phone at bedtime.

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Weighted Pressure Eye Mask (nodpod)

Weighted Pressure Eye Mask (nodpod)

Gentle pressure across the eyes — a simple sensory tool for settling down.

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Blue-Light Blocking Glasses

Blue-Light Blocking Glasses

For the evening homework session that has to happen after a full day of screens.

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Weighted Blanket (10lbs)

Weighted Blanket (10lbs)

Deep pressure input for a nervous system that's had a long day.

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Journals & Reflection

For the weekly-reset habit and for a kid who processes better in writing than out loud.

Blank Hardcover Journal

Blank Hardcover Journal

An unstructured notebook for a teen who processes better by writing than by talking.

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ADHD Evening Reset Planner

ADHD Evening Reset Planner

A 30-day undated night-routine journal built around 2/5/10-minute resets — good for a brain that races right before bed.

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Clever Fox Journal for Kids & Teens

Clever Fox Journal for Kids & Teens

Guided gratitude and reflection prompts make journaling approachable for a kid who'd stare at a blank page otherwise.

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Movement & Recovery

Movement regulates the same nervous system that executive function runs on.

Foam Roller with Printed Exercises

Foam Roller with Printed Exercises

The exercises are printed right on the roller — no app, no memorizing a routine.

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Yoga Wheel with Pose Guide

Yoga Wheel with Pose Guide

Comes with a detailed step-by-step guide — a good option for a teen who wants to move but doesn't want a class.

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Books

Three for parents who want to understand what's going on. Three written directly to teens, for teens who'd rather read it themselves.

For Parents

Smart but Scattered
Start Here

Smart but Scattered

Peg Dawson & Richard Guare — the reference I recommend most, organized so you can skip straight to the skill you're worried about.

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Your Kid's Gonna Be Okay

Your Kid's Gonna Be Okay

Michael Delman — reads like a conversation with a friend, not a textbook. A good pick if "Smart but Scattered" feels like too much right now.

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Late, Lost, and Unprepared

Late, Lost, and Unprepared

Joyce Cooper-Kahn & Laurie Dietzel — practical strategies paired with real case studies, once you understand the "why" and want the "now what."

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For Teens

Focus and Thrive

Focus and Thrive

Laurie Chaikind McNulty — written directly to teens in a conversational tone, with real tools and checklists. Not a book about them — a book for them.

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Train Your Brain for Success

Train Your Brain for Success

Randy Kulman — a teenager's guide to executive functions, in language built for a teen reader, not a clinician.

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The Executive Functioning Workbook for Teens

The Executive Functioning Workbook for Teens

Sharon Hansen — a workbook a teen can work through on their own, one specific challenge at a time.

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Simple systems, purposeful pathways to success
Natlie Micheel · Certified Executive Function Coach · BestEFC.com