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“The thing that impresses me most about North America is the way parents obey their children”    (King Edward VII , 1841-1910)

Don’t wait for him to turn 10 before you reveal that you are not in fact the hired help whose job it is to clean up after him.

Some hope their children will be like sponges soaking up the truth and wisdom imparted by their parents. However appealing this philosophy might be, it seldom seems to catch on with their children.

Parenting style matters – a lot!

Wouldn’t it be nice if children would simply listen and learn.

The challenge of adolescence is to balance the right of the parents to feel they are in charge with the need of the adolescent to gain independence.

Children do not develop on their own – they only develop within relationships.

Whining and crying are employed by kids for the purpose of getting something. If it works, then it was worth the effort and will be repeated.

Parents are the external regulator for kids who cannot regulate themselves.

The brain is the boss of behaviour.

Change the brain = change the behaviour.

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FASD

FASD lasts a lifetime and creates countless problems for everyone. Individuals with FASD must contend with stress, obstacles, loneliness and failure at levels that exceed those experienced by most people. The amount of change that a child with FASD can accomplish on his own is seldom enough to get him successfully through life. PREPARING PEOPLE WITH FASD FOR LIFE Protective measures that can alleviate some problems include: living in a stable and nurturing home protection [...]

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Workshop – Crash Test Mommy / Daddy

The River Heights Public School parent council has arranged with me to present a workshop entitled “Crash Test Mommy/Daddy” on the evening of January 25, 2012. More info to follow.

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FASD – Late Adolescence (17 – 22)

The main goals : move out of home establish his own life learn to cope with societal rules – increase personal expectation with diminishing parental support (lots of teens without FASD have trouble with this) Trouble Areas: undereducated poor money management loneliness lack of boundaries poor judgement He may lack the emotional and / or the educational maturity to embark on an independent life but he still has the internal and societal programming that makes [...]

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FASD- Early Adolescence – guidelines for teachers

the FASD adolescent still requires consistency, strong academic supports, and patience hormones are present but without the boundaries & social skills the teen may appear to be functioning higher than he really is sequencing problems may still persist teen will require immediate feedback other emotional problems may coexist – depression – eating disorder – suicide ideation – emotional alienation outrageous behaviours may continue (eg. temper tantrums) school suspensions

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FASD – early adolescence 13-17 (life’s challenges)

SEXUALITY hormones are probably working fine problems frequently emerge because of lack of boundaries, lack of impulse control, inability to link behaviour and consequences, need for acceptance, social isolation often leads to sexual activity with predictable consequences eg. STD’s, pregnancy, exploitation, easy victimization DRUGS AND ALCOHOL often exploited by older teens & adults substance abuse treatment is generally more difficult, refuses help and more relapses SCHOOL, JOB, DAILY LIFE school frequently causes  extreme stress employment [...]

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Workshops

+ Behaviour Management

This full day or 2 evening workshop will introduce you [...]

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+ Taming a Toddler

Many parents wonder what hit them when their sweet little baby turns into an unreasonable toddler – ideas for dealing with mealtime, bedtime, temper tanturms, toilet training, noncompliance, etc.

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+ A Guided Tour of ADHD

This workshop will present the facts, myths, misconceptions, controversy and [...]

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+ The “Difficult” Child

Do you find your child difficult to raise? Yes or [...]

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Contact

2720 Rath Street, Putnam, Ontario
NOL 2BO

Phone: (519) 485-4678
Fax: (519) 485-0281

Email: info@rickharper.ca

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Parents' Comments

“We were so naive. We thought our son’s poor behaviour was just a phase he was passing through. Thankfully you led us ‘out of the wilderness’”

(N.S. – London)