welcome image

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.

Simple rules adhered to when children are young can prevent more serious problems later.

The mistake that Sharon and I both made is we never set any boundaries.  (Ozzy Osbourne)

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

Setting limits teaches your children valuable skills they will use the rest of their lives. One day, they will report to a job where their ability to follow rules will dictate their success.

We should not medicate the boys so they fit the school; we should change the school to fit the boy. (Leonard Sax, M.D. Ph.D)

It's more effective to reward your child for being "good" (appropriate) than to punish him for being "bad" (inappropriate).

Children fare better when expectations on them are clear and firm.

"Rules without relationship leads to rebellion" (Josh McDowell)

Good parenting requires sacrifice. Childhood lasts for only a few brief years , but it should be given priority while it is passing before your eyes

Learn more.

Sleep Problems (part 2)

Sleep Facts

  1. Children differ in their ability to sleep

– some are excellent at birth and throughout their childhood (lucky you)

– some are inherently more susceptible  to disrupted sleep patterns

– it is normal for everyone (adults & children) to have brief wakenings during the night                                                     (most only last a few seconds or minutes and we go right back to sleep)

2. Sleep provides a restorative function for the body and the brain.

3. There are distinct stages of sleep:

a) nonREM (non rapid eye movement)

– restorative functions of sleep occur

– 4 different levels ranging from drowsiness to very deep

– lie quietly, very relaxed

– unlikely to dream

– usually in the first hours of sleep

b) REM sleep (rapid eye movement)

– brain waves become very busy

– usually later portion of sleep period

– heart and breathing rate becomes irregular

– blood pressure increases

– males have penile erection

– small twitches, body movement

– dream state

– temperature of the brain increases

Failure to get sufficient amounts of sleep at  these various stages   result in significant problems in physical and mental development. It also puts tremendous strain on parents and I frequently hear comments such as these from parents:

“I’m at the end of my rope.”

” We are at out wits end”.

” I’m totally exhausted”.

Some common sleep issues with children:

  • bedtime resistors
  • inability to fall asleep
  • frequently waking in night – unable to return to sleep
  • waking too early/ late
  • falling asleep too early in evening
  • snoring
  • bedwetting
  • nightmares / night terrors
  • sleep walking

Subsequent posts will deal with a number of these problems.

Rick Harper has been providing ideas to parents for over 40 years.

Back to Top

Workshops

+ Behaviour Management (now available online)

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

Learn more

+ Lick Your Kids

  “Lick Your Kids” (figuratively not literally) (2 hours) First […]

Learn more

+ A Parent’s Guide to the Teenage Brain

  A teenager’s brain is not just an adult brain […]

Learn more

+ Reading Rescue

A program for children with reading problems

Learn more

+ 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.

Learn more

See more of our workshops


Contact

2720 Rath Street, Putnam, Ontario
NOL 2BO

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

Email: info@rickharper.ca

Archive


Parents' Comments

“Our daughter was the joy of our life until she turned 13, then all hell broke loose. Rick helped us understand what was happening to her and we made some adjustments that helped us get through it. She’s now in University and doing well.”

(D.A. – St. Thomas)