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

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

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)

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.

Adolescence can be the cruelest place on earth. It can really be heartless.  ( Tori Amos)

"Moody" and "unpredictable" are adjectives parents will often use when referring to their teenagers.

If you are headed in the wrong direction as a parent - you are allowed to make a U-turn.

A tantruming toddler is a little ball of writhing muscle and incredible strength. It's like trying to carry a greased pig past a slop bucket.

"Parents aren't the cause of ADHD, but they are part of the solution." (Kenny Handleman, M.D.)

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FASD – Late Childhood (aged 8 – 12)

The main developmental task for children of this age is to develop a sense of industry. Family stresses are likely to increase as FASD children can be exhausting. Caregivers will benefit from counselling and respite care may become necessary. Peer and sibling relationships can become more difficult because the child may have legitimate  difficulty with following the rules, turn taking, cheating, stealing, breaking things and being unpredictable. Children with FASD do not understand the feelings […]

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Teen Issues # 4 – Boundaries

    All teenagers want the freedom to do what they want when they want. They need to learn that freedom is earned and that they can gain freedom by demonstrating responsibility. Adolescence is the time in life when kids are supposed to learn this lesson. By the same token, parents need to be able to recognize when they are being over controlling and when they are being responsible and appropriate about saying “no”. They […]

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Teenagers

Between 1996 and 2016, the proportion of girls and women in the US taking antidepressant medications more than doubled, from 7.5 percent to 16.4 percent; more than 1 in 8 females in the US now takes antidepressant medication. Boys and girls are both having problems, but they’re having different problems. Many of the boys who are being sent to the psychologist or psychiatrist are being referred for problems such as ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder. […]

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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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ADHD – A Frustrated Parent

The following is a quote from a parent that  is both very frustrated and at the same time very concerned about her son. “I can’t take it anymore! We scream all morning to get out of the house. Homework takes hours. If I don’t help him with his work, he’s so disorganized that he’ll never get it done. If I do help him, he screams at me. Since he never finishes anything, everyone thinks he […]

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Workshops

+ Behaviour Management (now available online)

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

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+ Lick Your Kids

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

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+ A Parent’s Guide to the Teenage Brain

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

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+ Reading Rescue

A program for children with reading problems

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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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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

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Parents' Comments

“Our psychiatrist recommended Rick to help us sort out behaviour management issues for our autistic son. He was an invaluable help.”

(C.C. – Sarnia)