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If you (parents) tend to overreact to your child's misbehaviour - your child learns that he can't trust you. Mom, Dad, stay regulated!

The best inheritance  parents can give their children is a few minutes of their time each day.

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

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

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

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

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.

"Cutting" is a visible sign to the world that you are hurting.

"To be a man, a boy must see a man."  (J.R. Moehringer)

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

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.

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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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