welcome image

The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice. (Peggy O'Mara)

Relationships matter:  change comes through forming trusting relationships. People, not programs change people.

Children today are under enormous pressures rarely experienced by their parents or grandparents. Many of today's children are being enticed to grow up too quickly and are encountering challenges for which they are totally unprepared.

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

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

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

Criticism is not a motivator.

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.

Many clinicians find it easier to tell parents their child has a brain-based disorder than suggest parenting changes. Jennifer Harris (psychiatrist)

Parenting style matters - a lot!

Learn more.

Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Big Day

 

 

I had an opportunity recently to meet with a number of people connected through Big Brothers/Big Sisters. The Wellington Street Sportsmen’s Club each year invite the “Brothers and Sisters” to participate in a day of fishing at the club pond near Dorchester. About 50 Brothers and Sisters came out to enjoy a beautiful Saturday, lots of fish, a BBQ of hot dogs and hamburgers, topped off with a bag of chips and an ice-cream sandwich.

The Big Brothers, Big Sisters is a volunteer organization committed to providing a same sex mentor to every child who for a number of reasons could use one. This organization has been making a positive difference in the lives of our youth by developing and implementing a wide range of mentoring programs both in our schools and homes.

A quote from the Big Brothers Big Sisters website: “Serving as role models, our mentors teach by example the importance of giving and giving back, of staying in school, and of having respect for family, peers and community. Each time we pair a child with a mentor we start something incredible – a life changing relationship built on friendship, trust and empowerment.”

I want to thank the big brothers and  big sisters for investing their time in helping Canada’s children realize their full potential.

A big thanks also to the members of the Wellington Street Sportsman Club for donating your facilities, pond, poles, lunch and assistance. For many of the kids it was the first fish they have ever caught and cameras were clicking all day capturing this happy memory.

Back to Top

Workshops

+ Behaviour Management (now available online)

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

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

+ A Guided Tour of ADHD (now available online)

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

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)