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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.

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

"Unexpressed feeling never die. They are buried alive and come back later in ugly ways." (Stephen Covey)

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

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.

The more 2 parents differ in their approaches to discipline, the more likely it leads to trouble for the child.

There has been an explosion in the prescribing of medication for very young children, particularly preschool and kindergarten boys (Juli Zito , Univ. of Maryland)

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

Being a parent of a teenager can cure a person of narcissism.

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.

Learn more.

Asperger’s Syndrome (part 2)

 

 

 

There are no “hard” diagnostic tests for Asperger’s. The diagnosis is made through observation and reports from parents, teachers, etc. The majority of children with Asperger’s are diagnosed between the ages of 5 and 11 although a diagnosis may not be made until adulthood.

There is no “cure” for Asperger’s Syndrome, however there are interventions that can yield positive results:

  • parental education
  • teacher education
  • behavioural approaches
  • training of social skills (ABA,IBI)
  • medications to relieve some of the symptoms (hyperactivity, irritability, aggression, compulsions, anxiety, depression)

What Can a Parent Do?

  1. have your child evaluated by a qualified medical doctor
  2. develop an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) with your child’s school
  3. ensure ALL adults working with your child are educated about Asperger’s
  4. think about “where do you want your child to be in the next 5, 10, 15 years” and plan and teach him/her the required skills

Individual with Asperger’s Syndrome perceive the world differently and many behaviours that seem odd, unusual or inappropriate are due to neurological differences and are NOT the result of intentional rudeness or bad behaviour and are most certainly not the result of bad parenting.

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Workshops

+ Behaviour Management (now available online)

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

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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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+ A Guided Tour of ADHD (now available online)

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

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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

“I wish we had found Rick 2 years ago. We could have saved ourselves and our son a lot of trouble.”

(T.T. – Byron)