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

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

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

Criticism is not a motivator.

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

Early intervention is always better than crisis management - but it is never too late to do the right thing.

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

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

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

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.

Learn more.

Helping a Teen Moderate Stress

 
HELPING A TEEN MODERATE & MANAGE STRESS
                          “SPIT”  HAPPENS !
 
1. Listen                
                  – without judging
                  – try to understand and appreciate their concern
                  – if event resulted from bad behaviour or poor judgment – it’s vital to avoid making matters worse by berating and punishing
                               without taking corrective action
                  – critical that teen know you are on his/her side
 
2. Don’t Minimize
                  – be empathetic & open
                  – what might be “No Big Deal” to you may be to him/her
 
3. Be a Reality Check
                  – this is balancing empathy
                  – do not allow his/her unrealistic negative thoughts to dominate
                  – important to move past the “victim” role
 
4. Give Space
                  – teen needs a safe place to feel bad and express those  feelings
                  – “we’ll get through this”

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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)