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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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The teenage years require a delicate balance between the young person's need to gain independence, and the parent's need to retain authority.

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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.

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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 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)