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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!

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

We should not medicate the boys so they fit the school; we should change the school to fit the boy. (Leonard Sax, M.D. Ph.D)

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Learn more.

Biochemical Approach to Treating ADD/ADHD

One of the treatment approaches to helping a child with ADD/ADHD is biochemical or pills. The medical community by in large endorses the theory that ADD/ADHD is caused by an imbalance of the neurotransmitters in the brain. The treatment frequently recommended by doctors is to give the child a pill that will bring the neurotransmitters into balance. Some of the more commonly prescribed meds include Ritalin, Concerta, Strattera (there are a number of others). Doctors are unsure exactly how these meds work but the theory suggests that they act upon the executive functioning parts of the brain and help the child become less impulsive and consequently think before he acts. These medications  are very effective with a significant percentage of children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD and frequently result in dramatically improved behaviour. There are of course side effects that can be troubling and my next posting will outline some of these problems.

What parents need most are ideas, because with ideas we get options. 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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+ 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

“Our psychiatrist recommended Rick to help us sort out behaviour management issues for our autistic son. He was an invaluable help.”

(C.C. – Sarnia)