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Removing a child from a traumatic environment does not remove the trauma from the child's memory.

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

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.

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

If it  was going to be easy to raise kids, it never would have started with something called "labour".

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

Whining and crying are employed by kids for the purpose of getting something. If it works, then it was worth the effort and will be repeated.

Children mimic well. They catch what they see better than they follow what they hear.

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

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.

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Sleep Problems (part 2)

Sleep Facts Children differ in their ability to sleep – some are excellent at birth and throughout their childhood (lucky you) – some are inherently more susceptible  to disrupted sleep patterns – it is normal for everyone (adults & children) to have brief wakenings during the night                                                     (most only […]

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Behaviour Management

    First the good news! Children’s behaviour is strongly influenced by the positive and negative consequences that immediately follow from certain actions. If you can set appropriate expectations for behaviour and get the consequences right, your children will follow your household rules – most of the time anyway. Now the bad news . . .  it’s the same news! If whining or throwing tantrums gets your kids something they want, that’s what they’ll do. […]

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Parenting a FASD Infant

The primary developmental task  of all infants is to develop trust (in self and in others). Failure to develop “trust arrests development in all other areas. This task is immeasurably more complicated when the child has FASD.  The development of “trust” is facilitated by the following guidelines: a) CONSISTENCY – the child will benefit from high quality care from the same caregiver in the same                     […]

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Trauma in Children

It is estimated that 40% of North American children will have at least one potentially traumatizing experience by the time they are 18 years old including: – death of a parent or sibling – ongoing abuse – physical, mental, sexual – serious accident – natural disaster – witnessing domestic violence – violent crime How adults respond to children during and after traumatic events can make an enormous difference in the eventual outcome – both for […]

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Teen Issues 1

Parents of teenagers face numerous issues and struggles. It is no wonder they become discouraged, overwhelmed, angry or confused. Rick has ideas how to help.  disrespectful attitude towards parents, family and others challenges requests or rules self-absorbed unable to see things from another’s perspective lazy and careless about responsibilities has a negative attitude toward school is emotionally withdrawn and distant picks friends of whom parents disapprove erupts in anger for minor reasons lacks motivation for […]

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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

“We are foster parents who took in a 13 year old girl (going on 18!) and she ran us through the wringer. Rick helped us learn how to set limits that made the difference.”

(G.E. – Strathroy)