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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.

Some hope their children will be like sponges soaking up the truth and wisdom imparted by their parents. However appealing this philosophy might be, it seldom seems to catch on with their children.

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

When a child is disregulated - is the time parents need to be regulated.

If there is no relationship - nothing else matters !

If you (parents) tend to overreact to your child's misbehaviour - your child learns that he can't trust you. Mom, Dad, stay regulated!

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

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.

Criticism is not a motivator.

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

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Ritalin – the good, the bad and the ugly

First the Good – the following is a list of commonly observed behavioural changes when a child with ADD/ADHD begins using a stimulant medication (eg. Ritalin, Concerta, Dexedrine, Adderall)

  • decreased motor activity
  • decreased aggression
  • decreased defiance
  • less impulsive
  • makes fewer careless mistakes
  • grades improve
  • more compliant
  • improved relationships
  • improved concentration
  • improved attitude

The “experts” really don’t understand exactly how stimulant medications work but it appears to alter the neurochemical functioning of the brain, especially the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin. It takes approximately 20 -30 minutes to take effect and positive results will last about 4 hours. Many children require a second dose at noon hour at school in order for them to remain productive and cooperative for the entire school day. One study that I am aware of reported that the compliance level of a group of children with ADHD before their Ritalin pill was 40% and 1/2 hour after their pill, the level increased to 90%.

Dr. Martin Boren M.D. states, “If a child has an attention or hyperactive disorder, then he has a chemical problem and needs Ritalin as much as a diabetic needs insulin.”

Stimulant medications are performance enhancers and the positive effects will be evident in anyone who takes this drug regardless of a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD.

What parents need most are ideas, because with ideas 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

“Implementing Rick’s techniques and adhering to them is exhausting, but it is a healthy exhaustion rather than the detrimental exhaustion I used to experience.”

(B.F. – Woodstock)