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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.

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

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

Criticism is not a motivator.

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

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

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

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

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.

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Reading Problems

 

Reading Problems

Dyslexia ( a reading/spelling disorder) affects nearly 8% of elementary school children and it can make school torturous. The best way to improve reading skills is by reading but finding books that interest children with dyslexia is no easy feat.

The following books are great for encouraging less than keen readers because they are funny, surprising and exciting.

  1. “Wolfman” by Michael Rosen

– a wonderful story for children as young as 5.

 

2. “Squish – Super Amoeba” by Jennifer & Matthew Holm

– a fun story about a Twinkie loving amoeba who has trouble at school.

 

3. “Brock” by Anthony McGowan

– a good choice for high school students with reading difficulties

– an engaging story with teenage themes

 

4. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” by Jeff Kinney

– a popular series for middle school age kids

– 3 movies have been based on this series

 

5. “Horrid Henry Robs the Bank” by Francesca Simon

– a “likeable bad guy” who will capture your child’s imagination and a great way for parents to discuss “right and wrong”

 

A knowledgeable psychologist is able to test your child for dyslexia and provide more direction on how to deal with dyslexia.

 

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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

“Rick’s approach is so logical. He helped us clearly define the problem, analyze what has happened and select the best strategy. We now feel empowered to do something positive for our kid”

(A.N. – Tillsonburg)