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The challenge of adolescence is to balance the right of the parents to feel they are in charge with the need of the adolescent to gain independence.

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

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

You cannot reason with someone who is being unreasonable.

The quickest way to change your child’s behaviour is to first change your own.

Parenting style matters - a lot!

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

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 more 2 parents differ in their approaches to discipline, the more likely it leads to trouble for the child.

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.

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PARENT / TEACHER RELATIONSHIP

  Your child will spend 6 hours a day in a classroom with his teacher. That works out to about 1200 hours per year. It is a good idea to touch base with the teacher early in the school year to demonstrate that you care deeply about your child’s  education and that you wish to be a contributing team player in the process. It is important that this first meeting have a positive tone and […]

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A GOOD TEACHER

  A good teacher will attempt to fulfill the following roles for YOUR child and about 25 other kids  also. He/she will need your help and support; teacher counsellor organizer disciplinarian encourager mentor book keeper role model assessor file trip planner social worker hot dog money collector coat finder arbitrator supervisor paper pusher fundraiser nose wiper musician artistic director report writer mediator parent substitute confidant lecturer facilitator curriculum planner leader tester safety consultant security officer […]

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THE VICIOUS CYCLE OF BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS

  A “vicious cycle of behaviour problems” begins when a child repeatedly performs an inappropriate behaviour and the parent’s attempt to manage it is unsuccessful. The behaviour is repeated many times over a period of time with the results being: management strategy continues to be less than successful parent gets angry the child continues the behaviour child gets “locked in” and shows no sign of wanting to cooperate parent gets “locked in” to a strategy […]

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LEADERSHIP WITHIN A FAMILY

  LEADERSHIP WITHIN A FAMILY A leader or leaders will emerge in every family. If parents are unable or unwilling to perform the leadership role, a child will take over. There is no minimum age for this to happen. Some parents become “slaves” to a newborn, the moment  (s)he comes home from the hospital. Frequently heard comments from parents who are not in charge of their home:  “We can’t take him/her out to a restaurant, […]

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Have ADD/ADHD ?

  You’re in good company . Beethoven Elvis Bill Gates Henry Ford Robin Williams Socrates Mozart Winston Churchill Alexander Graham Bell Picasso Napoleon Jim Carey John Lennon Howie Mandel J.F.K. Bill Cosby Louis Pasteur Michael Jordan Richard Branson Whoopi Goldberg Michael Phelps Jamie Oliver A diagnosis of ADD /ADHD is not something one would wish for but it obviously does not need to prevent one from accomplishing great things !

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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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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)