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"Cutting" is a visible sign to the world that you are hurting.

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

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

Good parenting requires sacrifice. Childhood lasts for only a few brief years , but it should be given priority while it is passing before your eyes

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.

You cannot reason with someone who is being unreasonable.

It is what we say and do when we're angry that creates the very model our children will follow when dealing with their own frustrations.

The mistake that Sharon and I both made is we never set any boundaries.  (Ozzy Osbourne)

Simple rules adhered to when children are young can prevent more serious problems later.

Parents are the external regulator for kids who cannot regulate themselves.

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Homework Hassles (part 1)

    Homework can be a major source of conflict between children and parents. Some children are avoiders, some procastinators, some fail to bring their work home and some do as little as possible. Some do  it too fast and carelessly and some take too long. Frequent battles over homework are harmful to healthy family life. Homework serves two purposes: to provide opportunities to practice and improve skills to teach responsibility, self discipline, independence, perseverance […]

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Moms Are Special

    The following was sent to me by a friend and I do not know where it originated. Questions were asked to young children and  their answers are delightful. 1. Why did God make moms? To help us out of there when we were born. 2. How did God make mothers? God made my mom just the same like He made me. He just used bigger parts. 3. What ingredients are mothers made of? […]

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Upcoming Workshop – “A Parent’s Guide to the Teenage Brain”

        I will be presenting a 3 hour workshop entitled “A Parent’s Guide to the Teenage Brain” at the Woodstock campus of Fanshawe College on Oct 21, 2013 (6:30-9:30) “A teenager’s brain is not just an adult brain with fewer kilometres on it. It is a brain that has not fully developed. It is a work in progress and has confused parents for  centuries. Modern science is now explaining biological reasons : […]

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Balancing Punishments and Reinforcement

        If a child doesn’t know how to read: – we teach. If a child doesn’t know how to swim: – we teach. If a child doesn’t know how to multiply: – we teach. If a child doesn’t know how to behave: – we punish. There is something wrong with this picture! Rick Harper of Behavioural Management Systems  has been helping parents find the right balance between “teaching” and “punishment” for over […]

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My Kid Won’t Go to Sleep!

        I frequently receive phone calls from parents who tell me their child will not go to sleep. Typically these are parents of children under 4 years old who tell me their child does not fall asleep readily at night and/or wakes repeatedly during the night. The parents are tired, frustrated and often angry. Their own relationship has become tense and they are wondering whether there is something wrong with their child […]

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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)