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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 fare better when expectations on them are clear and firm.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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Recent Workshops

I extend thanks to: 1. Davenport Public School parent council in Aylmer for inviting me to present the workshop “A Parent’s Guide to the Teenage Brain” 2. Hamilton Children’s Aid society for offering the workshop “A Guided Tour of ADD/ADHD to foster and adoptive parents. Both workshops were well attended and much valuable information was shared. I will be returning to the Hamilton CAS in early December to present “Taming a Toddler”

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Foster Parent Training in Brantford

I had an opportunity recently to present the  workshop  “Working With Birth Parents” to a welcoming group of foster parents affiliated with the Children’s Aid Society  of Brant. I extend thanks to Carrie Davidson and Keri Brook for their efforts in arranging and organizing this training event. The legal responsibility of the CAS is to provide care for children who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to live with their birth family. The preferred […]

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Upcoming Workshop (Teenage Brain)

I will be presenting a workshop open to the public on October 22, 6:30-9:30 at the Woodstock campus of Fanshawe College. The title of the workshop is “A Parent’s Guide to the Teenage Brain” A teenager’s brain is not just an adult brain with fewer kilometres on it. It is a brain that is not fully developed. It is a work in progress and has stymied parents for centuries. Modern science is now explaining biological […]

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Suicide Threats – Do’s & Don’ts

DO’S & DON’TS WITH A SUICIDE THREAT DO:                   1. stay calm                   2. talk to him         – listen                                                       – don’t try to “talk” him out of how he is feeling                                                       – don’t try to cheer him up                                                       – show concern                                                       – reassure person you know how to get    help                                                       – ascertain how well thought out the plans are (fleeting thoughts of suicide are           […]

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Suicide

THE NIGHTMARE of SUICIDE Journal entry “ I’m surprised I haven’t done it yet because I feel really terrible all the time. I just don’t have any courage but anyone else in my position would have already committed suicide.”       Rachel  age 15                   – the peak age for suicide attempts is 16                   – 19% of teens seriously consider suicide                   – 6% actually attempt it                   – only car accidents claim more teen lives […]

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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

“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)