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Many clinicians find it easier to tell parents their child has a brain-based disorder than suggest parenting changes. Jennifer Harris (psychiatrist)

Relationships matter:  change comes through forming trusting relationships. People, not programs change people.

Children mimic well. They catch what they see better than they follow what they hear.

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

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

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

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

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

There has been an explosion in the prescribing of medication for very young children, particularly preschool and kindergarten boys (Juli Zito , Univ. of Maryland)

You cannot reason with someone who is being unreasonable.

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Parenting a FASD Child (age 5-7 years)

The main developmental task for this aged child is to develop confidence to attempt new things.

Guidelines for Caregivers

  • give age appropriate knowledge of FASD to the child
  • be ready for problems to intensify as his world expands
  • routine, consistency, help & repetition remain key
  • problems for siblings increase – eg. embarrassment, stealing, fighting
  • “subtle” lessons on social skills are ineffective
  • medication MAY soften some behaviour problems
  • sports may serve as an outlet
  • discipline needs to be immediate, short, parent supervised, and planned
  • child can create considerable stress within family

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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

“He is a wealth of knowledge coupled with first hand experience.”

(E.K. – London)