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

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

If you (parents) tend to overreact to your child's misbehaviour - your child learns that he can't trust you. Mom, Dad, stay regulated!

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

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.

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

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

Hurt people hurt people.

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

We should not medicate the boys so they fit the school; we should change the school to fit the boy. (Leonard Sax, M.D. Ph.D)

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Setting Limits with Teenagers

 

Setting Limits with Teenagers !

A teenager’s job description includes being:

  1. impulsive
  2. rebellious
  3. style-obsessed
  4. irritable
  5. incommunicative
  6. peer centered
  7. risk taker
  8. sleep deprived

While judgment skills are developing, he needs parents to keep him safe by setting clear limits backed up with fair, reasonable, firm and consistent consequences.

  • Balanced limits builds trust between parents and teens – you need to find a balance between your need for control and your teen’s needs for independence.
  • Every teen is different. Figure out where your teen is – some need a lot of structure, other’s don’t.
  • Let your teen help create the rules – teens are much more likely to obey rules and limits that they help to create.
  • Work together on consequences
    •  there must be a price for stepping out of line,
    •  working together in advance prevents many bad feelings
  • Prepare yourself for your teen’s mistakes
    • all teens make mistakes, that’s how they learn
    • mom/dad – keep your emotions in check
    • briefly and calmly explain your disappointment, anger, frustration, fears
    • enforce the agreed upon consequences

When things are going well (hopefully most of the time) be sure to tell her you noticed (everyone likes a pat own the back)

 

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Workshops

+ Behaviour Management (now available online)

This full day or 2 evening workshop will introduce you […]

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+ Lick Your Kids

  “Lick Your Kids” (figuratively not literally) (2 hours) First […]

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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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+ Taming a Toddler

Many parents wonder what hit them when their sweet little baby turns into an unreasonable toddler – ideas for dealing with mealtime, bedtime, temper tanturms, toilet training, noncompliance, etc.

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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)