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

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.

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

Being a parent of a teenager can cure a person of narcissism.

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

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

The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice. (Peggy O'Mara)

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Sex Change

“Our universities have undergone a sex change !” I recently attended a conference presented by Dr. Leonard Sax (M.D., Ph.D.) who shared the following data from Statistics Canada: 1971 – 68% of Canadian university graduates were male 1981 – 54% were male 1991 – 51% were male 2001 – 42% were male 2006 – 40% were male This data clearly indicates that a growing proportion of males are “disengaging” from school. More and more of […]

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Underarm Hair

One of the rights of passage for boys entering puberty is the growth of underarm hair. Every boy is eager for this milestone to occur as they regularly count each hairs emergence. It is a good idea for parents to demonstrate a positive attitude towards their child’s excitement as it gives us an opening for an ongoing discussion on puberty and hygiene and the other changes that are soon coming.

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Eating Out with a Toddler (survival tips)

Taking a young child to a restaurant can be challenging but it doesn’t have to be a disaster. Planning your outing is the key. 1. Timing – choose a time when your child is rested and the restaurant is less likely to be very busy 2. distract – pack a “survival kit” containing items that will entertain your child while waiting to be served (e.g. ( paper & crayons, small toys, books, etc. 3. Set […]

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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)