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"The thing that impresses me most about North America is the way parents obey their children"    (King Edward VII , 1841-1910)

It's more effective to reward your child for being "good" (appropriate) than to punish him for being "bad" (inappropriate).

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

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

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.

Hurt people hurt people.

Criticism is not a motivator.

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.

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The History of Ritalin and ADHD

In 1937, a psychiatrist by the name of Charles Bradley prescribed amphetamines to 32 children with behaviour problems who were suffering from extreme headaches as a result of a procedure called pneumoencephalography (ie. spinal tap – analyzing fluid in the spine). He was hoping the amphetamines would relieve the pain. The amphetamine (benzedrine) did little for the headaches, but teachers noted 17 of the children experienced a striking improvement in their school work and behaviour. […]

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Living with a Child with ADHD

Children with ADHD can create chaos throughout the entire family, stressing everyone in the process. The morning routine and homework are frequent and lengthy sources of dissension. Siblings are often resentful of the time and special treatment given to the ADHD child. Parents may argue over the “best” strategy  (a difficult problem because no strategies are even close to perfect) . ADHD is an “executive dysfunction”. LIFE WITH AN ADHD CHILD IS NOT EASY!

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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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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)