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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)

Early intervention is always better than crisis management - but it is never too late to do the right thing.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

You cannot reason with someone who is being unreasonable.

Parenting style matters - a lot!

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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Central Nervous System Dysfunction Associated with FASD

Children with FASD can show several signs of central nervous system dysfunction including: microcephaly (small head) altered muscle tone poor fine and gross motor coordination hyperactivity attention / memory problems learning disabilities language and speech problems mental retardation irritability weak sucking response As the children get older, behaviour problems frequently become significant: failure to consider consequences of actions lack of appropriate iniative unresponsive to subtle social cues lack of reciprocal friendships

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Ritalin – the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Second – the bad Like all medications, Ritalin has negative side effects. Not all individuals will be affected in the same way but the following list are concerns that have been observed: decreased appetite (hunger returns when meds wear off) weight loss failure to grow insomnia dizziness and drowsiness increase in motor and/or vocal tics increase in heart rate increase in blood pressure abdominal stress (nausea) headaches allergic reactions (rash, hives) nervousness excitement can affect […]

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Depression – What do the young people say about it ?

“It was like a dread inside, there all the time. When I was with my friends it would go away a bit, but it always came 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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+ 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 psychiatrist recommended Rick to help us sort out behaviour management issues for our autistic son. He was an invaluable help.”

(C.C. – Sarnia)