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

Children fare better when expectations on them are clear and firm.

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

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.

If it  was going to be easy to raise kids, it never would have started with something called "labour".

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

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

Setting limits teaches your children valuable skills they will use the rest of their lives. One day, they will report to a job where their ability to follow rules will dictate their success.

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.

It is what we say and do when we're angry that creates the very model our children will follow when dealing with their own frustrations.

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Columbine High School

COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL 1999 – the two perpetrators (both committed suicide)                                     – one was being treated for psychiatric disorder                                     – both in trouble with the law                                     – both were socially isolated “losers”                                     – both had been bullied                                     – both enduring pain This was a big story in 1999 but it is not the biggest story – most teens suffer alone, invisibly and their eventual suicides never make to TV news […]

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The Good News About Temper Tantrums

children usually outgrow them they are a normal part of development they are vehicles which teach children: how to cope with frustration – how to problem solve – communication skills 4. there are a number of strategies parents can use to teach these skills and numerous ideas about preventing them WARNING – the parent’s understanding about tantrums and their appropriate response to one is critical for the healthy development of children. How do tantrums make […]

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Where to begin looking for help

What options does a parent have when seeking help for their child’s behaviour problems? Parents who ask for my help have usually experienced many of the following emotions: frustration misunderstood confused overwhelmed exhausted bewildered angry guilty inadequate isolated vulnerable trapped embarrassed helpless hopeless This is not a fun place for a parent to be and not a healthy place for a child to grow. I am not usually the first person that parents ask to […]

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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

“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)