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If there is no relationship - nothing else matters !

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.

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

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

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.

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

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.

Children do not develop on their own - they only develop within relationships.

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.

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

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Depression & Anxiety Disorder in Teens

ANXIETY DISORDER IS A STRONG PREDICTOR OF DEPRESSION
 
“Depression” is mourning the “past” or “present”.
“Anxiety” is fearing the “”future”.
 
“Anxiety” is a normal  and useful reaction and warns us to be careful:
                                    – wear a seatbelt
                                    – use a bike helmut
                                    – designated driver
                                    – hold a child’s hand when crossing a street
 
Worries and fears that interfere with “normal” life and routines are anxiety disorders
 
 
Anxiety disorders involve problems with behaviours and thoughts and are often accompanied by physiological  changes:
                  – rapid heart rate
                  – hyperventilation
                  – nausea
                  – sweating
                  – tremors
                  – etc.
__________________________________________________________________
CAUSES OF ANXIETY DISORDERS
Theories                – biological
                                     – pyschological
                                     – social
                                      – temperament
 
Most psychiatrists believe neurotransmitters are involved.

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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

“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)