welcome image

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

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

"Cutting" is a visible sign to the world that you are hurting.

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

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

Parenting style matters - a lot!

The more 2 parents differ in their approaches to discipline, the more likely it leads to trouble for the child.

"Unexpressed feeling never die. They are buried alive and come back later in ugly ways." (Stephen Covey)

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.

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.

Learn more.

Types of Depression

TYPES OF DEPRESSION DIAGNOSED IN YOUNG PEOPLE (the Oxford Psychiatric Dictionary lists 25 different types of depression)   a) MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER (MDD)                   – serious depression lasts an average of 7-9  months                   – similar to adult depression in some ways                                                                         – sadness                                                                         – pessimism                                                                         – sleep & appetite disturbance                                                                         – decrease in concentration                   – dissimilar in some ways                                                                         – anxiety                                                                         – irritability                                                                         – overly […]

Read complete blog post

Child & Youth Worker – Fanshawe College

Congratulations are extended to the Fanshawe College students who are just completing their academic semester in the Child & Youth Worker program at the Woodstock campus. It is a 3 year diploma program that equips students to work in classrooms, group homes, treatment centres, detention facilities, etc. The program involves 3 academic semesters plus 3 field placement semesters. I have been privileged to teach a psychology course to the first year students who will be […]

Read complete blog post

Workshop – “It’s a Guy Thing, It’s a Girl Thing”

I will be presenting a workshop entitled “It’s a Guy Thing, It’s a Girl Thing” at the Woodstock campus of Fanshawe College on May 16 from 6:30 to 9:30 PM. Enclosed is a description: “Be prepared for an “aha” experience. Are boys different from girls? Do they think, play, learn, hear, talk differently? Finally modern science can now explain the many gender differences that influence every aspect of our lives. Understanding these differences will help […]

Read complete blog post

Recent Training Events

I recently had the opportunity to present 2 different workshops for foster and adoptive parents through the London and Middlesex Children’s Aid Society. 20 people attended “Fostering – Take This Job and Love It” on February 29 and 27 people attended “The Difficult Child” on March 21. Feedback from both events was very positive with comments such as: – “excellent handouts that will prove helpful tomorrow and into the future” – “wonderful speaker, fast paced, […]

Read complete blog post

Crash Test Mommy / Daddy

River Heights Public School in Dorchester Ontario is offering a free workshop called “Crash Test Mommy / Daddy” on the evening of January 25, 2012. This workshop by  parent educator Rick Harper will provide numerous ideas on how to respond to a wide range of children’s behaviours. Rick’s presentations are always positively received. Below are some comments from recent events featuring Rick.   (check out his website: www.rickharper.ca) “He is a wealth of knowledge coupled […]

Read complete blog post




Back to Top

Workshops

+ Behaviour Management (now available online)

This full day or 2 evening workshop will introduce you […]

Learn more

+ Lick Your Kids

  “Lick Your Kids” (figuratively not literally) (2 hours) First […]

Learn more

+ A Parent’s Guide to the Teenage Brain

  A teenager’s brain is not just an adult brain […]

Learn more

+ Reading Rescue

A program for children with reading problems

Learn more

+ 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.

Learn more

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

Archive


Parents' Comments

“I wish we had found Rick 2 years ago. We could have saved ourselves and our son a lot of trouble.”

(T.T. – Byron)