welcome image

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

There has been an explosion in the prescribing of medication for very young children, particularly preschool and kindergarten boys (Juli Zito , Univ. of Maryland)

The quickest way to change your child’s behaviour is to first change your own.

Parenting style matters - a lot!

Criticism is not a motivator.

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

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

Many clinicians find it easier to tell parents their child has a brain-based disorder than suggest parenting changes. Jennifer Harris (psychiatrist)

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.

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

Learn more.

A Caution about Concerta


 

There is a generic form of Concerta available that is proving to be not as effective or safe as the brand named product. The long acting release mechanism is different making it shorter acting and the generic form can be crushed into a powder and snorted like cocaine whereas the brand named form cannot be crushed.

Some pharmacies and insurance companies have switched from the brand name med to the generic form without informing parents.

I advise parents to check with their doctor and if needed the doctor will write “no substitutes” on the prescription form.

The pills on the left side of the photo are the brand name pills and you can see the shape is slightly different and the writing on each pill is different.

 

Back to Top

Workshops

+ Behaviour Management (now available online)

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

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

+ A Guided Tour of ADHD (now available online)

This workshop will present the facts, myths, misconceptions, controversy and […]

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

“We are foster parents who took in a 13 year old girl (going on 18!) and she ran us through the wringer. Rick helped us learn how to set limits that made the difference.”

(G.E. – Strathroy)