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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.

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

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

If you are headed in the wrong direction as a parent - you are allowed to make a U-turn.

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

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.

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

Relationships matter:  change comes through forming trusting relationships. People, not programs change people.

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

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

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Sleep Problems (part 3 – the middle of the night screamer)

A child who regularly wakens in the night and won’t go back to sleep without  a parent’s help is SO DRAINING!  The following technique is worthy of your consideration if you have a middle of the night screamer and you are sure that there is nothing wrong with the child ie. ill. The Controlled Crying Technique Step # 1 – when the child wakens and begins to cry, let him cry for 10 minutes – […]

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Sleep Problems (part 2)

Sleep Facts Children differ in their ability to sleep – some are excellent at birth and throughout their childhood (lucky you) – some are inherently more susceptible  to disrupted sleep patterns – it is normal for everyone (adults & children) to have brief wakenings during the night                                                     (most only […]

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Behaviour Management

    First the good news! Children’s behaviour is strongly influenced by the positive and negative consequences that immediately follow from certain actions. If you can set appropriate expectations for behaviour and get the consequences right, your children will follow your household rules – most of the time anyway. Now the bad news . . .  it’s the same news! If whining or throwing tantrums gets your kids something they want, that’s what they’ll do. […]

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Parenting a FASD Infant

The primary developmental task  of all infants is to develop trust (in self and in others). Failure to develop “trust arrests development in all other areas. This task is immeasurably more complicated when the child has FASD.  The development of “trust” is facilitated by the following guidelines: a) CONSISTENCY – the child will benefit from high quality care from the same caregiver in the same                     […]

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Trauma in Children

It is estimated that 40% of North American children will have at least one potentially traumatizing experience by the time they are 18 years old including: – death of a parent or sibling – ongoing abuse – physical, mental, sexual – serious accident – natural disaster – witnessing domestic violence – violent crime How adults respond to children during and after traumatic events can make an enormous difference in the eventual outcome – both for […]

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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

“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)