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Parenting style matters - a lot!

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.

Early intervention is always better than crisis management - but it is never too late to do the right thing.

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

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

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

Good parenting requires sacrifice. Childhood lasts for only a few brief years , but it should be given priority while it is passing before your eyes

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.)

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

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Living With & Treating Depression in Young People

RECOGNIZING, LIVING WITH AND TREATING DEPRESSION IN YOUNG PEOPLE ———————————————   Living with someone who is depressed can be a profoundly depressing experience     ———————————————————————————         Parents of teens expect mood swings, highs and lows and challenges to authority that are part of normal adolescence. But being a parent of a depressed young person can be a very daunting, overwhelming experience. It often produces dramatic and frightening changes in their behaviour, […]

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CYC Job Placement

Best wishes to the Fanshawe College (Woodstock campus) Child and Youth Counsellor students who are about to begin a 4 month work placement. These work experiences in the community allow students to put the theoretical knowledge they gain from their academic courses into practice in the real world. The CYC program is a 3 year diploma course with three semesters in class and 3 semesters in the field. It is my privilege to be a […]

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Depression – What It Is & What It Is Not

Depression is not: – a sign of weakness – a punishment for past wrongs – a flaw in a person’s character or  personality – the young person’s fault       It is an illness that results in: – emotional changes – physical changes – cognitive changes – behavioural changes         HOW COMMON IS IT ? – between 5-15% of all older children &  teens – a high school with 1000 students […]

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The Golden rules of Temper Tantrums

Tantrums are a normal part of a child’s development. Always remember the boy Scouts motto: Be Prepared. Never look around at the faces of those people watching you when your child is having a tantrum in public. The more involved you are with your child’s tantrum, the longer it will last. Remember to catch him being good as often as you can. Understand that all children want their parents’ love and attention. Move on and […]

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Depression – the stress “triggers”

  THE STRESS “TRIGGERS”   “Bad” things happen to kids                   – 1/2 of Canadian families go through divorce                   – 1/4 of Canadian women report having been sexually abused                   – parents, siblings, friends die   The overwhelmingly majority of children are remarkably resilient and emerge from the “bad” things relatively unscathed.   Those predisposed to anxiety and depression sometimes develop major depression after a stressful event.       Studies with animals corroborate […]

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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

“Rick’s approach is so logical. He helped us clearly define the problem, analyze what has happened and select the best strategy. We now feel empowered to do something positive for our kid”

(A.N. – Tillsonburg)