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

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

The best inheritance  parents can give their children is a few minutes of their time each day.

Don't wait for him to turn 10 before you reveal that you are not in fact the hired help whose job it is to clean up after him.

Being a parent of a teenager can cure a person of narcissism.

Parenting style matters - a lot!

"Rules without relationship leads to rebellion" (Josh McDowell)

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.

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

You cannot reason with someone who is being unreasonable.

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Diagnosing ADD/ADHD

Diagnosing ADD/ADHD is not as simple and straightforward as you would think it should be. There are no “hard” biological markers detectable by conventional diagnostic tests (example – Xrays, blood tests, MRIs, etc.)

Diagnosis is usually made by observing a child and comparing his/her behavioural characteristics with those of other children. Parents, teachers and others who know the child well are asked to rate the child on various checklists and scales (examples – Conners, ACTeRs, Achenbach, Child Behaviour Checklist, etc.) and a qualified medical doctor or psychologist interprets the results and determines if the child meets the diagnostic criteria as outlined in DSM V. The symptoms must be observed in more than one setting to ensure that his/her behaviours are not caused by situational factors but indeed result from a brain based biochemical condition.

The child should also undergo a comprehensive medical examination to rule out the possibility of other medical conditions causing the behaviours of concern.

It is not uncommon for a diagnosis of ADD/ADHD to be missed because of the “fuzzy” criteria and the subjectivity of the reporters. There is considerable controversy among the “experts” about the diagnosing, causes and treatments of  ADHD.

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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

“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)