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

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

"Moody" and "unpredictable" are adjectives parents will often use when referring to their teenagers.

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

We should not medicate the boys so they fit the school; we should change the school to fit the boy. (Leonard Sax, M.D. Ph.D)

Children do not develop on their own - they only develop within relationships.

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

If there is no relationship - nothing else matters !

You cannot reason with someone who is being unreasonable.

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

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Parenting a FASD Child (age 5-7 years)

The main developmental task for this aged child is to develop confidence to attempt new things.

Guidelines for Caregivers

  • give age appropriate knowledge of FASD to the child
  • be ready for problems to intensify as his world expands
  • routine, consistency, help & repetition remain key
  • problems for siblings increase – eg. embarrassment, stealing, fighting
  • “subtle” lessons on social skills are ineffective
  • medication MAY soften some behaviour problems
  • sports may serve as an outlet
  • discipline needs to be immediate, short, parent supervised, and planned
  • child can create considerable stress within family

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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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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

“He is a wealth of knowledge coupled with first hand experience.”

(E.K. – London)