welcome image

The mistake that Sharon and I both made is we never set any boundaries.  (Ozzy Osbourne)

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

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

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.

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

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

Hurt people hurt people.

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)

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

Adolescence can be the cruelest place on earth. It can really be heartless.  ( Tori Amos)

Learn more.

Sleep Problems (part 1)

“Children are a comfort in our old age, it is true; and often children help us reach it faster too”. “My children are the perfect age . . . too old to cry at night and too young to ask for the car.” Sleep problems are not the same in children as they are in adults. For example, infants and toddlers who are not sleeping well do not complain – their parents do. Young children […]

Read complete blog post

Depression Facts

FACTS -80% of depressed teens do not get psychiatric help – 75% have continuing problems into adulthood – 25% develop additional problems                                     eg.           – substance abuse                                                       – anxiety                                                       – eating disorders                                                       – school failure – 20% have seriously considered suicide – many clash with their parents

Read complete blog post

Symptoms of “Executive Dysfunction”

These are the kinds of things that make living with or working with an ADHD child challenging. lack of foresight (unable to predict consequences for his/her behaviour) poor hindsight (“Johnny, how many times do I have to tell you to  . . . ) live for the minute (the future and past do not exist) poor organization (unable to “get it together” in A.M.) trouble returning to a task (“Johnny, you never complete anything”) poor […]

Read complete blog post

School and the FASD Child

School demands (behaviour and academics) can be overwhelming for a child with FASD. In my opinion behaviour should take precedence over academics. It is possible that the sights, sounds and human dynamics within the school may be too stimulating for the child. Expect rules to be have to be taught , retaught and retaught  some more.  It will probably be beneficial for the child to sit near the teacher and he will probably  take a […]

Read complete blog post

Depression & Anxiety Disorder in Teens

ANXIETY DISORDER IS A STRONG PREDICTOR OF DEPRESSION   “Depression” is mourning the “past” or “present”. “Anxiety” is fearing the “”future”.   “Anxiety” is a normal  and useful reaction and warns us to be careful:                                     – wear a seatbelt                                     – use a bike helmut                                     – designated driver                                     – hold a child’s hand when crossing a street   Worries and fears that interfere with “normal” life and routines are anxiety disorders   […]

Read complete blog post




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)