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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Hurt people hurt people.

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

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

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The Value of “Reading Rescue”

I would like to give you an update on the progress of a young boy who has been taking the Reading Rescue program. He is a grade 4 student in a regular classroom, who because of significant learning problems has been  falling  behind his classmates in all of his subjects. The reason for his reading problems is NOT because he can’t learn, it’s because of a  real learning disability. Most children learn to read in […]

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11 Problems Associated with Providing Foster Care to “Disturbed” Children

1. removal from the “maltreating” home is delayed 2. “maltreating” parents continue to sabotage current placement 3. increase in severity of disturbance in today’s foster / adopted children 4. inadequate preparation and follow-up support to foster /  adoption parents 5. failure to equip foster / adoption parents with practical   therapeutic strategies 6. foster / adoption parents receive a “disturbed” child, and are then later misperceived that they might  be the source of the child’s […]

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Did You Know ? # 1

A newborn will suck harder when he/she hears a recording of her/his mother speaking, but less so when she hears another woman’s voice. This is how we know that from birth, infants recognize mom’s voice.   Just after birth, as many as 40,000 new synapses are added to the baby’s brain every second.

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Agencies, Groups and Organizations

Below are some of the agencies, groups and organizations that I have had the privilege of providing training and consulting services to staff and clients:
 – Fanshawe College – W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind and Deaf – Good Beginnings Daycare – London District Catholic School Board – Elgin Assoc. for Community Living – Thames Valley Children’s Centre – Rehoboth Christian School – Province of Nova Scotia – Merrymount Family Support and Crisis Centre […]

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Common Reactions of Parents Managing children with FASD

The following reactions by parents are common: anger hopelessness guilt frustration withdrawal “why me?” overwhelmed None of these reactions however resolve the problem but they are understandable.

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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

“Our psychiatrist recommended Rick to help us sort out behaviour management issues for our autistic son. He was an invaluable help.”

(C.C. – Sarnia)