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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

If you (parents) tend to overreact to your child's misbehaviour - your child learns that he can't trust you. Mom, Dad, stay regulated!

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

"Unexpressed feeling never die. They are buried alive and come back later in ugly ways." (Stephen Covey)

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.

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

Simple rules adhered to when children are young can prevent more serious problems later.

Setting limits teaches your children valuable skills they will use the rest of their lives. One day, they will report to a job where their ability to follow rules will dictate their success.

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

Parenting style matters - a lot!

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Brain Facts # 5

Lifelong Neuroplasticity   Historically, it was thought that the human brain was a fixed and essentially limited system that only degraded with age. This view saw the brain as a rigid machine in many ways, pretty much set after childhood. By contrast, we have now come to appreciate that the human brain is actually a highly dynamic and constantly reorganizing system, capable of being shaped and reshaped across the entire lifespan. It is believed that […]

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Did You Know ? # 4

During pregnancy, environmental toxins can cause significant brain damage to a developing fetus if ingested by  mother. Abstaining from smoking and alcohol is a priceless gift to give your unborn baby.  

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Brain Facts # 4

The Changing Brain   Our brains constantly change over our lifetime as we develop and age. As a consequence, the way various brain functions work also changes, sometimes for better and sometimes for worse. The brain of a newborn is far from developed; it needs time to fully grow and establish connections on both large and small scales. Our brain’s functions improve drastically throughout childhood and adolescence, following a generally predictably progression. It is only […]

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Did You Know ? # 3

One of the biggest threats to a developing fetus is maternal malnutrition, whether caused by famine, poverty or dieting. A particularly critical time is the  3rd trimester, when brain size is increasing rapidly.  

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Did You Know ? # 2

A newborn’s brain uses 70% of the calories consumed for brain development and function. An adult’s brain uses only 18% of the calories to function. A breast fed infant attaches  to the breast faster if it bears natural odour than if it has been washed.

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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)