welcome image

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.

When a child is disregulated - is the time parents need to be regulated.

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

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

The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice. (Peggy O'Mara)

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

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

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

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.

Whining and crying are employed by kids for the purpose of getting something. If it works, then it was worth the effort and will be repeated.

Learn more.

Recent Workshops

I extend thanks to: 1. Davenport Public School parent council in Aylmer for inviting me to present the workshop “A Parent’s Guide to the Teenage Brain” 2. Hamilton Children’s Aid society for offering the workshop “A Guided Tour of ADD/ADHD to foster and adoptive parents. Both workshops were well attended and much valuable information was shared. I will be returning to the Hamilton CAS in early December to present “Taming a Toddler”

Read complete blog post

Foster Parent Training in Brantford

I had an opportunity recently to present the  workshop  “Working With Birth Parents” to a welcoming group of foster parents affiliated with the Children’s Aid Society  of Brant. I extend thanks to Carrie Davidson and Keri Brook for their efforts in arranging and organizing this training event. The legal responsibility of the CAS is to provide care for children who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to live with their birth family. The preferred […]

Read complete blog post

Upcoming Workshop (Teenage Brain)

I will be presenting a workshop open to the public on October 22, 6:30-9:30 at the Woodstock campus of Fanshawe College. The title of the workshop is “A Parent’s Guide to the Teenage Brain” A teenager’s brain is not just an adult brain with fewer kilometres on it. It is a brain that is not fully developed. It is a work in progress and has stymied parents for centuries. Modern science is now explaining biological […]

Read complete blog post

Suicide Threats – Do’s & Don’ts

DO’S & DON’TS WITH A SUICIDE THREAT DO:                   1. stay calm                   2. talk to him         – listen                                                       – don’t try to “talk” him out of how he is feeling                                                       – don’t try to cheer him up                                                       – show concern                                                       – reassure person you know how to get    help                                                       – ascertain how well thought out the plans are (fleeting thoughts of suicide are           […]

Read complete blog post

Suicide

THE NIGHTMARE of SUICIDE Journal entry “ I’m surprised I haven’t done it yet because I feel really terrible all the time. I just don’t have any courage but anyone else in my position would have already committed suicide.”       Rachel  age 15                   – the peak age for suicide attempts is 16                   – 19% of teens seriously consider suicide                   – 6% actually attempt it                   – only car accidents claim more teen lives […]

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)