welcome image

"Rules without relationship leads to rebellion" (Josh McDowell)

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

Criticism is not a motivator.

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.

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)

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

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

Some hope their children will be like sponges soaking up the truth and wisdom imparted by their parents. However appealing this philosophy might be, it seldom seems to catch on with their children.

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

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 were so naive. We thought our son’s poor behaviour was just a phase he was passing through. Thankfully you led us ‘out of the wilderness'”

(N.S. – London)