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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)

Wouldn't it be nice if children would simply listen and learn.

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.

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.

Being a parent of a teenager can cure a person of narcissism.

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

If it  was going to be easy to raise kids, it never would have started with something called "labour".

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

If there is no relationship - nothing else matters !

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

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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 than suicide
                  – in 90% of suicides there is an underlying psychiatric disorder
                                    – depression is most common
                                    – 50% of male suicides victims have depression
                                    – 70% of female suicides victims have depression
– there has been a 3 fold increase in teen suicides since 1960’s
– girls more likely to attempt suicide (2X)
– boys more likely to succeed (10X)
 
 
                  Why?      – increased drug / alcohol use
                                                      – breakdown in family
                                                      – more “pressured” world
                                                      – availability of guns
 
 
 – suicide is “contagious”
                  – other suicides result in clusters
                  – dramatizations of suicide (TV, movies, etc) are frequently followed by increased rate of suicide
                  – familial (combination of genetics & environment)
 
Suicide results from a convergence of factors
                  1. underlying psychiatric disorder
                  2. predisposition to suicidal thought
                  3. traumatic event
                                    – most common – relationship problems
                                                                        – school problems
                                                                        – trouble with law
                                                                        – bullying
                                                                        – pregnancy

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Workshops

+ Behaviour Management (now available online)

This full day or 2 evening workshop will introduce you […]

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+ Lick Your Kids

  “Lick Your Kids” (figuratively not literally) (2 hours) First […]

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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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+ Taming a Toddler

Many parents wonder what hit them when their sweet little baby turns into an unreasonable toddler – ideas for dealing with mealtime, bedtime, temper tanturms, toilet training, noncompliance, etc.

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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

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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)