helpmesara.com

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Sara Dimerman was born in South Africa and arrived in Toronto, Canada in 1977. In 1982, she graduated with a degree in Radio and T.V. Arts from Ryerson Polytechnic University in Toronto and went on to obtain a Master's level Diploma in Assessment and Counselling in 1988 from the Institute of Child Study, University of Toronto.

In 1990, Sara founded the Parent Education and Resource Centre in Thornhill, Ontario. As Director of the Centre, Sara administrates all projects run out of or in association with the Centre. In 1998, following months of intensive study and successful passing of written and oral examinations, Sara was designated the title of Psychological Associate (C.Psych.Assoc.) by The College of Psychologists of Ontario. Her private practise includes counselling and consulting with and in regards to children, adolescents, adults, couples and families. The Parent Education and Resource Centre offers counselling and other psychological services all under one roof. Six week parenting programs for parents of children of all ages are offered in-house. Registered psychologists assess children and adults for intellectual strengths or weaknesses, emotional concerns and learning disabilities.

In 1997, the Parent Education and Resource Centre was voted as offering the best parenting course in Thornhill, Ontario by the Post Newspaper. In 1996, the Parent Education and Resource Centre received a recognition award from the York Region Healthy Community Coalition for it's outstanding contribution and commitment to healthy communities. In April 2004, at the York Region's In Celebration of Women awards ceremony, Sara received an Education Lifetime Achievement Award. Sara is a well known author and lecturer on parenting and family issues. She has written articles and columns for several newspapers and magazines such as the Thornhill Liberal, North of the City and Women with Vision over the past twenty years. She also authored The Parent Tutor, a parenting program on computer software and is the child and family therapy expert at www.canadianparents.com. Sara has been quoted in many newspapers and magazines, and has appeared on radio and television shows across Canada (see below).

Sara considers herself blessed with a very supportive family - husband, two daughters, aged sixteen and eight and two talkative Siamese cats - all of whom inspire her with a steady stream of stories to write about.

Quoted in Print:

Globe and Mail Newspaper - Toronto, Ontario
- Sending your nine-year-old on the subway alone: child abuse? (April 2008)
- Parent trap by Nora Underwood (April, 1999)
- Desperately seeking furby by Nora Underwood (December 1998)
- Pressure comes from unexpected source" by Alison Motluk in regards to Wendy Shalit's book "Girls gone Mild.(July 2007)
National Post Newspaper
- Monkey See, Monkey do: Irresponsible parents are teaching their children dangerous driving habits" By David Menzies (November, 2007)
- For girls is 12 the new 15? by Anne Marie Owens (front page, April, 2006)
- Tweens by Lianne George (April, 2003)
- The micromanaged child by Anne Marie Owens (October, 2003)
World Vision's Childview Magazine
- The secrets of raising a compassionate child by Karen Stiller (Summer, 2005)
- How to help kids cope with tragedy and loss by Karen Stiller (May, 2005)
Today's Parent Magazine - Toronto, Ontario
- Extra Curriculars by Neilia Sherman (October, 2005)
- Single parents and their children by Susan Spicer (October, 2005)
- What makes you nuts - food frenzies to Bedtime Battles by Christine Fischer Guy (April, 1999)
- Extreme age differences between kids with Laura Pratt (September, 2003)
- Strange behaviours in Toddlers by Ann Douglas (December, 2003)
Toronto Star newspaper - On teens, gadgets and gizmos by Peter Krivel (August, 2005)
Durham Parent - Durham, Ontario - On how to talk to kids about grades and report cards by Karen Stiller (Feb. 2005)
24 Hours - On siblings (Feb. 2004)
Living Light News - Calgary, Alberta - On children and television by Kim Perrone (October, 2003)
Health Wise Magazine - On Siblings by Nora Underwood (2003)
Canadian Living Magazine - On encouragement (April 2003)
Sears Family First Magazine - On extra curriculars by Janice Biehn (September, 2002)
Canadian Living Magazine - Toronto, Ontario
- On kids and drugs (April, 2003)
- Crib Safety by Laura Pratt (August, 2002)
- Dealing with friends of your children whose parents don't reciprocate (December, 2002)
Baby Years Magazine - U.S.A. - On Discipline by Lisa Marie Saunders (May, 2002)
Canadian Family magazine - Toronto, Ontario
- Discipline (Feb. 2001)
- Stress of holidays (October, 1999)
- Moving (May, 1999)
I'll be the Parent, You be the Kid (book) by Paul Kropp, (1999)
Canadian Living Family Book: Understanding your Teen, acknowledged as parenting expert (1999)
London Free Press - London, Ontario (March, 1999)
Modern Woman - On gift-giving (December 1994)
Your Baby - On child behaviour (1993)
Thornhill Post Newspaper
- Put an educational spin on summer fun: transitioning into the school year" by Judith Muster (August 2007)

Television Appearances:

Choose a video below...

Rogers (local news) York Region - on Alternatives to Spanking (April 2008)
TVO - The Agenda with Steve Paikin on permissive parenting (February 2008)
Global TV - On the exploitation/sexualization of young girls in the media (November, 2006)
CTV National News - Emotional closeness of parents and children (March, 2004)
TVO's Planet Parent
- New moms socializing (Jan. 2004)
- Losing the Soother (October, 2003)
WTV - Live with Erin Davis - Kids and Stress (November, 2003)
CTV's Canada AM with Seamus O'Regan
- Kids transition from Grade 8 to 9 (September, 2003)
- How to talk to teens about dressing appropriately (June, 2003)
Global TV News - working women juggling home and work - Kristen Firth (November, 2002)
CBC TV, Halifax, Nova Scotia - on Corporal Punishment with Gillian Brown (August, 2001)
Global TV, Toronto, Ontario - 5 part parenting series with Maureen Trotter (November, 1999)
CTS, Burlington, Ontario - Rhonda London Live - Parenting (May, 1999)
CFTO - Eye on Toronto - On parenting teens (and answering questions about teens and drugs, etc.) (1994)
CITY TV, Toronto, Ontario - Breakfast and Lunch television on parenting issues (1994)

Radio Appearances:

CBC Radio - With National Parenting columnist Karen Horsman on kids and divorce (February 2008)
- Available for Download (4.3 MB)
940 Montreal Radio - Parent Talk Radio with Lianne & Andrea: Help for families and children who are bedwetting (July 2007)
- Available for Download:
  - Part 1 (8.9 MB)
  - Part 2 (4.5 MB)
  - Part 3 (586 KB)
CINW 940 Montreal, Montreal, Quebec - Live with Joe Cannon on Teens and Binge Drinking: Is it the parent's fault? (Jan. 2007)
CBC Radio, Winnipeg, Manitoba - Live with Margaux Watt on kids returning to school (Sept. 2006)
CFAX Radio, Victoria, B.C. - Live with Terry Moore on The hurried child (April, 2006)
Parent Talk segments, Vancouver, B.C. - with Susan Sierra (2005)
AM640 Radio, Toronto, Ontario - on stress of holidays (December 2003)
CJME Radio, Regina, Saskatchewan - with Margaux Watt on stress of holidays (December, 1999)
CBC Radio 99.1, Toronto, Ontario - with Avril Benoit on back to school (1999)
CFRB - The Parent Report with Joanne Wilson (1999, 2000)
CKOM Talk Radio 650, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Live with John Gormley
- On teens and curfew (September, 2000)
- On should children call adults by their first names (October, 1999)
- On not having to be your child's best friend (May, 1999)
CHOK Radio, Sarnia, Ontario - Live on Talk back with Sue Store (April, 1999)