COVID-19 has made all of our homes feel a bit smaller these days... Living together 24/7 has surely whittled away at our patience and increased everyone's anxiety. In this webinar, Patrice Carroll, Director of PWS services at Latham Centers, gives advice on how to manage behavior challenges related to Prader-Willi syndrome during this stressful time and answers questions from our community members around the world. Download the slides here.
Presentation Outline:
Thriving In The New Normal:
- Create a routine that works
- Be kind to yourself
- Actively look for the positives
- Acknowledge sensory issues and make a calming space
- Remember that your kids are trying to do their best- move the things out of the way that make it hard to have a good day
- Don’t force your agenda, it’s ok if the plan for the day has to change/routines are only helpful if they’re helpful
Educating At Home
- Do not try to be teacher of the year
- Use what they already like
- Communicate your ideas with their teachers
- It’s ok to stick to review
- Set your own expectations, not someone else’s
- Learning will happen naturally, be flexible
Emotional Health
- Praise frequently, Ignore what you can.
- Take care of yourself
- Be realistic
- End goal = raise self esteem and lower anxiety
When Things Don't Go As Planned
- Do not compare yourself to others
- It’s ok to give up for the day. You can try again tomorrow
- Have a safe space for the rest of the family
- If it’s not working, stop doing it even if it works for everyone else
