TIP of the WEEK: End of Summer Survival Guide
July 31, 2015
1. Stay hydrated and cool. With the temperatures becoming dangerously high in most of the country it is critical that you keep your children hydrated. Body temperature dis regulation makes detecting over heating in time difficult. Limit outdoor activities to morning and evening on those very hot summer days.
2. Keep their routine. With camp, family events, and the lack of school day structure it can be a challenge to keep a summer day routine. The more predictable you can keep the day- the better. Even if you stick to a generalized routine such as:morning outdoor activities, afternoon craft project and evening visit to a friend or relative. A general routine should be sufficient to keep anxiety levels down.
3. Don’t ignore exercise. Even if the weather does not allow for outdoor activities there are plenty of indoor exercise options. Dancing, aerobics, video game interactive exercise and obstacle courses are just a few examples of good, indoor activities.
4. Plan ahead for school. Start early with school preparations, especially if your child will be entering a new school this fall. Request visits before school opens to get your child acquainted to the new environment, ask to meet with their new teacher, and allow your child to take pictures and ask questions.
5. Take time for yourself. You are likely the parent, camp counselor, chauffeur, best friend, nurse, and maid. Ask a relative to give you a break and take that time to do whatever it is that makes summer fun for you.
There are only a few weeks left to summer. Enjoy them!
Patrice Carroll is Latham Centers’ world-renowned Prader-Willi Syndrome specialist. She works with Latham Centers’ residents with PWS, their families and consultants, continuously learning and teaching about PWS best practices.