PWS Tips
Tip of the Week: New Year Wishes
To everyone in our ever-growing and supportive PWS community, As 2019 comes to a close, we look back at our accomplishments, our challenges, and our mistakes, and we promise ourselves to do better next year. And we will (at least most of the time). The ending of a year and the beginning of a new…
Read MoreTIP of the Week: New PWS University podcast features holiday activity ideas
During the holiday season, those of us who have someone in our lives with Prader-Willi syndrome are considering a myriad of complications… We wonder how we’ll be able to foster a positive holiday experience despite the typical stressors this time of year such as food-related activities, high-stimulus environments, and changes in routine. In this week’s…
Read MoreTip of the Week: Celebrating in your own way
With the holidays directly upon us, I know that the anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed are high. Our kids feel our stress, react to a change in their routine, and struggle with maintaining appropriate behavior when they know that expectations are high. During this time, please do not forget to give yourself a break,…
Read MoreTip of the week: Community behavioral events
During the holiday season, we see an increase in anxiety with our kids with PWS and along with that can come an increase in behaviors. Behaviors in the community can be even more stressful for parents because of the addition of onlookers who do not understand the syndrome. In an effort to help effectively communicate…
Read MorePreparing for the Holiday Season: Holiday Anxieties and Meal Preparation
This time of year we celebrate appreciation and gratitude. Holiday meals and family visits dot our calendar, excitement pours out of the windows as gifts and holiday preparation are discussed, and anxiety can be felt bubbling for many in our world of PWS. Last week in our TIP, Patrice Carroll wrote a “holiday letter to…
Read MoreTip of the week: A holiday letter to family: Trust my lead
A holiday letter to my extended family: You never heard the words Prader-Willi syndrome until my child was born. Neither did I. It means the world to me that you love her, and I know that you want to show her love in the same way that you show all of the other kids. But…
Read MoreTip of the week: Utilizing technology, creating community, and prep for the holiday season
In today’s day and age, technology can be a blessing and a curse. It seems like while our phones never stop beeping, we can not live without them. We ask the questions: How can technology help those within the PWS community? How can technology help to reinforce the concept of community across multiple platforms –…
Read MoreTip of the week: Preparing for Thanksgiving
Celebrating the holidays can be enjoyable and memorable for all of the right reasons if a few things are put into place ahead of time. Plan the menu and stick to it. Having a big Thanksgiving meal can seem overwhelming, but a written menu for your child with Prader-Willi syndrome can save the day. It…
Read MoreTip of the week: Transportation
Transportation to and from school is one of the most challenging times of day for a student with PWS. Establish a relationship with the transportation company so that you can communicate your needs clearly. Keeping food at the back, maintaining a routine, and engaging the child during the trip are all ways to make a…
Read MoreTip of the Week: PWSA (USA) Convention & Providers Conference, and the Importance of Positivity
Representatives from Latham Centers’ Children’s and Adult Services Programs traveled to Orlando, Florida for the PWSA (USA) 2019 National Convention this week. Patrice Carroll, LCSW, Latham’s Director of PWS Services, co-chaired the Professional Providers Conference on Thursday where approximately 100 providers from around the world learned from one another. Above are photos of Patrice, Lee…
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