Fabiola Arroyo, «Pepitamola»: «The words Down syndrome should be something common at home»
Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2024 6:38 am
Pepitamola started out as an Instagram account to reflect the normality of a large family with a girl with Down syndrome, which reached almost 240,000 followers. As has happened in all households, this year they have faced an unknown and unexpected situation, motivated by the greatest health, economic and social emergency of all time. And all this with the added difficulty of having a disabled person at home. Coinciding with the recent closure of her Instagram account and the birth of the Pepitamola Foundation, today we chat with Fabiola Arroyo, the creator of the “Pepitamola” movement but, above all, a mother.
How has the lockdown been for a large family with a disabled person at home? Do you have a daily routine or activities that help you cope and make the most of the days of confinement?
Just like any other large family! It is true that children with disabilities japan phone number data need more attention and patience, but they adapt to circumstances like anyone else. It is indeed good to have a routine and in our house Pepita followed that of her siblings. It is always advisable that they have activities and games to continue stimulating their learning, and there is nothing better than a sibling for that.
Pepita in times of COVID-19
How do you explain to three children that they couldn't leave the house because of a virus? Do you notice any differences in how it affects each one?
The children have taken it well, they have adapted to confinement better than we expected. I think the important thing is that they saw us calm and that we conveyed to them that they were safe, at home and with their family. Our children, being 8, 7 and 5 years old, were not very aware of the seriousness of the situation and we did not want to worry them too much.
Will this COVID-19 crisis mean a setback in the progress that had been made with people with disabilities, to the extent that they had to interrupt their face-to-face therapies and treatments?
Since Pepita is 5 years old, which happened during the lockdown, I don't think she's able to appreciate if she has stopped learning something. She has had a fantastic teacher with whom she has enjoyed and learned many things, but I am convinced that the stimulation of her brothers and learning by imitation has also taught her a lot during this time.
How has the lockdown been for a large family with a disabled person at home? Do you have a daily routine or activities that help you cope and make the most of the days of confinement?
Just like any other large family! It is true that children with disabilities japan phone number data need more attention and patience, but they adapt to circumstances like anyone else. It is indeed good to have a routine and in our house Pepita followed that of her siblings. It is always advisable that they have activities and games to continue stimulating their learning, and there is nothing better than a sibling for that.
Pepita in times of COVID-19
How do you explain to three children that they couldn't leave the house because of a virus? Do you notice any differences in how it affects each one?
The children have taken it well, they have adapted to confinement better than we expected. I think the important thing is that they saw us calm and that we conveyed to them that they were safe, at home and with their family. Our children, being 8, 7 and 5 years old, were not very aware of the seriousness of the situation and we did not want to worry them too much.
Will this COVID-19 crisis mean a setback in the progress that had been made with people with disabilities, to the extent that they had to interrupt their face-to-face therapies and treatments?
Since Pepita is 5 years old, which happened during the lockdown, I don't think she's able to appreciate if she has stopped learning something. She has had a fantastic teacher with whom she has enjoyed and learned many things, but I am convinced that the stimulation of her brothers and learning by imitation has also taught her a lot during this time.