#tuesdaytips | Sensory Play
This week's #tuesdaytips from Speech and Language Pathologist Sarah Buti is all about incorporating sensory play into our participant's everyday life. Teaching Sensory Play What is ‘sensory play’? Sensory play, which can also be referred to as “messy play,” is simply play that encourages children to use one or more...
Happy Happy Holidays.
To Our Amazing Supporters, Vendors, Playhouses, Families and Friends: congratulations & thank you!!!! What a year! YOU are the miracles that help our families every day! Because of YOUR support and impact, I can’t help but marvel at the achievements that occurred in 2016: We opened FOUR playhouses bringing our...
#tuesdaytips | Oral Motor Functionality
GiGi's Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers is always looking for ways to help our families and friends do their Best of All. Sarah Buti is back this week to share another #tuesdaytips post with us. Oral Motor Functionality So many of us my not be aware of the crucial...
What GiGi’s Playhouse Means to us | A Families Story
What GiGi’s Playhouse means to us "We visited GiGi’s Playhouse Chicago when Sean was just 2 weeks old, but, we decided to take a break from Down syndrome and focus on our family for a bit. Fast forward to when he was 18 months old we decided it was time...
Social Communication & Body Language.
Social Communication and Body Language GiGi's Playhouse's Speech and Language Pathologist, Sarah Buti is back to share another communication tip with us! "What is social communication, really? Social communication includes interactions with a variety of “communication partners” – including family members, caregivers, child care providers, educators, and peers. Even though...
If You Could Take Away Her Down Syndrome, Would You? | Guest Blogger, Kelle Hampton.
Chances are pretty high that in the (almost) past 7 years you have enjoyed, friend of GiGi's Playhouse, Kelle Hampton share about her beautiful daughter Nella and her Down syndrome diagnosis. We are excited to share a recent Enjoying The Small Things blog post (with Kelle's permission) with you all....
Creating a Stimulating Speech Environment for Early Language Learners.
How to Create a Language Stimulating Environment Sarah Buti, Speech-Language Pathologist, is sharing some fun tips that we can all do right in our homes! This is for all of our early language learners! Although your child may only know ten, twenty or thirty words/signs, at this stage that does...
Volunteer Spotlight, 2016 Volunteers of the Year.
GiGi's Playhouse simply does not happen with out the hundreds of volunteers who help build and run each location. Each and everyone of these people are a treasure to their Playhouse, to the individuals with Down syndrome and to the families they serve so freely. The Definition of Volunteer. *a...
Thankful
We are Thankful Once again families and friends have gathered to gobbled until they wobbled. This time of year brings out so many good feels for us all. We start focusing in on the things that really bring us joy, we work a little harder to make each sweet moment...
To Remy……
Remy Forever. Love from GiGi’s Playhouse Remy J. Kincinas, age 4, met the eyes of Jesus on Saturday, November 12, 2016. His final days were spent surrounded by family and friends that Remy had touched in some small way throughout his short, yet very memorable life. Remy's gentle smile brought...
Acceptance in Action: GiGi’s Playhouse 2016 National Conference
Taking action and changing the world together! November 4th & 5th GiGi's Playhouse welcomed 250 team members representing 39 Playhouses and start-up groups, as well as representatives from more than 15 corporate sponsors and partners, and even board members of local community foundations; together for the "Bigger, Better Stronger Together"...
We do not stop here…
October, Down Syndrome Acceptance Month, is done but we do not stop here! It has been wonderful to look out at Playhouse's across the nation and Mexico share facts, bust myths and inspire their communities on the truth Down syndrome. This quote form a Playhouse family has us all smiling...