June 2021 Newsletter
Please help us reach our goal of 1,000,000 people taking the pledge for global acceptance! Take the pledge and live it every day! AcceptanceChallenge.org On June 5th, every GiGi's Playhouse across the country will be coming together to celebrate The GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge! Be a part of making history as...
May 2021 Newsletter
To our GiGi's Playhouse Family, With multiple cases of our kids being abused, disrespected and attacked last week, it made me reflect back on why we started GiGi’s, and ask "are we making a difference?" That is when I realized we have spent 17 years providing free programming...
March 2021 Newsletter
GiGi’s Playhouse is launching the GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge as part of our World Down Syndrome Day celebration! Beginning 3/21, we’re calling on people worldwide to MOVE for acceptance. Join one million of our closest friends as we work together to make the world a more accepting place for individuals of all abilities! When...
Sustainability against all odds
Whenever I read that quote, I get a flutter of excitement in my stomach and a sick feeling at that same time! Absence of fear?? It was the fear of watching 17 years of groundbreaking work crumble that propelled me to action throughout 2020 and catapulted us into 2021! When...
Navigating the Challenges of Virtual Learning
Every parent with a child in school understands the obstacles related to virtual learning - whether that child is in participating in school from home part of the week or full-time. After nearly a year of virtual schooling for some students, there are many questions about how to best address...
A Black Mother’s Journey with a Son with Down Syndrome
A Black Mother's Journey with a Son with Down Syndrome Meet Meeka Caldwell and her son, Anian. Meeka is a wife, mother, author, and dedicated advocate in the Down syndrome community. Anian is a curious 6 year old who loves people and loves to help others. He is a...
5 Back to School Tips Amid COVID-19 Spread
5 Back to School Tips Amid COVID-19 Spread Going back to school amid the COVID-19 spread is on the top of all our minds. For many families—whether children are heading to pre-K or high school—stress levels are high, and parents are struggling with the decision of what is best for their individual situation. No matter your...
Maevis’s Down Syndrome diagnosis
By Rose Busque It’s been about a year since we got confirmation on Maevis’s Down Syndrome diagnosis. It has me reflecting a lot. Let’s start from the beginning. We opted to not have the prenatal genetics test. We figured that if anything bad was happening we would see it in...
NEW! Spanish Programs for GiGi’s At Home
Spanish Programs now available for GiGi's At Home! At GiGi’s Playhouse, we see potential, ability, and possibility. So, when COVID-19 hit, strategies were sought and adjustments were quickly made to continue serving our participants virtually. We are happy to share that we recently launched GiGi's At Home on demand programming...
5 Ways to Nurture Learning in Children with Down syndrome
Check out these 5 ways to nurture a love of learning in children with Down syndrome. SPARK CURIOSITY Ask an open-ended question... then WAIT! Sometimes children with Down syndrome just need a little extra processing time. Interruptions or too many questions can be overwhelming. When you give them time to answer...
Down Syndrome in a COVID-19 World
Don’t high-five, don’t shake hands, don’t touch anything. Don’t travel, don’t leave the house unless you have to, and definitely don’t hug. We have all been bombarded with a list of do’s and don’ts during the COVID-19 pandemic. So it’s fairly common knowledge what we should and shouldn’t be doing...
Reinventing GiGi’s in a virtual world
GiGi’s Playhouse network of 60 locations and startups were hit hard with the cancellation of over 50 GiGi’s events due to COVID-19. So, in typical GiGi’s style, we are going to come back with the biggest and best acceptance event ever! Introducing GiGi’s Virtual Step to Accept Across America hosted...