GiGiFIT Teen Wraps Inaugural Session
GiGi's Playhouse Denver celebrates another milestone to close out a momentous 2021 - the successful close of its first GiGiFIT session! Starting in November 2021, participants met weekly at the Playhouse for six group fitness sessions. This program marks the first teen program held in the recently opened location, the 55th...
Welcome Windows Make A Positive Introduction for New Playhouse
Part of our mission at GiGi's Playhouse is to promote the positive perception of individuals with Down syndrome. Therefore, a signature piece of every GiGi's Playhouse is the vibrant, engaging photo galleries on the building exterior – affectionately known as Welcome Windows. The Denver GiGi's Playhouse Welcome Windows provide a...
Sensory Friendly Tips for Large Public Events
Large gatherings, like our Grand Opening celebration, can be exciting and fun! However, they can also be overwhelming and chaotic for people. So we wanted to make sure you felt prepared and ready for a day filled with celebration. Here are some tips to utilize for events. Body Strategies: Loud music,...
A New Destination for Purposeful Playtime in Denver!
Volunteer Spotlight Q&A Briana Rigau, Program Lead, Destination Discovery Destination Discovery is one of the signature programs at GiGi’s Playhouse, following the same structure and curriculum at each location to provide purposeful progressions by supporting our youngest learners through adulthood. This program is developed to support fine motor skills, gross...
Shine a Spotlight on Brie!
GiGi’s Playhouse is a volunteer-run organization, and we rely on the skill and dedication of volunteers of various levels of expertise to keep our programs vibrant, educational, purposeful, fun, and FREE. Since the first Playhouse opened in 2003, GiGi’s Playhouse programs have always been free for our families. Parents, family...
Building Strong Bodies, Strong Communities Through MOVEment
GiGi’s Playhouse has launched the GiGi Fit Acceptance Challenge – a MOVEment to inspire everyone to be physically and socially active. Our goal is to prove that every person should be accepted for who they are. We’re excited to shine the spotlight on a Colorado resident who’s been an active fitness enthusiast, and advocate for Down syndrome acceptance since the day she was born. Here is a bit of our interview...
A Chance to Get it Right
Ask any grandparent and they will tell you, there is no love like the love for a grandchild. It’s true. I love all three of my grandchildren with that indescribable grandparent love. But when a child is born with special needs, as Alden was born with Down syndrome, a grandparent’s concern and...
Diversity, Humanity, Inclusion, and Authenticity
I am a Fort Collins kid, born and raised. I grew up loving camping and the outdoors. I grew up with a “typical” family and went to a very small school where everyone looked like me and had the same families. I didn’t realize things outside my bubble were any...
National Playdoh Day is September 15th!
Play doh is a tool that has many benefits for individuals of all ages – some of which include building cognitive skills, encouraging individuals to use both hands together, and increasing overall hand strength. In addition, it also provides the opportunity for sensory exploration. Below is a list of ideas...
The Incredible Izzy
This is Izzy. She loves playing with her siblings, watching Elmo, and riding horses. “Izzy lives in Littleton. This bubbly little blue-eyed, brown-haired beauty recently took her first steps and is now a proud walker. She is changing the world one giggle and smile at a time. This little girl...
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...
Francesca’s At HOME LIVE Experience
Francesca, in my opinion, has given her “Best of All” from the day she was born, although I suppose that is a story for another time, so how could we expect anything less from ourselves? All of Francesca's in-home therapists stopped seeing her in March while they figured out teletherapy....