Eleanor’s #BestofAll and a Special Program Announcement
Climb higher and higher, step after step, till you reach the top, and then WOOSH!
Feel the wind in your hair and your heart skip a beat as you sail all the way to the bottom. Is there anything more exhilarating than going down a slide??? Most toddlers don’t think so!
What many of us don’t take into consideration is just how much coordination goes into enjoying standard playground equipment, including but not limited to, where we put our feet! Careful planning and placement are required every step of the way, from ascending the ladder to navigating the top of the slide. There we must balance and support our body weight, while tucking and swinging both legs underneath us and then straight out in front, for a successful ride down. Imagine how tricky this is for our friends who need extra support with core stability and gross motor skills? Thus, soaring down a slide is an incredible feat, not to be taken for granted!
Sweet Eleanor impressed us all with her #BestofAll moment over the summer,
where she mastered this skill and felt the instantaneous reward of sailing down our indoor slide, independently, several times in a row! See her in action below!
These are just some of the many skills participants work on in our GiGiFIT Toddler program every Friday morning. The GiGiFIT series is a valuable resource we’re able to offer families. These programs were created in collaboration with skilled Physical Therapists who work specifically with individuals with Down syndrome. With a strong focus on fitness and well-being, they address common issues for our population, including hypotonia, excessive joint laxity, and decreased balance. Every GiGiFIT program is safe, effective, and progressive, with the intention of building strength, endurance, joint stability, balance, and movement control. Participants of all ages gain greater independence and confidence in their abilities while improving their overall health and wellness.
Guess what… We are thrilled to announce the launch of GiGiFIT Infant in the Spring of 2024!
GiGiFIT Infant will include key physiology and learning strategies to help our youngest participants achieve their #BestOfAll as soon as possible. We will target the core, hips, and leg muscles, as well as balance reactions, to enhance sitting posture, standing posture, sit-to-stand movements, and weight shifting. The skills practiced in GiGiFIT Infant are designed for babies through independent standers.
If you have a loved one who would benefit from this program, please keep an eye out for registration, opening on December 4th.
We will also need support volunteers for this program… How fun!
If you would like to help these sweet babes build the necessary strength to begin exploring their world (OR want to assist with any of our other great programs), please sign up for our next volunteer orientation, Saturday, October 28th, at 9am. Click HERE to register!
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