The Making of a Playhouse

by Clare Cronin

About one year ago, we were completing permits needed to make GiGi’s Playhouse of Fort Myers more than just sketches and dreams. It was finally becoming reality for the Board and others who had been working so hard to bring GiGi’s to our community. We had learned what makes GiGi’s Playhouse awesome, and I myself continued to marvel at how multi-faceted every aspect of GiGi’s is. From the people we serve (those who have Down syndrome AND our entire community via ways to encounter and learn about Down syndrome) to our physical space, which, to serve everyone, would need at least EIGHT core areas (pssst- These are all the answers for our Mystery Monday posts on Facebook!  Follow along and bring all the answers (in a note on your phone or on paper) for a raffle ticket!):

A. Welcome windows

This area provides a warm showcase of real, local participants. They welcome families and provide awareness into the community even when you are not open. People recognize this location as a place of celebration and achievement, inviting them to look or come inside. Families also gain pride in their child with Down syndrome.

B. Couch and Family Room

These are a very important center of activity at each Playhouse. They provide the comforts of home for new parents and allows them to sit, observe and interact with others. A new parent or pregnant mom may come in with fear and leave feeling confident with the support of GiGi’s Playhouse behind them. On the Couch, parents network, observe and share experiences, building acceptance that their child has an amazing opportunity to achieve their greatest potential. The Family Room section is a quiet extension of the Couch area that is safe for a baby to play on a mat away from other more active areas of the Playhouse and is a quiet time space for anyone wanting a break from the action.

C. Learning Labs

These rooms (we have two) are practical, intimate, organized and engaging. Colorful and child-friendly, but not visually overwhelming and separated from the noise and distractions in other areas of the Playhouse. There is a window in the door to allow for observations. We currently use these rooms for one-on-one Literacy tutoring and hope to expand to one-on-one math tutoring, speech ASAP too!

D. Sound Stage

This is where participants can perform- sing, dance, act! Self-esteem is the name of the game on the Sound Stage. There are mirrors opposite the stage and bins of dress-up materials to make it even more fun to bust a move! Kids and adults with Down syndrome grow their self-confidence as the center of attention. Programs regularly include dance, karaoke, theatre and more!

E. Therapeutic Playground

This open space allows participants to access a variety of toys, such as the ball pit, slide, play kitchen, house, etc.! Creative Play is an important milestone in development and allows children to express themselves. Toys are stored in bins labeled with pictures to keep organized and to teach matching.

F. Education Station

A magnetic white board and chalkboard encourage writing, reading and fine motor development at each participant’s own discression. They don’t even know they’re learning!

G. Miracle Makers Donor Wall

The Donor Wall recognizes corporations, foundations and major family donors.

H. Site Coordinators Office

This is the eyes and ears of the Playhouse! A place for greeting, monitoring, keeping the tunes flowing, and buckling down on business items that keep us up and running. Couldn’t be a Playhouse without our awesome Site Coordinator!

After we planned the 8 Core Areas, we were able to choose among other areas suggested. We were also able to include:

I. Café GiGi’s

This area brings our kitchen space to life! Grab a cup of coffee at the Keurig, while refreshments and snacks refuel our participants. We can even work on cooking projects making it the perfect place for family networking and real-world learning.

J. Adult & Teen Space

Comfy couches, posters with pictures of great times with friends, Wii, games…a place to hang out and make friends.

K. We also decided to feature the GiGi’s Playhouse Mission Statement prominently in our entry area. It reads:

“Mission: To change the way the world sees Down syndrome though national campaigns, educational programs, and by empowering individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community”.

L. At the Anniversary Celebration we will be unveiling a new area, our Generation G Wall.

This area will feature dedications to loved ones who have made a difference in our lives by being their best each day: “Be Generous. Be Accepting. Be Kind.”

There are still other Playhouse Elements that we haven’t yet brought into our Playhouse. We just plain ran out of room! There’s an open space next door though…You can bet that your GiGi’s Playhouse of Fort Myers Team has been dreaming up some awesome possibilities that we hope to make reality. As our community of supporters continues to GROW, so do we—individually and in what we can offer!

Thank you so much to all who have been with us in the past year and in the years prior as we built this dream come true! We love to “Educate. Inspire. Believe” and couldn’t do it without you. See you at the Anniversary Celebration on July 28th! Don’t forget to bring your Mystery Monday answers to enter our raffles! RSVP here!

From our Grand Opening, July 29, 2017:

To now, planning our: