Inside GiGi’s: Our Why
Inside GiGi's: Our Why Every week at GiGi's Playhouse Fox Valley, we provide free purposeful programming for families in our community that have a loved one with Down syndrome. Have you ever wondered how we do it? Have you ever wondered what all goes on to make each and every...
GiGi’s and Golf- Bret Shannon
Hello, my name is Bret Shannon and I am the current board president of Gigi's Fox Valley. I love this organization and it has been an absolute pleasure being able to be a part of it. The Beth Shannon Memorial Golf outing was created by myself and my family as a...
Parent Spotlight: #dontdoubt
When we asked MJ's and Eden's dads what everyone should know about them, this is what they said: "People never seem to know what kids with down syndrome “can do.” Normally, they ask what kids can’t do. Our family believes MJ can do anything that anyone else can. From youth...
Role Models: Eden and MJ
Today, we have two amazing guest bloggers: MJ and Eden. They are both friends and participants in Teen Tastic at our playhouse. They, themselves, are role models for so many people. Today, we wanted to ask them who their role models are! This is what they said: MJ has...
The Importance of Developing Social Skills
The Importance of Developing Social Skills What are social skills, and why are they important? Educationalplaycare.com states: “Developing social skills in children prepares them for a lifetime of healthier interactions in all aspects of life. Social skills are an integral part of functioning in society. Displaying good manners, communicating effectively...
Tanya and Teen Tastic
This week, I had the opportunity to interview Tanya Jarvis, our program leader for Teen Tastic. She shared her GiGi's story with us- Q: “What is your connection to Down syndrome?” A:“When our first son Wil was born, we had a very unexpected diagnosis of Down syndrome. The 1st...
Volunteer Spotlight: Amber
Volunteer Spotlight: Amber Amber has been volunteering with us for about one year now as a literacy tutor, but in the midst of the pandemic, she took on a new role! She has been leading Kids Club virtually, and we couldn’t be happier to have her! Amber is a senior at Waubonsie...
Faith, Community, & Structure
Keeping routine has been next to impossible over the past few months. Whether we find ourselves in our PJ's far past noon, or forget whether it's the weekend or a work day, having to stay at home has really thrown us into confusion. As we move into our "new normal,"...
Generation G: Names
Generation G- Names Names matter. As my favorite professor once told me, “to name a self is to acquire a self.” Names have meaning, and often we hope they describe us well. My name is Abigail, meaning a father’s joy, and boy, do I hope that describes me most days!...
Stay-at-home, Songs, & Sammy
In the Midst of a Pandemic- a Moment of Grace "When we began our journey under a stay-at-home order back in March, it quickly became apparent to me that this was going to be a very stressful time for all involved. I began to read various posts on social media...
