What are you Thankful For?
GiGi U is Thankful It’s that time of year when everyone is asking, “what are you thankful for?” This week, I asked GiGi U participants that very question and their answers truly made me realize how much of a difference we make here at GiGi’s Playhouse! I was pleasantly surprised...
Navigating the Early Intervention Program
Here is your Parents' Guide to Navigating the Illinois Early Intervention Program Early action yields best results! Each state has an Early Intervention program tailored to providing services and support for babies and young children with developmental delays and disabilities and their families. These services include, but are not limited to, speech and...
The Life of an Amazing Volunteer!
GiGi's Playhouse is very fortunate to have the dedicated hard work of some amazing volunteers to keep us going strong! One of these volunteers is Lauren Abry. We had one of our GiGi Professionals, Brian Rogala, interview her in our new GiGi Professional space to find out more about her....
October Participant Spotlight!
"Cristina has been in the GiGi's Playhouse Amina Grace Speech & Language Program for only four months. However, within that short amount of time, her speech and clarity has improved immensely. Cristina has worked with Taylor on a speech she gave to over 75 people in early October. We had...
GiGi University in the House!!
Have you even come into the Playhouse on a Monday, Wednesday, or a Friday and seen a group of adults working incredibly hard while having the time of their lives? Working out? Or working incredibly hard in the classroom? If you answered YES to any of these questions, then you...
Why is Speech Therapy Important?
Why is speech therapy important? I get this question quite often. The answer is VERY! The importance and value of speech in all individuals cannot be underestimated. Do you remember playing the game of telephone as a kid? Hoping the message wouldn’t get garbled up along the way? You wanted...
One Million Voices? It IS possible!
When I think about reaching one million voices, I literally get sick to my stomach thinking, how are we going to make this happen??? It’s impossible! Then I think back to the very first Playhouse and I remember multiple people asking if they could open one. More than one?? I...
Back-to-School Speech Tips!
One of the biggest questions parents ask is, “What can I do to help my child’s speech and language development?”. There are many books, apps, and language learning toys that can be recommended; however, the most important way to expand speech and language skills is throughout naturalistic play!! It’s not...
August 2018 Participant Spotlight!
The Amina Grace Speech and Language Program sees amazing kids and incredible progress every single day. Here's our spotlight participant for August! "We are forever grateful and apreciative of what GiGi's Playhouse and the Amina Grace Speech and Language Program have provided to our son, Joey. Since he joined the...
How Down syndrome and GiGi’s Playhouse helped her find her lifelong passion…
A NEIGHBOR CHANGES THE COURSE OF HER LIFE As a young girl, I did not have an ideal childhood. Growing up in an abusive home, I often felt unheard and, at times, unloved. I was fortunate to have neighbors that would change my life forever. At 11 years old, I...
Small act of kindness makes a BIG impact! | Volunteering
I have volunteered at GiGi's Playhouse for the past couple of years working towards my Girl Scout Gold Award. My experience volunteering has been inspiring. I spent countless hours creating literacy packets for the students in the tutoring program. I have been able to witness my simple task of creating...
She’s got a lot to say, and now we’re hearing it!
“We have been so impressed with Grace’s speech progress. She is now communicating with us using three or more words and her clarity has greatly improved! It’s amazing the doors that have been opened now that she can voice her opinion, communicate her needs, and express herself verbally. She’s got...