Tips for getting started volunteering!
Volunteering doesn’t have to take over your life to be beneficial. In fact, research shows that just two to three hours per week can have great benefits. Our volunteers at GiGi’s are worth their weight in gold. They share their time and talents without any hesitation, so it's crucial to...
Teaching Words and Concepts to Young Children with Down syndrome – Part One
Is your child at the one-word stage? Well then this is for you! Once your child has reached the one-word stage, your emphasis should be on teaching vocabulary and concepts both receptively and expressively. Here are some helps tips to keep in mind when working with your child on words...
Facts about Down syndrome!
Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21. This additional genetic material alters the course of development and causes the characteristics associated with Down syndrome. There are three types of Down syndrome: trisomy 21 (nondisjunction) accounts for 95% of ca ses, translocation...
Want to Change the Life of Someone with Down Syndrome? Join our volunteer team!
This weeks blog post is all about the fun and reward volunteer opportunities we have at the Playhouse! We have all different avenues to get involved one way or another! Please check them out below and see what interests you... Administrative/Office Volunteer Help our front and back office staff with...
Our first parent workshop!
Hi everyone! We have something exciting to share with you all… We are hosting our first PARENT WORKSHOP! We are inviting all parents, grandparents and anyone else from the family that would like to learn more about planning for the future! Please see the attached handout and RSVP to the...
Engaging and Social Communication!
Hello again! This week we are continuing to build on your child’s language development by promoting social communication and engagement. How do you gain someone’s attention? How do you begin and continue interactions? By engaging the person, by locking on to his or her eyes and attention and by staying...
12 Myths & Truths about Down syndrome!
MYTH: Down syndrome is a rare disorder. TRUTH: Down syndrome is the most commonly occurring genetic condition. One in every 691 babies in the United States is born with Down syndrome, or approximately 6,000 births per year. Today, there are more than 400,000 people with Down syndrome living in the...
What is low muscle tone?
'Low muscle tone' is a condition of abnormally low muscle tone, the amount of tension or resistance to movement in a muscle. Low muscle tone occurs when the length of the resting muscle is slightly longer than typical. This means that the muscle fibers are not overlapping at an optimal...
Before the First Word Stage: Advice for Parents!
Last week we posted about how parents can foster their child’s language development through communicative intent. This week is all about turn-taking. When humans communicate, they take turns. One is the speaker and the other is the listener and they can change their communication roles as speaker and listener. The...
A THANK YOU Message for our Volunteers!
This post is all about showing appreciation to the people who love to contribute to GiGi’s Playhouse! Our volunteers have hearts of gold and volunteering takes a sheer selfless sense of wanting to give back. Their devotion and commitment to the Playhouse needs to be acknowledged! Our volunteers are worth...
Before the First Word Stage: Advice for Parents
Parents of infants, you are undoubtedly anxious to hear your child’s first words; however, there are many small steps that need to occur prior to that milestone. Once you realize what these small steps are, you can see the triumphs as each speech and language step is mastered. As we...
Free Programs for All Our Dancers!
We have an exciting opportunity for all of our dancers! Bataille Academie of the Danse in Barrington will be offering two FREE programs this year! Rising Stars (ages 6 and under) and Shining Stars are for ages 6 and up. The programs focus on jazz dance, learning combinations and new...