How to Help Adults Build Conversation and Storytelling Skills
As parents, sometimes it can be difficult to understand how best to help your adult as he or she struggles with communication skills. So much is out there for fostering speech and language development in the early ages, but less is available for the teen and adult ages. The follow tips...
Become a tutor at GiGi’s Playhouse!!!
GiGi's Playhouse is looking for dedicated tutors!!! The GiGi's Playhouse Literacy and Math Tutoring Programs are based on proven methodologies from professionals in the field. This highly individualized program provides custom-made materials relevant to each student's level of learning, interest and age. The focus extends from sight word recognition to matching, selecting...
Speech and Language Tips for Winter Break!
School is almost out for Winter Break! Keeping that in mind, parents now have to find activities to fill their days. The goal should be not only to survive break, but to thrive! Speech and language practice is an ongoing process and should not take a break, just because the...
How to Create a Language Stimulating Environment
This is for all of our early language learners! Although your child may only know ten or twenty or thirty words or signs at this stage that does not mean that these are the only words you should use with him. On the contrary, your child needs to be exposed...
What are cues to help your child learn?
Have you ever wondered if there are ways to provide additional sensory cues to help your child learn? If yes, then we have some tips for you! Once your child understands a concept and is beginning to use the word or sign, provide cues or prompts when he forgets to...
Teaching Words and Concepts to Young Children with Down syndrome – Part Two
Recently we posted about how you, as a parent, can help teach words and concepts to your growing child. Here are some more tips and pieces of advice! Generalize concepts. Children with Down syndrome, often have difficulty applying the skills they have learned to use in one situation to another...
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...