The Parachute
As a child, you are learning and experiencing everything for the first time. Every surface, every shape, every color, every texture, everything is new and exciting. It can also be a bit scary.
I will share a story about a young participant coming to our Houston Playhouse. He is seven years old and gets overstimulated very easily. I first met him on June 15th, 2024, and it was also my first week starting my new role at the playhouse as site manager. I was new to him. Not only was I someone he did not know, but we also had a packed playhouse that day. He struggled with moving from the front door, then slowly made his way around the front room. I would catch him staring at everyone enjoying the program, and then he would look away. He was processing it all and assessing the right moment to move to the next room. His mother was patient and attempted to guide him to the next room, but he gave up. I saw him see me at my desk, and he moved beside me, peeking around the wall and watching everyone go under the parachute. He smiled, watching it in amazement, then turned away once again. Then, finally, he decided to join the group. He still hesitated but wanted to be a part of the fun. The parachute still seemed to be a bit much for him, but he saw the others go under, and it intrigued him. He finally went under the parachute, laughed, and grabbed for it as we moved it up and down. There were moments when he did walk away but then went back again. One wonderful thing that happened, and has happened to this day, is our other young participants also comforted him, guided him during the program, and joined him under the parachute. They all were smiling and jumping up and down.
Today, he and his mother came to our door and he put his head against the glass assessing the playhouse and then saw me at my desk. He tapped the glass a few times acknowledging me, and I gave him a wave. He came in wandered around once again assessing the space, and wandered over and surprised me with a hug. His mother said he never really hugs, and she was surprised. He then went directly into the playhouse area where our Dance Kids program was happening, and he also gave our Program Lead Dana a surprise hug. She started with the parachute today, and he lit up. He joined this time with much less hesitation. The other participants joined him in jumping with Dana blowing bubbles, laughing, and dancing. He felt safe here and we let him learn on his terms with our guidance along the way.
I have watched my 17 year old niece with Down syndrome grow and experience this world through her eyes the way he did. It is a gift to be able to watch it all over again here at GiGi’s Playhouse.
Thank you for reading.
Ray
The Parachute
