New Year, Same FREE Programming!

GiGi’s Playhouse Madison is back and ready to offer our purposeful, educational, and FREE programming this New Year! Which Programs will you choose?

Program Calendar

All GROUP Programs + Math and Literacy Tutoring start the week of January 25th.

Speech Therapy will begin the following week – on February 3rd.

As always, all of our Programs will run the same time and day each week. Check out our weekly Group Program offerings organized by age-group and our special events below!  

Programs for ALL   

Destination Discovery: Dynamic Duals – is a monthly program designed specifically for families and individuals with a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder (DS-ASD) and/or sensory or behavioral challenges. Parents and adult siblings meet in one area to connect, have fun, share successes, resources, and strategies while individuals with Ds and ASD and/or sensory concerns engage in fun educational activities that respect the needs of each participant. Siblings can join their brother or sister in activities that match their interests or choose other options.

• Ages: All Ages + siblings are welcome to attend Destination Discovery
• Dates: Saturdays, monthly – dates will be announced soon!

Open Play – is a program open to all families and provides an opportunity to come to our Playhouse and engage in free-play with peers. This program promotes positive beginnings for new families, creates awareness opportunities for peers and friends while allowing families to network and support one another. Adult supervision is required as we typically do not have volunteers scheduled at Open Play sessions.

• Ages: All ages + siblings + friends are welcome to attend Open Play
• Schedule: Check our monthly online calendar for Open Play dates!

Programs for Birth – 4 years old 

• Language, Music, n’ Our Peeps (LMNOP)  – is an interactive and engaging program designed to guide parents/caregivers and young children through learning basic sign language and other forms of communication while using music, sensory and social-based activities.
  • Ages: Recommended for ages birth – 4 years old
  • Schedule: This program is run weekly, Fridays from 10:00-11:30am starting January 30

Programs for School-Agers: ages 5-12 years old

• GiGiFIT Kids + GiGi’s Kitchen Kids – GiGiFIT Kids aims to help improve strength, balance, coordination, peer interaction and to build a lifelong love of physical activity while GiGi’s Kitchen Kids has similar objectives in emphasizing the importance of a healthy lifestyle and early exposure to practical cooking skills.
  • Ages: Recommended for ages 5 – 12 years old
  • Schedule: This program is run weekly, Saturdays from 10:00-11:30am starting January 31

Programs for Teens: ages 13-17 years old  

• TeenTastic + GiGi’s Kitchen Teen – focuses on building social skills with friends by participating in team-based activities, games and shared time in the kitchen. Skill development includes understanding compromise, turn-taking, problem-solving, and basic cooking + kitchen safety skills.
  • Ages: Recommended for ages 13-17 years old   
  • Schedule: This program is run weekly, Tuesdays from 5:30-7:00pm starting January 27

Programs for Adults: ages 18+

• Fantastic Friends + GiGi’s Kitchen Adult – a fun purposeful & social gathering for adults with Down syndrome, their peers and the community. Supports the development of social skills and language through peer to peer interaction in a casual and fun setting. Each week, participants will have the choice to participate in a variety of activities including: cooking, games (board games, card games, sports games), arts & crafts, and dancing & karaoke. Weekly themes, Group Question, and cooking recipe ingredients can be found on our online calendar.
  • Ages: Recommended for adults ages 18+
  • Schedule: This program is run weekly, Thursdays from 5:30-7:00pm starting January 29

• GiGi’s Achievers – empowers adults with Down syndrome with purposeful activities to ensure continued learning and fulfillment of life. This program teaches and promotes communication, self-awareness, independence, health and wellness through community engagement.
  • Ages: Recommended for adults ages 18+
  • Schedule: This program will run weekly, Wednesdays from 10:00-11:30am starting January 28

• GiGiFIT Adult – introduces the key movements of foundational, hip strengthening, and vestibular/balance exercises, making them successful to implement and practice at any stage of life! Focuses on improving areas of fitness through activities in strength, endurance, joint stability, balance, movement control and more.
  • Ages: Recommended for adults ages 18+
  • Schedule: This program will run weekly, Wednesdays from 5:30-7:00pm starting January 28

Special Events:

Family Speakers:

• We bring in different experts to share information throughout the year. You can find upcoming speakers on our home page under ‘upcoming events’ and on our calendar!

Events:

• SAVE THE DATES for our two upcoming Annual Fundraising Events
  • Diggin’ for Down Syndrome: March 28-29
  • Dash for Down Syndrome 5K/1 Mile Walk/Run: April 25

To attend our Group Programs, please register using our online calendar here. 

Friendships grow at GiGi’s Playhouse! We look forward to seeing you at the Playhouse this Spring!