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Great day to spread Generation G in our community…
On March 16th, the McHenry playhouse welcomed the St. Scholastica homeschool group for a presentation on Down syndrome awareness and acceptance followed by a fun open play. About 40 people from the community filled the playhouse. It was wonderful to see children of all ages learn about Down syndrome, ask questions and be excited about…
Read MoreBuddies reunited for a special night!
Another outstanding example of the support we feel from our community. Before the first home game for the McHenry Warriors, the players who participated in the summer Sports Day with the kids from the playhouse reunited with their buddies for a special night. The kids wore their player buddy’s away jersey and were escorted onto the…
Read MoreTime to blow some bubbles…
So many don’t know of the crucial importance of strong oral motor functionality. It is important for our kiddos to have strong and mobile articulators. Articulators include our lips, cheeks, jaw and tongue. Children with Down syndrome, due to low muscle tone, often have decreased strength when it comes to muscles of the face. Development…
Read MoreComcast Cares!
We had the most amazing opportunity to have been selected for the Comcast Cares Day. This is a day when Comcast employees and their families give back to their communities. They sent a crew of 30 people to do Playhouse improvements. They refreshed our tutoring room by patching walls, painting and put up new shelves. …
Read MoreHard work is paying off!
I wanted to let you know we had Zoe’s conference at school this week. Her teacher was saying how impressed she is with how much progress Zoe has made with her touch math! I have every confidence that this is due to the wonderful tutoring she is receiving through the math program at GiGi’s. Prior…
Read MoreWauconda Pack 290 visit to GiGi’s!
On November 11, 2015, the Cub Scouts of Wauconda Pack 290 Den 5 visited GiGi’s Playhouse of McHenry County. The boys wanted to learn about Down syndrome. One of the boys in the group, who is an active participant of the Gigi’s family, happens to have Down syndrome and the boys wanted to learn what…
Read MoreOutreach at it’s best!
Occasionally an opportunity presents itself when you’re least expecting it…Tina, one of the Softball coaches from Zion-Benton High School contacted our McHenry Playhouse a couple months ago and asked if they could do a fundraiser/awareness event for GiGi’s Playhouse McHenry County. Melissa Theodore, is a Math teacher at Zion-Benton High School and also a GiGi’s…
Read MoreWhy we run…
Four years ago we met our beautiful, sweet Tera. Shortly after our first meeting, we received some news that changed our lives forever; Tera has Down syndrome. That first day was difficult as we simultaneously celebrated her birth and tried to wrap our minds around what this new information meant for her and for us…
Read MoreTop of the mountain!
I recently began volunteering for GiGi’s Playhouse as a way to give back not only to people with disabilities, but also the people who support them. My older brother Austin was born with Down syndrome, and so I have been familiar with Down syndrome my entire life. One summer my family took a vacation to…
Read MoreLife’s Bumps
After a very emotional snub to my daughter from two kids she had always considered friends in school (and had been to our home multiple times) she was still reeling a little when we came to our Family Fun Night at GiGi’s Playhouse McHenry County last Friday night. She had prearranged to bring another friend…
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