GiGi’s Playhouse Program Survey Results and Rip City Raffle

GiGi’s Playhouse provides free, purposeful programming to individuals experiencing Down syndrome (or similar conditions), that address therapeutic, educational and career needs throughout their lifetime.  While our construction team is building our new Portland achievement center, we are preparing our “phase 1” programming. We launched a program in early October (https://gigisplayhouse.org/portland/share-your-voice/) and offered Portland Trailblazer Tickets as an incentive to gather as much feedback as possible.  As of the 1st of November, fifty-nine families had responded to our survey and twenty-four names were drawn to win (2) tickets each to the February 8^th game between the Trailblazers and Detroit Pistons.  And the winners are:

• Hannah Collinsworth
• Kai and Rebecca Wang
• Nancy Williams
• Ana Torres
• Elizabeth Morris
• Sally Bartlett
• Tiffany Braman
• Anna Kohl
• Cheyanne Grant
• Mary Chernishoff
• Nick and Kori Kramer
• Kara Shuster
• Katie Noren-Yeagle
• John Williamson
• Amanda Borges
• Deanna Driscoll
• Suzanne Vu
• Toni McNeal
• Sara Croasdaile
• Justine Hively
• Nicole Tasto
• Jessica Mercer
• Emily Braman
• Nellie Ascension

Survey Results:

The following programs received strong interest by our respondents:

Early Learners:

Language Music N’ Our Peeps (LMNOP) is an interactive and engaging program designed to guide parents and young children through learning basic sign language and other forms of communication using music and language-based activities. Recommended for families with a 0–3-year-old.

GiGiFIT You & I – During GiGiFIT You & I the #1 goal is to foster relationships and develop a positive community among caregivers. The fact that we are adding movement is a bonus with a focus on sneaky physical therapy to improve joint stability, strength, endurance, balance and coordination. We have introduced the concepts of GiGiFIT Adult and GiGiFIT Infant to caregivers of infants with Down syndrome. Recommended for Moms, Dads, Grandparents, Caregivers and their newborn. 

School Age Learners:

GiGiFIT Kids – GiGiFIT Kids combines key movements from GiGiFIT Teen and advanced progressions of activities from GiGiFIT Toddler to help improve strength, balance, coordination, peer interaction and to build a lifelong love of physical activity. GiGiFIT Kids is not just purposeful play it is our special work out-time to make you stronger, faster, more coordinated and kids say “I love this fun, structured, purposeful movement”. Recommended for 5-12-year-olds. 

GiGi’s Kitchen Kids – is designed to emphasize the importance of a healthy lifestyle and early exposure to practical cooking skills Under the guidance of program leaders, participants will engage in activities designed to promote healthy eating habits, kitchen safety awareness, food preparation skills, self-confidence, and social skills by applying learned skills as they prepare and enjoy a shared meal/snack! This program is recommended for ages 6–12-year-olds.

Destination Discovery supports the development of fine motor skills, gross motor skills, social skills and language through a purposeful plan and peer to peer interaction in a casual and fun setting. This program brings families together to share experiences and build relationships. Recommended for families of All Ages.

Teenage Learners:

Teen Tastic – Focuses on building social skills with friends without Down syndrome by participating in team-based activities in a casual and fun setting. Skill development includes understanding compromise, turn-taking and problem-solving abilities. Recommended for ages 13-17-year-olds.

GiGiFIT Teen – Introduces the key movements of foundational, hip strengthening and vestibular/balance exercises, we focus on improving areas of fitness through activities in strength, endurance, joint stability, balance, movement control and more. GiGiFIT Teen incorporates age-appropriate activities that teens can be successful with and strengthen their bodies purposefully.  GiGiFIT promotes wellness through nutrition, pushing through barriers and building self-confidence. Recommended for 13–17-year-olds

GiGi’s Kitchen Teen – designed to emphasize the importance of health and wellness through nutrition education, kitchen safety, food preparation, social activities and a shared meal/snack. Under the guidance of program leaders, participants will learn about and progress through skills including measurements, food handling, knife skills, ingredient identification, palette expansion, and nutrition.

Participants will be introduced to various cooking techniques. The GiGi’s Kitchen Teen program will build participants self-esteem and self-confidence through nutrition and wellness! This program is recommended for ages 13-17.

Adults, 18 and up:

Fantastic Friends – A fun night out to facilitate social interactions between 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. All adults welcome from ages 18 and up.

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. GiGiFIT promotes wellness through nutrition, pushing through barriers and building self-confidence. Recommended for 18+.

GiGi’s Kitchen Adult – designed to emphasize the importance of health and wellness through nutrition education, kitchen safety, food preparation, social activities and a shared meal/snack. Under the guidance of program leaders, participants will learn about and progress through skills including measurements, food handling, knife skills, ingredient identification, palette expansion, and nutrition. Participants will be introduced to various cooking techniques. The GiGi’s Kitchen Adult program will build participants self-esteem and self-confidence through nutrition and wellness! This program is recommended for ages 18+.

One-on-one Tutoring: Ages 3 and up:

GiGi’s Playhouse 1:1 Literacy Tutoring Program uses a methodology with documented success based on research by professionals in the field. The ability to read opens doors for individuals with Down syndrome in the workplace, schools and the community.  Developing reading skills also leads to improvements in speech and language development, auditory perceptual skills and working memory function.  Our goal is to foster a love for reading and provide an opportunity to develop and master skills, all while building a positive relationship with our volunteer tutors.  Trained tutors work at the level of the child, continually challenging and encouraging him/her to reach their Best of All.  Students can start in our program as early as age 3 or any year after that. It’s never too late to start!  Weekly lessons last 45-60 minutes for 10-15 weeks at a time.  Family members attend each tutoring session and leave with practical activities to continue the learning at home.

GiGi’s Playhouse 1:1 Math Tutoring Program

Our program is built based on the ways in which individuals with Down syndrome learn best.  Knowing that our participants vary greatly in their abilities and challenges in comprehensive math, we combine multiple approaches that utilize multi-sensory teaching. Graduated levels of purposeful progressions lead to an increase of skills and self-confidence. These methods are aligned with topics taught in the classroom, to provide a comprehensive and cohesive program.  Students can start in our program as early as age 3 or any year after that. It is never too late to start!  Weekly lessons last 45-60 minutes for 10-15 weeks at a time. Family members attend each tutoring lesson and leave with practical activities to continue learning at home.

Benefits of our math tutoring program:

• Increase a range of math skills from number recognition and patterns to knowledge of addition and subtraction, to money and telling time, to fractions and algebra
• Increase self-esteem and confidence
• Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Greater independence and autonomy
• Greater inclusion in general education classrooms
• More active role in schools and community
• Increase peer interaction through purposeful games and activities
• Enhanced fine motor development

Principles of GiGi’s 1:1 Math Tutoring Programs

• We teach using materials that are meaningful and relevant to the students
• Teach with a multi-sensory approach to build confidence and reinforce learning 
• We teach students to practice, transfer, and generalize newly learned skills 

We teach students to apply math skills in their real-world experiences.

Volunteers:

We are now recruiting volunteers who can help support this amazing programming now and in the future.  If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, please click on the Volunteer link or email portland@gigisplayhouse.org to get started!  

The surveys will continue to be open on the website so we can gather as much feedback as possible.  Thank you to all who participated and to all who support GiGi’s Playhouse Portland.  We couldn’t do it without you!