Celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness Month
At GiGi's Playhouse Rockford, we want to wish you a very happy Down Syndrome Awareness Month! While every year, October is designated as Down Syndrome Awareness Month, here at GiGi's we work all year long to not only celebrate individuals with Down syndrome and their accomplishments, but day in and...
NIU graduate shares her GiGi’s experience
After graduating from Northern Illinois University with a degree in Communicative Disorders, the chair of the department informed me of an opportunity for an internship in Rockford. The internship seemed like a good opportunity for advancement with children, but I was skeptical of accepting the position. The distance was troubling...
Fall Literacy & Math tutoring!
The GiGi’s Playhouse Rockford 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 and naming,phonics, comprehension, number...
Maple Elementary School raises money for GiGi’s Playhouse Rockford
For the whole school year, 2014-2015, the students and staff at Maple Elementary School in Loves Park,IL worked together to raise money for GiGi's Playhouse Rockford. The students and families of the school were not only raising dollars for GiGi's but raised awareness within themselves. It was a great experience...
Thoughts of a GiGi’s Mom
Co-creation. Partnering with God. Somehow those thoughts always appealed to me. For me, they reflect a long journey into bringing forth a new life. A privilege. And not one I take lightly. By1995, I had willingly entered this journey seven times. The first three times had ended in loss. The...
Happy Mother’s Day
So many emotions can come with Mather's Day and I sincerely hope that each Mom can remember a wonderful memory of your own Mom or just being a Mom. Raising children in today's world is hard. But the reward is great. I do remember when my daughter was 4 and I...
Illinois Budget Cuts
I attended a legislative meet & greet held at Milestone, Inc. with Senator Stadleman and Rep. Litesa Wallace. This meeting was in held in light of the unbelievable proposed budget cut of $26 million dollars to social services and public health grants to agencies in the state of Illinois. The...
Music, Movement & More
We just ended our second session of Music, Movement & More Class. It has been a wonderful time for each participant. Each child has his or her own developmental pattern of growth. Attending our music class will help to celebrate and explore each stage, fostering joy and creativity and respecting...
Rockford University Intern gives perspective on tutoring
We are fortunate to have interns from Rockford University on a regular basis. They come to GiGi's Rockford excited and willing to learn. Here is Michelle Ladwig's perspective of her time getting ready to have her first Literacy tutoring session with participant, Michael. This is what she wrote: Michelle Ladwig...
Author writes a book in honor of his brother
A Blog by guest writer Benjamin Denen I want to introduce you to the most special and amazing person I have ever met. His name is Josh, and I am immensely proud to be his baby brother. Those of you who have had the privilege of meeting Josh know that...
Local School Makes a Difference
I just received an email from a teacher from Poplar Grove Elementary School. This teacher spear-headed a coin drive in the school in honor of Down Syndrome Awareness Month. She also invited me out to speak to all the classes about Down syndrome and what GiGi's Playhouse provides for the...
Down syndrome Awareness Month
As I sat in my office today, I was scrolling for information on Down syndrome so that I could post something educational about DS. Rather, I was lead to a YouTube video of Heath White. An inspirational man who has a daughter named Paisley. The two have a very special...