Belonging at GiGi’s Playhouse

My husband, Todd, and I walked into GiGi’s Playhouse last Saturday with our 5 year old son, Jonathan, to attend the marvelous program Destination Discovery. I later discovered that my RSVP email was saved in my draft emails and had never transmitted so the volunteers had no idea we were planning to be there, and still, every face held a welcoming smile and warmly ushered us in to participate.

Our previous visit to the Playhouse was during Open Play and Jonathan absolutely loved exploring and playing independently. He tends to be somewhat inflexible about change and having things happen differently than his expectations, so when the structured programming began last Saturday, he was hesitant about participating.

The event opened with an adorable welcome song where each child was greeted by name. There was clapping and smiling and rhythm all of which capture Jonathan’s attention so he attended reasonably well. Next, we engaged in a delightful game of “volleyball”, tapping a balloon around the circle of friends. Jonathan was quite enthusiastic about the game so he had some difficulty remaining in the circle and waiting his turn, but was happy as could be.

A lot of planning and prep work go into making each detail of the Destination Discovery events extra special. The theme for this event was Hot Air Balloons. After our volleyball game, we were introduced to several separate stations, arranged so that participants could visit each table in small groups to create artwork, practice fine motor skills like cutting, gluing, writing, and stringing beads, try a really cool science experiment, and connect with each other. The projects were well planned and adorable, incorporating educational elements and life skills while remaining wonderfully fun and entertaining.

But all these thoughtful plans and details were of little importance to Jonathan, who wandered away from the assembly to play with toys in another area. A handsome young volunteer coaxed him to a table where he briefly scribbled on a hot air balloon coloring page and was to practice writing his name, but after a few strokes with the crayons, he was off again.

Todd and I followed Jonathan and tried to get him interested in returning to the activity centers to no avail. Inside, I was churning with anxiety that here we were, standing out. Alone. While the other children were carefully cutting and writing and stirring up the perfect chemical reactions to create their own hot air balloons, it was as if we climbed aboard our own balloon and floated far away, a world apart. Again.

Except this didn’t turn out like everything else.

Moments after my mind gave up hope of Jonathan participating, a remarkable volunteer walked over bearing project materials. With sensitivity, she read the situation, assessing Jonathan’s demeanor and reading my anxious thoughts. She was clear, patient, determined and kind. With her guidance and perseverance, Jonathan used the glue stick and attached a few colorful squares of tissue paper to a plate, forming a hot air balloon. When he rejected her efforts to do more, she left to gather new materials and returned with a pipe cleaner and plastic beads. She patiently demonstrated how to string the beads and persevered as he haltingly strung the remaining beads with her. Together they created a one-of-a-kind bubble wand. When she appeared with bubble solution shortly after, Jonathan was as buoyant as the bubbles they blew, smiling and engaging with her.

At GiGi’s Playhouse, no one is alone. No one is left out. No one is outside the fun. You are accepted as you are. They flex around comfort levels, help individuals warm up and settle in, and even calm the hearts of anxious parents. They do all of this with love and a spirit of family. The volunteer who journeyed with us last Saturday met Jonathan where he was, both physically and developmentally, calmly, faithfully ensuring that he was not on the outskirts, but fully included in ways that felt right to him. She is my hero.

“Best of All”, because Jonathan felt loved and accepted exactly as he is and as he felt that day, I experienced the incredible pleasure of watching him hold hands with another participant and play beautifully alongside another. I got to keep that one of a kind bubble wand to cherish forever. And the balloons that were sent home with us have been batted around causing riotous joy ever since.

GiGi’s Playhouse of the Southern Tier is a place of love, laughter and learning. If you haven’t visited yet, make a point to do so! Check out the calendar for upcoming events; there’s something for every age. Come and experience what belonging feels like– whether you’re a 5 year old with your own agenda or a nervous parent feeling isolated who neglected to RSVP– they will accept you where you are and give you a “Best of All” for which to be proud!