A timely discovery, from the NICU to LMNOP
When Jamie welcomed her son Zander into the world, she knew she wanted to get involved with GiGi’s Playhouse. She was eager to find something fun and meaningful to do with him before returning to work. However, life had other plans. “We came home from the NICU during winter sickness season and were trying to keep him healthy and out of the hospital,” Jamie shares.
Amid these challenges, Jamie discovered the Virtual LMNOP program, which turned out to be exactly what they needed.
“I started participating in virtual LMNOP with him, and it has been great. We started when he was so little, and he was asleep half the time, but I stayed on so I could learn new signs and would do the stories and signs with him later.”
As Zander grew, the time spent in Virtual LMNOP became more interactive and meaningful. “Now, he enjoys doing that, and I enjoy being able to have that time to be working with him. I think he enjoys the time too,” Jamie reflects. This summer, their journey took a delightful turn as Zander’s older brother joined in on the fun, creating even more special moments for their family.
Though they haven’t yet visited their local Playhouse, Jamie expresses her gratitude for the connections they’ve made through Virtual LMNOP. “I still haven’t really had a chance to get him to our local playhouse, so I am so glad that we’ve been able to get involved this way.”
Zander’s story beautifully highlights the impact of our virtual programs, offering families like theirs a chance to connect, learn, and grow together, no matter the circumstances. We are always welcoming more families like Zander’s into the Virtual Playhouse, so sign up for a free programs here or connect with us today via email at virtual@gigisplayhouse.org to learn more!
![](https://gigisplayhouse.org/virtual/files/2024/08/Zander-1.jpeg)
![James-at-Sliceability-TV-interview-3 James-at-Sliceability-TV-interview-3](https://gigisplayhouse.org/virtual/files/2023/06/James-at-Sliceability-TV-interview-3.jpg)
Empowering Abilities – James’ New Job!
James’ passion for cooking blossomed when his family relocated from Florida to Georgia, and he started attending the Virtual GiGi’s Kitchen Adult program. In Virtual GiGi’s Kitchen, James learned kitchen safety and food preparation skills while increasing his self-confidence and social skills with his peers. Reflecting on his experiences with GiGi’s Kitchen, James shared, “I…
![prep-photo-strip-2 prep-photo-strip-2](https://gigisplayhouse.org/virtual/files/2023/05/prep-photo-strip-2-1024x340.jpg)
Participants Supporting Participants
The End of a Session Celebration is a big deal around GiGi’s Playhouse! It’s a time to celebrate achievements and Best of Alls of not only our participants but also tutors and program leaders enrolled in our GiGiFIT, GiGi’s Kitchen, and one-on-one literacy or math tutoring programs. But, for the Virtual Playhouse, there was a…
![MicrosoftTeams-image-9-1 MicrosoftTeams-image-9-1](https://gigisplayhouse.org/virtual/files/2023/04/MicrosoftTeams-image-9-1.jpg)
Heather’s Hawaii 5-0 Team
Shari, Heather’s mom, shares their “why” for participating in The GiGiFIT Acceptance Challenge (GFAC) 2023 – Virtual Movement. “We love the GFAC – Virtual Movement! It is an amazing opportunity to raise awareness, feel the love and support of our family and friends AND get moving. There are so many ways to participate, but…