GiGi’s Kitchen: Cooking Up Confidence, Health, and Connection

At GiGi’s Playhouse Wausau, the kitchen is more than a place to prepare meals—it’s a vibrant classroom, a social hub, and a launchpad for lifelong skills. The GiGi’s Kitchen program is a transformative experience designed to empower individuals with Down syndrome through hands-on culinary education, nutrition awareness, and kitchen safety training.

Tailored Sessions for Teens and Adults

GiGi’s Kitchen is offered in two age-specific sessions to ensure participants receive developmentally appropriate instruction and support:

• GiGi’s Kitchen Teen (ages 13–17): Tuesdays from 5:30 to 7:00 PM
• GiGi’s Kitchen Adult (ages 18+): Thursdays from 5:00 to 7:00 PM

These sessions are available in-person, virtually through our Virtual Playhouse, and even On Demand, making the program accessible to a wide range of participants and families.

Monthly Themes: Nutrition Meets Safety

Each month, GiGi’s Kitchen focuses on a specific nutrition component, helping participants build a positive relationship with food and understand the building blocks of a healthy diet. Topics rotate and may include:

• Proteins: Understanding their role in muscle development and energy
• Grains: Exploring whole grains and their benefits
• Fruits and Vegetables: Learning about vitamins, fiber, and colorful variety
• Balanced Food Groups: Creating meals that nourish and satisfy

Alongside nutrition, the program emphasizes kitchen safety, a critical life skill. Monthly safety topics include:

• Hygiene: Proper handwashing, food handling, and cleanliness
• Fire Safety: Awareness of stove and oven hazards, and emergency procedures
• Cross-Contamination: Preventing the spread of bacteria through safe food prep practices

These lessons are taught through engaging activities, visual aids, and real-life cooking scenarios, making them both memorable and practical.

Learning Through Doing

Participants don aprons and dive into the cooking process with enthusiasm. Under the guidance of trained program leaders, they:

• Plan meals
• Measure ingredients
• Use kitchen tools safely
• Follow recipes
• Prepare and enjoy meals together

This hands-on approach helps develop fine motor skills, cognitive abilities, and literacy and math skills—all while having fun. The communal aspect of sharing meals fosters social interaction, teamwork, and confidence.

Photos from recent sessions show participants gathered around tables, smiling as they chop, stir, and serve. Placemat diagrams help reinforce food group education, while the final dishes showcase their culinary achievements.

Goals That Go Beyond the Kitchen

GiGi’s Kitchen is more than a cooking class—it’s a holistic program designed to improve quality of life. The goals include:

• Increasing healthy eating habits by recognizing hunger cues and making informed food choices
• Boosting kitchen safety awareness to prevent accidents and promote independence
• Enhancing food preparation skills through practice and repetition
• Building self-confidence and social skills through shared responsibilities and peer interaction
• Creating lasting memories and relationships that extend beyond the kitchen

Participants are encouraged to strive for their “Best of All”, a GiGi’s Playhouse philosophy that celebrates personal growth and effort. Whether it’s mastering a new recipe or helping a friend clean up, every moment in GiGi’s Kitchen is an opportunity to shine.

Volunteers Needed: Join the GiGi’s Kitchen Team!

GiGi’s Kitchen thrives thanks to the dedication of volunteers who help make each session safe, fun, and impactful. Volunteers are currently needed for both the Teen and Adult programs. Whether you’re a culinary enthusiast, a nutrition student, or someone who simply loves helping others, your time and energy can make a real difference.

Volunteers assist with:

• Supporting participants during cooking activities
• Helping with setup and cleanup
• Reinforcing safety and hygiene practices
• Encouraging social interaction and teamwork

No professional cooking experience is required—just a willingness to learn and a heart for inclusion.

🔗 Want to learn more or get involved?
Sign up to become a volunteer HERE. Help us cook up something amazing—one dish, one smile, one connection at a time.