What Our GiGi’s Playhouse Could Be!
For the past year, GiGi's has been a vision in my head. It was something I pictured countless of times, but I never knew exactly how the achievement center would look in person. What did it include? Were there rooms? How much space was there? What was there for kids/teens...
What Impact Does a Down syndrome Diagnosis Have on a Sibling?
When expectant parents receive a diagnosis of Down syndrome (DS), they often ask: what impact will this have on my other son or daughter? The understandable concerns would be that this child with Down syndrome will demand more attention, thereby sacrificing time that may otherwise be devoted to an existing...
How Can Technology Help Kids with Down syndrome?
Did you know that Microsoft has partnered with GiGi's Playhouse and is creating an app that will guide individuals with Down syndrome through KEY GiGiFIT exercises that will help make physical therapy BOTH fun and easy? Read more by clicking here!
GiGi’s Playhouse is Coming to Wausau, and We Want to Hear from YOU!!
GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers provide resources, specialized teaching and support to individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community. Each Playhouse fosters an environment of positive energy, high expectations, consistent participation and achievement across a broad variety of educational, therapeutic, and career development programs. While there are some resources in North...
Our Faith Blessed Us with this Child
In October 2017, at our 20-week ultrasound we found out that our little girl, Morgan, had a congenital heart defect called an AV canal. We were told to schedule an appointment in Marshfield to get more information about her condition. In Marshfield we met with Genetics, a cardiologist, and it...
A Story of Adoption
In the beginning of February 2013, my husband and I starting to wonder whether or not we would ever find our child, whether we would ever be picked by a birth family. We had one failed match that past September. We had other calls, none of which worked out. Then...
What is it Like to Have a Sibling with Down syndrome?
What an amazing chance for these siblings to be heard. GiGi’s Playhouse, Tinely Park had a spectacular family that wrote a blog post and it is definitely worth reading! Check it out here: https://gigisplayhouse.org/TinleyPark/like-sibling-syndrome/ What do you think it is like to have a sibling with Down syndrome? Let’s start a conversation below. We would...
Your Child Can Learn Math
Your Child CAN learn MATH! Your Child CAN learn MATH! FUN activities you can do with your child to support early math learning: Play with Shape Sorters! Make simple patterns using something your child loves. Stickers – get two sets and place them in a row “star, circle, star, circle,...
Something More
I have always known that I wanted to work with others. In college, I had a summer job for 4 summers as a camp counselor at Elk’s Camp Grassick (summer camp for adults and children with special needs located in Dawson, ND). Little did I know going into my first...
It’s Not Too Late to Support Chelsea!
Hello everyone! I wanted to go more in depth about my family and tell you a little more about the Green Bay Cellcom Marathon. My husband, Justin, and I met when we were juniors in high school. We fell head over heals for each other and have been smitten with each other...
What I’d Been Looking For!
Written by Nathan's Mom and Start-Up Team Member, Rebecca B. Next month we will be celebrating my son’s first birthday. Nathan is an extraordinary little boy who loves to laugh, smile and meet new people. His recent accomplishments include eating a variety of solid foods, turning pages of his books,...
Help Support GiGi’s Playhouse Wausau by supporting Chelsea run her first marathon!
My name is Chelsea. I am 27 years old and originally from Wausau, Wisconsin. Shortly after my husband joined the military, we had our oldest son, Jayson, who has Down syndrome. We lived Fort Riley, Kansas for seven years and had two more children, Jaxon and Clara. When my husband medically separated...