Since Gigi's Playhouse opened Aug. 8 in Knoxville, families have been coming from as far as Cookeville and Johnson City to use its much-needed offerings: free programming for people of any age with Down syndrome.
The nonprofit is part of a network of Gigi's Playhouses, of which there are more than 60 in the U.S. and Mexico. Knoxville's location on North Peters Road joins only one other in Tennessee, located in Nashville. And while it hasn't been open long, folks are already becoming part of the growing community there.
It's not a daycare, the executive director of the Knoxville Gigi's, Stephanie Erb, was quick to clarify. It's an achievement center offering "structured therapeutic play" that can adapt to the unique needs and goals of each person
who walks through its doors.
It has programs tailored for different age groups that feature activities from cooking to exercising. Knox News dropped by the LMNOP class, or Language, Music, N Our Peeps, designed to teach babies and toddlers basic sign language and communication skills.
Gigi's Playhouse is a space for learning and connection
At LMNOP, participants and their parents, and in some cases siblings too, took part in a lesson about transportation. Each kid got a card with a picture on it, ranging from kittens to trains, and they practiced signing yes and no over whether you could drive the thing that was depicted or not.
The program also involved songs, story time and free play. During the latter, participants had the option to go on a "plane ride," climbing onto a blanket that instructors lifted from each end into the air, an activity that prompted lots of smiles, and in one participant's case, the sign for "more."
Other classes at Gigi's include Gigi's Kitchen, which teaches cooking skills; Fantastic Friends, a structured hangout for adults with Down syndrome, and GigiFIT, which focuses on exercise and wellness. All are run by a mix of staff and volunteers, and collectively offer enough options to carry out Gigi's mission of providing lifelong support. The building has spaces for all of these activities, from a gym to kitchen to a living room-type area for teens and adults, as well as a sensory room, family room and individual classrooms called learning labs.
In all, Gigi's is a resource for the people of all ages with Down syndrome who can learn and play with their peers there. But it's a critical resource for their caregivers too.
"When the families come in," said executive director Erb, "I can equate it to like, as a mom, when I would walk into an auditorium when my kids were in sports, or when it was the day to see their awards, or whatever, and my group of moms were sitting there saying, 'Come on.' That's what these families have. They have their spot with their people who understand what they're going through and will connect with them."
Hayden Dunbar Evans is the storyteller reporter. Email: hayden.dunbar@knoxnews.com. Instagram: @knoxstoryteller.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: New 'playhouse' offers free programs for people with Down syndrome
