GiGi's Playhouse Hillsborough

10/27/2026

“Can they learn?” is the wrong question.​

​They can. The real question is whether anybody built the teaching around how they learn.​

​That is what our FREE 1-on-1 literacy and math tutoring is for — methods chosen specifically for how individuals with Down syndrome learn best. The Amina Grace Speech & Language Program does the same for communication.​

​Students with Down syndrome are in typical classrooms in schools all over the country. More and more graduate with a high school diploma, and postsecondary and college programs keep growing.​

​Education is for everyone. So is success.​

​Learn more about GiGi’s here. https://ow.ly/QiH350ZVAR5

10/25/2026

Life expectancy for individuals with Down syndrome has gone from 25 in 1983 to around 60 today — close to an extra lifetime, inside a single generation.​

​Which means most individuals with Down syndrome are grown-ups, and adulthood is the longest part of the story.​

​They want what other adults want. Their own money. Their own friends. Their own space. Their own say in it.​

​That is why our commitment does not stop at graduation. GiGi Prep, GiGi University, GiGi Professional and GiGi’s Achievers are FREE career training programs built for adults — communication, time management, money handling, workplace skills, job certifications.​

​A lifetime commitment means a lifetime.

10/20/2026

“Did I do something?”​
New parents almost always ask the same thing first.​
No. Nothing.​

​Down syndrome happens at conception, in cell division. There is no research linking it to anything a parent did or did not do, before or during pregnancy.​

​It usually is not inherited either. Only one type — translocation — can be passed down, and that accounts for roughly 1% of all cases.​

​So there is nothing to trace back, and nothing to undo.​

​What actually happened is that somebody arrived.​

​And from the moment of a prenatal diagnosis onward, GiGi’s Playhouse is here. FREE, for life. Learn more here.​

10/18/2026

Words shape how people see each other. These take a second to learn, and they are worth learning.​

​Say: an individual with Down syndrome​
Not: a Down syndrome person, or a “Downs kid”​

​Say: Down syndrome — capital D, lowercase s​
It is named after Dr. John Langdon Down, so there is no apostrophe. Not “Down’s.”​

​Say: has Down syndrome​
Not: suffers from, afflicted with, a victim of​

​And never the r-word. Not as a joke, not as shorthand, not “I didn’t mean it like that.” It lands the same either way.​

​If you hear the wrong word, correct it kindly. Almost nobody means harm — most people have simply never been told, and most are glad to know.​

​Be accepting. Be generous. Be kind. Be .​

10/14/2026

What a beautiful fall morning at Harry Dunham Park! 💙💛

Our 2026 5K Fun Run and Dash for Down Syndrome brought runners, walkers, families and volunteers together for a day of finish-line medals, high-fives, interactive games and plenty of smiles!

Every lap of that loop supports FREE programs at GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough, from prenatal diagnosis through adulthood, for individuals with Down syndrome, their families and our community.

Thank you to every runner, walker, cheerleader, sponsor and volunteer who showed up. You made this day happen!

Missed the race? You can still support the Playhouse.
https://ow.ly/fTfB50ZXozR


https://ow.ly/i7wU50ZXoyc

This is "VID_20261012_124813" by GiGi's Playhouse INC on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

10/13/2026

One of the most common characteristics in individuals with Down syndrome have hypotonia — low muscle tone. Here is what is worth knowing… ​

​It responds really well to practice.​

​Hypotonia shows up in completely ordinary things — sitting up through a long class, balance and coordination, gripping a pencil or holding a fork. It has nothing to do with effort or willpower. It is muscle tone, and muscle tone is trainable.​

​That is exactly why we offer GiGiFIT: a FREE, research-based fitness program designed specifically for individuals with Down syndrome, built around strength, balance and coordination.​

​Strength is a skill. We help build it. Learn more here https://ow.ly/I1gn50ZVAxQ

10/11/2026

People mean well when they say, “they’re always so happy.”​

​And often — genuinely — they are.​

​They are also competitive. Stubborn about the radio. Nervous on a first day. Bored in a long meeting. Completely unimpressed by your jokes. In love.​

​Individuals with Down syndrome experience the full range of emotions, the same as anyone.​

​Happy is one of them.​

​Getting the whole person is a lot more interesting than getting half of one.

10/07/2026

Most people are born with 46 chromosomes. Individuals with Down syndrome have 47 — one extra copy of chromosome 21.​

​That is the whole genetic story.​

​It is not an illness and it is not something that happens along the way. It is there from the very first moment, and it shapes how development unfolds — but it does not decide who somebody turns out to be.​

​One chromosome out of twenty-three pairs.​

​Everything else — their humor, their stubbornness, what they are great at, who they love — is entirely their own.​

​At GiGi’s Playhouse, every program is built around how our participants actually learn. And every one is 100% FREE. Learn more in our bio.

10/07/2026

Leading the pack and too cute for words!

With just three days until the GiGi's Playhouse Hillsborough 5K Fun Run/Walk and Dash for Down Syndrome, two teams are setting the pace:

Team Ellis is our top fundraising team.
Designer Genes is our largest team.

Fantastic Friends, Yappers & Lapper are still in the running! A big welcome to our newest team .down.syndrome.aging.study.

Keep up the great work teams!

Thank you to every runner, walker, and donor who's showing up for our Playhouse. Every dollar raised keeps our programs FREE for individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

Saturday, October 10. There's still time to join a team, start your own, or give.

https://ow.ly/CPwz50ZVElm..

10/06/2026

Brain health, healthy aging, and a great morning together!

We're excited to share that researchers from the NJ Down Syndrome Aging Study at Rutgers University will join us at our 5K / Dash for Down Syndrome on Saturday, October 10!

The study is learning how adults with Down syndrome stay healthy as they age. That includes what helps so many people keep strong memory and thinking skills over time. The Rutgers team will be on site to answer questions and share information with anyone interested.

Who can take part in the study:
• Adults with Down syndrome, ages 20 and older
• Living in New Jersey or nearby
• With a family member or caregiver who can participate too
Come to our 5K funrun/walk, stop by their table, ask questions, and learn more. There's no commitment to sign up for the study.
🏃 Register for the 5K: https://ow.ly/wPUX50ZV2yA
🧠 Learn about the study: https://ow.ly/a6Ko50ZV2zf
Questions about the study should be sent directly to the Rutgers team: (848) 932-4068
down.syndrome.aging.study