GiGi's Playhouse Des Moines

GiGi's Playhouse Des Moines Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from GiGi's Playhouse Des Moines, 6507 University Avenue, Windsor Heights, IA.

It's November, and it's that time of the year when we count our blessings and express our thanks for all the good that w...
11/04/2025

It's November, and it's that time of the year when we count our blessings and express our thanks for all the good that we see and feel in our lives. I know we see and feel that gratitude every day at GiGi's when we welcome participants into our wonderful Playhouse.

And now, we want to encourage all of you to help us show our thanks in a visual way. Every time that a participant, parent, volunteer, caregiver or visitor comes to GiGi's this month, you'll be asked to take a strip of paper and write down something that you are thankful for. You'll help us make a "Grateful Chain" that will grow longer each and every day.

Let's get this garland stretched the length of our Playhouse, and then some!

(Or if you can't make it in but still want to "share the love", email your sentiments to us at desmoines@gigisplayhouse.org !)

With the end of Daylight Savings Time (and an extra hour of sleep gained yesterday!), we hope you're ready to take on a ...
11/03/2025

With the end of Daylight Savings Time (and an extra hour of sleep gained yesterday!), we hope you're ready to take on a new week at GiGi's! That starts with a BANG as we bring you another edition of ART EXPLOSION on Monday evening at 5:30. We'll be planning ahead by starting on a Christmas Tree ornament craft for participants of all ages.

New to the calendar is our Tuesday program for adults called DESTINATION DISCOVERY. This week, we have a woodworker coming to talk about "what should be in your toolbox". Then, we'll (very carefully) make some wood-burned ornaments to take home!

On Saturday, we'll have New Family Coordination, LMNOP and GiGiFIT for Kids and Teens!

Drop-ins are always welcome, but registering in advance helps our terrific volunteers plan in advance: https://ow.ly/we5B50Xlc7G

It was a magical morning at GiGi's Playhouse as the University of Iowa Chapter of Moment of Magic spent their morning wi...
11/01/2025

It was a magical morning at GiGi's Playhouse as the University of Iowa Chapter of Moment of Magic spent their morning with us. These lovely characters --familiar to any fan of recent animated movies -- charmed a Playhouse filled with participants.

Our sincere thanks to this beautiful trio and their team of Moment of Magic volunteers that helped make it another tremendous success.

Today isn’t just Halloween. It’s October 31st -- the last day of Down Syndrome Awareness Month. But for GiGi’s Playhouse...
10/31/2025

Today isn’t just Halloween. It’s October 31st -- the last day of Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
But for GiGi’s Playhouse, it was just another month of purposeful programming for more than 200 participants that came to our facility, logging nearly 600 of programming.

We used this social platform to educate you on various ways that we make this community better and stronger by introducing you to just a few of the participants, volunteers and programs that make 6507 University Avenue in Windsor Heights such an important, welcoming and beautiful place.

But just because October is coming to an end, we won’t hold back on our outreach to expand that awareness. And we’ll never stop celebrating Down syndrome with everyone that calls GiGi’s a “…home away from home”.

If you’d like to help us cap off a fantastic month, perhaps you’d make a gift to GiGi’s Playhouse to say, “Thank you!”. That would be beautiful. https://ow.ly/3Vpm50XkCj6

I know it's Halloween, but GiGi's can't help but look ahead to Christmas. And if you can ignore the ghosts and goblins t...
10/31/2025

I know it's Halloween, but GiGi's can't help but look ahead to Christmas. And if you can ignore the ghosts and goblins that surround you for a minute, perhaps you'd like to look ahead with us, too.

We have two dates coming up for a Holiday-themed Art Explosion – this next Monday, November 3rd and November 17th -- and Christmas Tree decorations are on the menu. Making these one-of-a-kind ornaments (great stocking stuffers, by the way!) will take time, which is why we’re scheduling two days for this. Participants won’t need to come on both days, but it would be great if they could.

Art Explosion is held in our wonderful art studio starting at 5:30 p.m. and it is open to participants of all ages. To register, please go to our calendar: https://ow.ly/8alA50XjMCN

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month!Each week, we’ll be highlighting some of the programs, participants and volunte...
10/29/2025

October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month!

Each week, we’ll be highlighting some of the programs, participants and volunteers that
make GiGi’s Playhouse such a special place. Today, we want you to get to know volunteers Shelly and Eric.

It was Shelly that learned about GiGi’s after participating in the annual Donut Walk in 2011. She loved it so much that she and her husband asked GiGi's about other ways that they could get involved at our Down syndrome achievement center. They were asked to host Friday night karaoke Fantastic Friends program, and they’ve been great volunteers for fourteen years. And they have no plans to stop anytime soon!

Shelly and Eric are well-known for "stepping-up" the refreshment game when they host Fantastic Friends by bringing in treats and beverages of their own to add to what GiGi’s routinely sets out. But that’s not the reason they are such popular hosts -- it’s because of the great friendships that they’ve nurtured over the years, and the connections created with each participant (like their buddy Joel here), caregiver and family member.

Shelly and Eric will tell you that when you volunteer at GiGi's Playhouse, it’s not just spending time there, it’s building long-lasting relationships. And that get far more than you give!

GiGi’s needs more volunteers like Shelly and Eric – could that be you??? If you think so, you start here: https://ow.ly/NWYW50Xiwpj

We're three games into the Fall Classic with the Los Angeles Dodgers up two games to one over the Toronto Blue Jays. Not...
10/28/2025

We're three games into the Fall Classic with the Los Angeles Dodgers up two games to one over the Toronto Blue Jays. Not to take anything away from the World Series, but we want to share a story that KCCI ran last week about a ceremony preceding an I-Cubs games a while back that featured one of our terrific participants, Aiden Scott.

Nothing surprises about this story. From his personality to his dance moves to his hugs ("his gift" to us all!), this story tells you everything about Aiden that you need to know. Give it a watch and we think it'll make your day.

Thanks, KCCI, and thanks to Easter Seals for being fantastic supporters of the Scott family and thousands of Iowa children and adults with disabilities that receive essential services from them every year. GiGi's Playhouse Des Moines salutes you!
https://ow.ly/SqRN50Xj3W3

Moment of Magic Returns to GiGi’s Playhouse!You know GiGi’s Playhouse for being a place where children and adults with D...
10/28/2025

Moment of Magic Returns to GiGi’s Playhouse!

You know GiGi’s Playhouse for being a place where children and adults with Down Syndrome are accepted, welcomed and celebrated for who they are. On Saturday, November 1st, we will add some “magic” to that formula as the University of Iowa’s Chapter of “Moment of Magic” and their team of costumed princesses and storybook characters return to GiGi’s Playhouse.

So, bring the whole family for a fun time at GiGi’s! This is the perfect opportunity to gather with other GiGi’s families and create a “Moment of Magic” of your own to remember forever. Plus, we’ll have games, refreshments and maybe some Karaoke and more!

Drop-ins are welcome but, if possible, we’d like you to register here: https://ow.ly/t2Po50Xh3Ep

Tonight's edition of Art Explosion checks off two boxes: it provides a fun and purposeful art activity to participants o...
10/27/2025

Tonight's edition of Art Explosion checks off two boxes: it provides a fun and purposeful art activity to participants of all ages AND helps you decorate for Halloween! Here's a sampling of the masterpieces we'll be creating this evening at 5:30.

As always, registration is encouraged on the GiGi's Calendar, but drop-ins are welcome, too! https://ow.ly/vX2150Xizme

The calendar may forecast a spooky week ahead, but there's nothing scary about the offerings at GiGi's -- no, far from i...
10/27/2025

The calendar may forecast a spooky week ahead, but there's nothing scary about the offerings at GiGi's -- no, far from it!

We start with a second Monday in a row of Art Explosion (for all ages) and end the week with an epic Saturday that starts with the return of "Moment of Magic", followed by a trio of purposeful programs for Teens: Teen Tastic, GiGi's Kitchen Teen and Music Makers Teen.

We'd love to see you at the Playhouse! As always, we invite you register here: https://ow.ly/Yu3N50Xh3iW

GiGi's was proud to have been part of last night's Urbandale Trunk or Treat event organized by the Urbandale Police Depa...
10/24/2025

GiGi's was proud to have been part of last night's Urbandale Trunk or Treat event organized by the Urbandale Police Department.

We want to thank participants Joel Marcel, Brian England and Eric Myers who played "MJ" to (GiGi's Executive Director) John Claes' convincing performance as a Zombie while "Thriller" blared from the GiGi's vehicle (AKA cemetery). Thanks, too, to Kay Marcel and Barb Hitsman who helped keep our spooky crew in check.

Last week, we got a call from some people from California to say that they would be stopping by to look at our Playhouse...
10/24/2025

Last week, we got a call from some people from California to say that they would be stopping by to look at our Playhouse while they were passing through town. From California? Really? Needless to say, we were excited.

Luckily, the Playhouse is always clean and orderly, because we didn’t have much time to tidy up for these VIPs from Hollywood.

As it turns out, they weren’t Showbiz types at all. But we delighted to roll out the red carpet for them nonetheless, and we loved meeting three-and-a-half-year-old young Mikah with Down syndrome and his family – Mom Simone, Dad Richard, and big sister Savannah. But I think they enjoyed seeing our Playhouse even more. They were impressed with size of our Playhouse and all we have to offer in terms of amenities and programming. San Diego is their home Playhouse, a relative newcomer to the GiGi’s Network that is just starting to build up its facility and curriculum.

The highlight of the visit came after Savannah and her dad came into the activity room and spotted our new karaoke machine. As we were searching for a song for Savannah to sing, her dad said, “You know what Mykah would love to sing? Sweet Caroline. He loves Neil Diamond.”

We thought: “A three-year-old loves Neil Diamond? This we have to see.”

So, we cued up “Sweet Caroline” and, as expected, Mykah made a dash into the room. And when he grabbed the microphone and started into his favorite song, it felt was as if we were among Showbiz Bigwigs after all. And we couldn’t help but think: Michael Jackson was discovered when he was ten. Mykah has yet to turn four. Hmmmmm….

Our thanks to our new California friends Richard, Simone, Savannah and Mykah for stopping by. We hope to see you again one day!

Address

6507 University Avenue
Windsor Heights, IA
50324

Opening Hours

Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 4pm

Telephone

+15152527529

Website

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