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.

We have a BIG day coming up tomorrow for parents, kids and teens!Starting off at 10 a.m., we have the second episode of ...
11/14/2025

We have a BIG day coming up tomorrow for parents, kids and teens!

Starting off at 10 a.m., we have the second episode of our four-part Family Speaker Series called American Sign Language (ASL) for Families by Julia Lyttle and Maria Garcia, two mothers of children with Down syndrome. Julia is a professional ASL interpreter and Maria is a mom that has found great value in the use of sign language with her son.

Our ASL curriculum is built to grow with your child in a way that feels natural and useful for everyday life. In this second class, we’ll focus on emotions to help children express how they feel through sign language to strengthen their ability to connect with others.

The classes are for parents, but you are welcome to bring your kiddos, too. They can enjoy open play or participate in GiGiFIT for Kids and Teens, which also starts at 10. Then, it’s Teen Tastic at 11!

We would love to see many families take advantage of these great opportunities. To register, please sign up on the GiGi’s calendar: https://ow.ly/W2XK50XrSUJ

GiGi's Playhouse was delighted to host Wake Up in Windsor Heights to over 30 members of the Windsor Heights/Urbandale Ch...
11/13/2025

GiGi's Playhouse was delighted to host Wake Up in Windsor Heights to over 30 members of the Windsor Heights/Urbandale Chamber of Commerce! We just love the "Wow!" reaction we get from people who come into our Playhouse for the first time! And the networking that takes place os amazing!

If you have yet to get that "Wow!" reaction, what are you waiting for? Call us at (515) 252-7529 to schedule your tour. We'd love to see you!

11/11/2025

It's Veterans Day and our pal Nik started out the afternoon edition of Music Makers with a salute to all the brave and dedicated Americans we proudly served our country with "God Bless the USA". We were proud that many of the other participants joined him on stage in honor of our veterans.

Today, your friends at GiGi's Playhouse truly elevated the idea of "purposeful programming" ! We're so proud of these beautiful people!

Coming off another fantastic GiGi's Leadership Conference last week, we couldn't wait to get back to town, open up the P...
11/10/2025

Coming off another fantastic GiGi's Leadership Conference last week, we couldn't wait to get back to town, open up the Playhouse and start another week of progressive, purposeful and FREE program.

Here's what we have planned for this week and, as always, we encourage you to go to our calendar and sign up for any programs, go here: https://ow.ly/7SqW50XoL2T

🎉 Happy STEM Day! 🌟 Today, we celebrate the wonders of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics -- alongside Gi...
11/08/2025

🎉 Happy STEM Day! 🌟 Today, we celebrate the wonders of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics -- alongside GiGi's Playhouse, and our new emphasis on STEM!!!

At the Leadership Conference this past week, Program Manager Kaitlin Hohnstrater attended a breakout session where she learned how to make Lava Lamps using simple science. It was a hit and we're excited to bring this activity to the aspiring scientists at GiGi's Playhouse Des Moines!!! Stay tuned for that, and more fantastic ideas that we brought home from the conference!

11/08/2025

It's the final day of the 2025 GiGi's Playhouse National Leadership Conference and all I can say is -- Wow! That's how you get the day started!

It's the week of the annual GiGi's Playhouse Leadership Conference in Schaumburg, IL! In addition to networking with pe...
11/07/2025

It's the week of the annual GiGi's Playhouse Leadership Conference in Schaumburg, IL! In addition to networking with peers and hearing about the latest in GiGi's programs and best practices, I'm meeting young men and women who serve as GiGi's Ambassadors from across the country. Ambassadors like 25-year-old Charlie from Orange County, who I sat with for lunch today.

We had lots to talk about, including what we love about our respective Playhouses. Just as we were wrapping up, I asked Charlie if I could take a photo of the two of us. He agreed and here's the photo I took. After I snapped the pic, I took a look at it and said, “Man, we’re looking good!” Without skipping a bit, he said, “Well, sometimes I just can’t help it!”

Then I asked if he’s coming to the big dinner dance tomorrow night and he said yes. I said, “I hope you like to dance. There’s more than 400 people here and the ladies outnumber us guys about 30 to 1; you and I are gonna be busy!”

“I’ll be ready”, he said! What a guy!

On many mornings after (or during) a rainstorm, we make a beeline for the utility room to bring out our trusty mop and b...
11/05/2025

On many mornings after (or during) a rainstorm, we make a beeline for the utility room to bring out our trusty mop and bucket. Why? You see, we often find a predictable puddle or two on the same spot on the floor in our karaoke room. Well, that was then…

After a quick (and thorough) roof inspection, our friends at Recon Roofing found the culprit: a gash in the roof (compliments of a limb that snapped off a tree behind the Playhouse) that was mended in no time.

Thanks to Recon Roofing and Construction owner Jerod Mollenhauer, we can walk into GiGi’s after a rainstorm and not feel so uneasy!

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

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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