by Laura Jiencke | Feb 21, 2025 | Bluebee News |
Thank you for following up on introducing Bluebee Pals as an assistive technology tool for our 2024 GiGi’s Playhouse Literacy Programs. GiGi’s Playhouse offers foundational learning opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community. We are grateful for your efforts in promoting Bluebee Pals as a motivational tool, given its potential to enhance our participants’ learning experiences greatly. Your ongoing support is truly making an impact!
Our literacy program caters to a wide range of cognitive abilities and interests. Most of our participants require visuals to sustain their attention. One participant, along with a tutor, is utilizing the “Bluebee Pal Lamby” in conjunction with a Yes/No App. This tool is also used during lessons about body parts and essential color words.GiGi’s Playhouse offers free one-on-one tutoring in literacy and math to increase success in school using best practices that maximize achievement.
Each literacy session includes learners aged 4 to 40. However, this winter-spring session has fewer young literacy learners. The participant using the Bluebee Pal is 22 years old, which helps maintain her engagement. (She is nonverbal, so we integrate many visuals to support her receptive language.)
Linda J. Umbach: Literacy Coordinator & Board Member GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers Patchogue, Long Island: https://gigisplayhouse.org/longisland/
by Laura Jiencke | Feb 17, 2025 | Bluebee News |
ACDS was originally founded in 1966 by a group of parents on Long Island who were seeking services for their young children with Down syndrome. Since then, they have grown and evolved into a lifetime services agency that serves families of children and adults with a wide range of disabilities that include Down syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Speech and Language Delays, and Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) https://www.acds.org.
ACDS is excited to participate in the Bluebee Pals Project. We have found Bluebee Pals to be an invaluable tool for enhancing communication and engagement among our students. I sincerely thank you for the generous donation of these delightful Bluebee animals. They have sparked a new level of enthusiasm for learning and are wonderfully cuddly and appealing!
Their popularity was evident at the ACDS Family Fun Day, where students proudly showcased them to their families. We are truly grateful for your support in providing such an innovative learning resource for the ACDS community….Megan Lombardo,CEO..ACDS, Inc.
It is remarkable that a traditional stuffed animal—a source of comfort and companionship for generations of children—is combined with cutting-edge technology that aids in developing expressive and receptive language skills. Given that communication challenges are shared among the children we serve, the Bluebee Pals represent an ideal solution to meet their needs.
The Bluebee Pals “Tutorial Page” is a professional development resource that outlines specific goals and objectives. It includes content such as videos and PDFs created by leading early childhood educators, as well as speech and occupational therapists. This page is an excellent resource to motivate teachers and therapists who may be too busy to explore new technology. https://www.bluebeepals.com/tutorials/
by Laura Jiencke | Feb 2, 2025 | Bluebee News |
In 2024, the
Bluebee Pals Project donated twenty-five Bluebee Pals to GiGi’s Playhouse locations in Long Island, New York, and North Burlington, New Jersey. These innovative educational tools were distributed across various sites to enhance children’s learning experiences.
The BBP Project actively seeks feedback from educators and therapists to optimize the impact of Bluebee Pals as vital assistive technology resources.
GiGi’s Playhouse provides free therapeutic, educational, and research-driven programs for individuals of all ages with Down syndrome. Their team has discovered that Bluebee Pals are an invaluable and engaging educational companion.
Britta Shrewsbury from GiGi’s Playhouse in Hillsborough, NJ, excitedly shared the impact of Bluebee Pals: “The Bluebee Pals are now a vibrant part of our reading center! They have exceeded our expectations in our tutoring programs, where our tutors leverage them for practical one-on-one literacy sessions.
One of our participants, Natalia, adores using her Bluebee Pal during math tutoring. I’ve attached a picture that captures the joy it brings her! On behalf of the entire GiGi’s Playhouse Hillsborough team, we extend our heartfelt gratitude for this remarkable donation
.” This initiative enhances educational opportunities and brings joy and engagement to children, creating a positive ripple effect in their learning journey.”
by Laura Jiencke | Dec 29, 2024 | Bluebee News |
I have a Kindergarten student who absolutely loves the Bluebee Pals. We have utilized Leo the Lion multiple times within our sessions. We connect him to the iPad and he will say any video/song/app that we use.Bluebee Pals are engaging tools that inspire students to communicate and learn alongside their cuddly plush friends, making education a fun and interactive experience. This student also saw my Bluebee Pals box and then really wanted Parker the monkey.
As part of two different sessions, we walked to the different special education teachers who had Bluebees. The student entered each classroom and asked each teacher which animal they had until we finally found Parker. The student had to practice their communication skills and clear speech to speech with all of these unfamiliar people. It was a great natural communication opportunity.
I also wanted to share that our Director of Special Education, Joni Lefever, purchased a zebra for her granddaughter and she loves to read with it every night before she goes to bed. Thanks so much,
Mandy-Teacher
Amanda M. Ruth
Supervisor of Special Education
Wilson School District
610-670-0180 ext 2192
by Laura Jiencke | May 24, 2024 | Bluebee News |
Play is much more than fun and games, it’s an important tool for children to develop essential skills. Every child should be able to experience the extraordinary benefits of play every day – especially on the International Day of Play, taking place June 11.
JUNE 11, 2024: In celebration of International Day of Play and to offer toy companies an opportunity to work together to ensure the world’s most vulnerable children have access to play, The Toy Foundation™ (TTF) is inviting companies to donate toys to The Toy Bank. The Toy Bank delivers toys to a vast network of charities, allowing small, medium, and large toy companies to create a meaningful collective impact. Donated product will be picked up quickly and delivered to children in need around the world. https://www.internationaldayofplay.org
Bluebee Pals will collaborate with the Toy Foundation and provide donations through the Bluebee Pal Project. “We are honored to part of the 
International Day of Play”. This is an exciting opportunity for companies of all sizes to participate in an international campaign. It’s vital for all children around the world to have access to toys that promote play and education for future development. https://www.bluebeepals.com/about-us/
International Day of Play was recently adopted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly to celebrate the power of play, which is a fundamental right that builds resilience, instils confidence, and helps children develop. It is a necessity to invest in diverse, inclusive, and safe play spaces, extending access to all, especially the most vulnerable and marginalized children.
Since 2003, The Toy Bank has provided play to more than 32 million children worldwide.
by Laura Jiencke | Aug 15, 2022 | Bluebee News |
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