Child Development

Supporting Your Little One’s Creativity

“The urge to draw must be quite deep within us, because children love to do it.” ~ David Hockney

Art is incredibly important for young children, as it nurtures their creativity and imagination right from the very beginning.

Through simple art activities like painting, drawing with crayons, and playing with clay, little ones can explore their world and express themselves in fun and colorful ways.

Engaging in art also helps with the development of fine motor skills, and encourages critical thinking and creative problem solving.

Process art experiences allow your child the freedom to explore and create in their own way. Their artwork is truly original. There are no examples or models shared, and the adult does not need to “fix” their art work to make it literally representative. The child can create a purple cat with three eyes, and no one will tell them it’s “wrong”.

It’s important to give your child the time and freedom to express themselves and foster their creativity.

At Gymboree Play & Music, we focus on process art and freedom of expression in our Art and Preschool classes. Best of all, they can explore to their heart’s content and you can walk away from the mess!

Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you today and foster your own child’s creativity!

Franchisee Spotlight

Franchisee Spotlight: Southlake, TX

Jessica Fagin has always loved kids. She was a nanny in college, taught Early Childhood – Elementary Education and held managerial positions at children’s retail stores before she even knew about Gymboree Play & Music.

She learned about the programs while working at a Gymboree retail store across the street. It was only natural that, when she had her daughter, she would enroll her in classes, hold birthday parties and attend events at Gymboree Play & Music!

“I loved participating in Gymboree Play & Music with my children. We made many friends while in classes, spent quality time bonding with each other, the classes of course helped them develop, and they gave me inspiration for parenting and activities to do at home with the help of their toys. We all have such fond memories of our Gymboree days, and I wanted to pass that on to new families.”

Jessica especially loves meeting families from around the world who attend classes at her location, and many of her team members are from other countries too.

“It warms my heart when I see our families making friends – the children playing together and giving each other hugs, and the adults exchanging contact information and making playdates at our center.”

Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you to enter your child’s world of play and create new friendships today!

Child Development

Make Memories That Will Last a Lifetime

We get it…you have the best intentions of spending uninterrupted time with your little one. But then life gets in the way.

It’s so easy to get caught up in the day-to-day craziness, especially this time of year! But even adding some small interactions – before work, while having breakfast, during bathtime – can strengthen your bond and allow them to feel part of your world.

Finding dedicated, uninterrupted time when you can is even better! Gymboree Play & Music is here, year round, to be your respite from the busyness that defines our lives. Our play-based learning classes give you the opportunity to enter your child’s world, supporting their early development while both of you have fun in a safe, nurturing environment.

We’ve been making memories with generations of families for almost 50 years. Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you, and come make some sweet memories of your own!

Franchisee Spotlight

Franchisee Spotlight: Norman, OK

Congratulations to Tana Domingos in bringing Gymboree Play & Music back to Norman, OK.

Tana raised her own children at the Norman, OK location where they built a community of lasting friendships and shared milestones. Her experiences at Gymboree Play & Music also informed her role as a parent and her perspective on early childhood education.

“My biggest inspiration has always been my own children. Their experiences at Gymboree Play & Music showed me how powerful play can be, not just for kids, but for families building relationships and support systems. That experience continues to guide me today.”

Tana is a certified early childhood teacher and has spent years working closely with families and young learners and says she has always believed in the power of play-based learning.

“Reopening the Norman location is a way to bring that belief full-circle and give families a space that feels joyful, supported and rooted in connection.”

Build your own community and create lasting friendships at a Gymboree Play & Music near you!

Franchisee Spotlight

Franchise Spotlight: Palmetto Bay, FL

We are excited to announce that Gymboree Play & Music has returned to Palmetto Bay, FL, and would like to welcome our newest franchisee, Helen Wright.

Helen started her Gymboree Play & Music journey as many of our franchisees do: as a mom in our classes. She started attending when her twin girls were just three months old, and – as Helen says – they spent “2 1/2 more happy years at classes and open gyms singing, swinging, jumping and playing”.

Helen found herself re-evaluating her priorities and what mattered to her most a few years later when one of her girls suffered a life-threatening illness, thankfully surviving after a transplant. “I realized I wanted to offer other parents and grandparents those magical moments of fun and play in a safe setting that I had so valued with my own children”.

She left her corporate job and spent six months teaching at our Coral Gables, FL location as her next step towards eventually opening her own location.

Her new Gymboree Play & Music location is open NOW and Helen is looking forward to welcoming families to come play and learn in Palmetto Bay!

You can find magical moments with your little one at a Gymboree Play & Music location near you.

Child Development

Learning Through Play

There’s no such thing as “just playing” in early childhood. Play allows children to:

✔️ Test ideas and learn how things work
✔️ Learn new skills and solve problems
✔️ Learn to communicate, building language skills
✔️ Take on different roles through pretend play, learning how others think, feel and experience the world
✔️ Learn about symbolism, supporting literacy and math skills
(zerotothree.org)

By having a trusted, loving adult participate in their play, young children can feel comfortable and confident exploring and testing out new skills – cognitive, physical and social-emotional – building their self-esteem and love of learning.

We’ve based the Gymboree Play & Music programs on play-based learning with adult participation for over four decades, supporting the healthy development of young children from birth to kindergarten. Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you today.

Child Development, Summer

Your Solution for Keeping Your Child Busy in The Summer

Hooray….it’s summer! Sunshiny days to kick back and relax. But then you are faced with the proverbial question: what should we do today?

Lazy days spent at the beach, lake or park are no longer as simple when you have to pack a bunch of extra supplies and be ever vigilant to be sure your baby isn’t eating sand or dirt, your toddler hasn’t wandered off, and your preschooler isn’t getting too close to the water or other hazard.

Gymboree Play & Music is here, ready to be your summer solution!

  • All our classes take the “whole child” approach, supporting your child’s physical, cognitive and social-emotional development.
  • Our proprietary equipment is specifically designed for the “under 5” set, with just the right amount of challenge, unlike playground equipment that is designed for much older (and bigger) children.
  • We are clean, cool and temperature controlled. No sunscreen required on sunny days, no raindrops to avoid on cloudy ones.
  • Have more than one child? We offer Family classes that you can all enjoy together.

With a variety of programs that grow with your child from birth to kindergarten, why go anywhere else? Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you and join today!

Community

Summer Fun With Your Baby

You’ve had a baby…how exciting! But whether you have a newborn or they are about to celebrate their first birthday, they are a first child or a “repeat performance”, chances are that you’ve been a bit housebound for the past several months.

It’s time for both of you to get out, make new friends, and find a community of families who are at the same point in their child’s developmental journey.

And, while babies don’t “play” with each other, there’s something about watching your little one recognize and connect with another one that just makes you feel all warm and gooey inside!

At Gymboree Play & Music, we give you and your child ample opportunities to connect with other children, adults and families in a warm, inviting space.

We don’t just offer classes. We build communities. Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you and join our community today!

Summer

Keep Your Young Child Busy in The Summer

Your memories of summer camp probably include making lanyards and archery. But, let’s be honest, no one wants to see a two-year old with a bow and arrow!

At Gymboree Play & Music, you can build your child’s own “summer camp” experience – “hiking” across a variety of playscapes, exploring our Gymcushion tent, doing craft projects, or singing songs with friends – with a variety of programs that are sure to delight you and your child:

  • Play & Learn: our original, and signature, program that grows with your child from birth to kindergarten
  • Music: get your little Swiftie moving and grooving to a variety of musical styles from around the world
  • Art: every child has creativity just waiting to be unleashed. But how much better is it when the accompanying mess is somewhere other than your house!
  • Preschool prep: we offer a fun, no stress way to gently introduce your child to independent learning, with parent/child play time followed by a gentle separation time
  • Preschool: our School Skills program is an easy transition to fully independent learning, preparing them for kindergarten

As always, all our play-based programs support your child’s physical, cognitive and social-emotional development.

Pick your favorite, or combine a few, for a fun summer at your local Gymboree Play & Music location that will keep your child busy, happy and learning.

Child Development

Achievement Can Be Measured In So Many Ways

Achievement can be measured in so many ways in a young child’s life:

  • for young babies, it could be turning their head in the direction of an auditory stimulus
  • for older babies, it could be progressing from rocking back and forth on all fours to crawling forward
  • for young toddlers, it could be taking first steps without holding a grownup’s hand
  • for older toddlers, it could be joining a group activity or engaging in “parallel play” with another child
  • for preschoolers, it could be going into a classroom without their adult for the first time

At Gymboree Play & Music, we have had the great honor of being there to support the development of young children for over four decades, witnessing these achievements and many others.

We recognize that children do not all develop at the same pace, or even hit all the same “goals”, which is why we take a child-centered approach and follow their lead.

With programs that grow with your child from birth to kindergarten, we are the perfect partner to foster your child’s growth and independence.

Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you, and start celebrating your child’s achievements with us!