Over the next three years, learning takes place at a lightening pace. They learn to crawl, walk, giggle, talk, sing, dance, kick a ball….Their brain grows to 80% of adult size by around age 3, developing 1 million new neural connections per second.
This is why we do what we do! At Gymboree Play & Music, our classes support your child’s physical, social-emotional AND cognitive development from birth to kindergarten.
We give your child a safe space to explore; try, fail, try again, and finally master new skills – building their confidence and self-esteem. We support you every step of the way, with classes that give both you and your child what you need, when you need it.
It’s never too early – or too late – to start your child’s lifelong love of learning. Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you and join us today!
Play-based learning starts at birth, with gentle sensory stimulation to help little ones feel comfortable as they adapt to their new experiences and surroundings. As your child gets older, language development is supported by introducing concepts like fast and slow, in and out, high and low, with physical activities that tie the words to an action. As a toddler, your child will begin to understand symbolism: pretending a ball is an apple, for instance. That will eventually lead into pretend play, where they can take on new roles and learn more about the world around them.
Introducing music and art activities, as your child’s interests and skills grow, supports their development by giving them new ways to experience the world and express themselves. Babies hear music in utero, infants will turn their heads towards sounds and music, young toddlers will bounce along to the beat, and preschoolers will joyfully dance.
As your child becomes more independent, a gentle parent separation time can ease the transition into fully-independent preschool classes. This will continue to support their growing sense of autonomy and self esteem, even after they’ve passed the three year mark!
At Gymboree Play & Music, our classes support your child through all these learning experiences, from birth to five, supporting their cognitive, physical and social-emotional development.
It’s never too early, or too late, to start them on the road to a lifelong love of learning! Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you today.
“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!
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.”
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!
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.”
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
