Month: December 2017

Product Demos

Have Some Fun With Bubble Ooodles!

Our Gymboree Play & Music teachers have discovered some creative ways to use our Bubble Ooodles.

You can now buy our Gymboree Play & Music Bubbles Ooodles online right here!

Today we’re  demonstrating these fabulous Bubble Oodles. As you can easily blow small and large bubbles from opposite ends of the blower.

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Babies are mesmerized when they see them floating in the air so it’s great for babies’ eye tracking. The fun continues as they grow and they are able to follow the bubbles and catch them, honing their focusing skills and promoting their hand-eye coordination as they stretch their arms and point their little fingers trying to grab a bubble!

Our toddlers love an extra challenge; by handing them a castanet they begin to work on their fine motor skills as they open and close trying to trap a bubble. Now it’s a castanet but later they will be holding a crayon, pencil and scissors and by then be familiarized with this skill.

After blowing some bubbles, the fun lasts as they last for a long time on the ground giving children plenty time of bubble-popping fun! Our sugar based bubbles make this possible.

Bubble Oodles aren’t just your regular bubbles, but a whole new formula which makes them last prolonging the fun!

Our bubble oodles are so much fun
Great for babies to track one by one
And as they grow you will see
Hand-eye coordination is the key
Developing fine motor skills
Catching them with a castanet adds to the thrill
They are non-toxic and sugar based
So no problem if they land in the eyes or their face!
With different size bottles for you to choose from
Even fun for dogs and cats, just everyone!

If you’d like to purchase Bubble Ooodles or sign-up for a class where your child can use Bubble Ooodles please contact a Gymboree Play & Music near you.

Product Demos

The Benefit Of Movement Scarves For Babies & Toddlers

Our Gymboree Play & Music teachers have discovered some creative ways to use our movement scarves.

For infants, a soft massage on their cheeks, hands and feet introduces them to a new tactile experience. Scarf play is fun when we wave it up high for baby to eye-track.

Toddlers get a kick out of them too, as we gather up a bunch and throw them in the air, play peek-a-boo, and pretend as we use them as “butterfly wings” and “horse tails!”

Movement Scarves are soft to the touch and easy to wash and store, another simple product with many creative ways to experience it.

Colorful scarves soft and light
For eye-tracking they are just right
A soft massage on cheeks and feet
Will surely make the baby tweak
Over their heads for peek-a-boo
Make them laugh and hear them coo
Juggle them, hang them, toss ‘em up high
A tactile experience so good to try!

If you’d like to purchase a movement scarf or sign-up for a class where your child can use movement scarfs please contact a Gymboree Play & Music near you.

Holiday Fun!

12 Non-Toy Gift Ideas For The Holidays (for babies to preschoolers)

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Toys are magical, especially during the holiday season — they’re educational, fun and downright cute but when you have multiple friends and family members buying for your young children the sheer volume of toys received can be a bit overwhelming.

So what’s a parent to do when the toy pile keeps growing? Gymboree Play & Music has come up with a list of 12 toy alternatives that will delight and encourage play for children ages 0 to 5 years old.

Sometimes it’s nice to give (and receive) a non-toy present that sparks imagination, creativity and kindness.

Let’s Play!

  1. Dress-Up Clothes – Raid grandma’s closet for old hats, shoes, purses, ties and scarves. Your little one will love playing dress-up and you can add a modern twist by taking selfies of each outfit.
  2. Museum Events – Choose a specific event at a local museum, this way kids can visualize their upcoming adventure.  For example if you live near Rochester, NY you might choose The Berenstain Bears: Down a Sunny Dirt Road at The Strong National Museum of Play. What’s going on in YOUR town?
  3. Tummy Time Blanket – Babies will love practicing “Tummy Time” on a brightly colored soft blanket. Try Etsy for beautiful handmade blankets.
  4. Sleeping Bag – Toddlers and Preschoolers will love having their own sleeping bag for movie night on the couch or to make a tent with a chair.
  5. Flashlight – Light play is so much fun! A moving light on the wall becomes a shooting star or a faraway planet. It also makes for a great game of on/off for babies.
  6. Charity Bank – Give your child a small bank for their favorite cause. Does your child love pets or recycling? Help them pick a charity and then let them save their pennies in the charity bank. Once the bank is full help them roll the coins and make a donation.
  7. Art Book – Self-publish a book of your child’s artwork from the entire year. They will be thrilled to see that they have their very own published “book”.
  8. Ice Cream Parlor Voucher – Create a “Treat Ticket” redeemable at a brand new ice cream parlor. Children of all ages will love building a triple scoop with their favorite flavors. The whole family can play a guessing game too — have each child choose their own flavors then have the family guess which ones they picked by color and texture.
  9. Huge Cardboard Box – A cardboard box can be a pirate ship, Landspeeder, clubhouse, birds nest or just a fun place to play.
  10. Bath Sponges – Kids of all ages love bath time! Water play not only gets little hands clean but it also makes for creative play. Kids can squeeze water, make bubbles and float their sponge like a boat.
  11. Mystery Box – Create a personalized mystery box of hand-me-down items. Ask grandpa, Aunt Jane and cousin Joe to contribute something fun — items can include things like old stamps, a harmonica or some seeds to plant in the Spring. Decorate the box in bright colors for an added touch.
  12. Baby Lab & Play Lab Classes at Gymboree Play & Music! Baby Lab is a multi-sensory play and learning lab that’s all about building brain power, stimulating reflexes and sharing giggles. Play Lab is an innovative new program that brings S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) learning to life with projects and activities that were specifically designed for their age group.

Share YOUR ideas for a non-toy holiday gift.