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!
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!
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.
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.
🌟 Collaboration: working in collaboration with other children can build confidence and build an understanding of others’ diverse perspectives.
🌟 Communication: skills essential for learning, helping children express their thoughts, feelings and ideas
🌟 Critical thinking: helping children make good decisions, understand the consequence of their actions and solve problems
🌟 Creative innovation: using their natural inquisitiveness and imagination, exploring new ideas
🌟 Confidence: play empowers children to make their own choices, cultivate skills through trial and error, and discover what fulfills them
🌟 Social-emotional development: through play, children are able to freely express their emotions, helping them to understand and manage their feelings
🌟 Language development: through play, children learn to use language to express their thoughts and ideas, and they also learn to listen and respond to others
Kind of makes it obvious why Gymboree Play & Music‘s programs have been based on play-based learning for over four decades!
Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you today, to enter your child’s world of play and support their physical, cognitive and social-emotional development.
Everything in their world is new and exciting. Their physical and language skills are expanding daily. They are fascinated by every new object and experience they encounter. And they are BUSY!
It can be hard to keep up with all that toddler energy, day in and day out. They need a release, and you need a fun outlet for them.
That’s why Gymboree Play & Music is here! We give toddlers a safe place to run, climb, slide and explore. We foster their development where they are, giving them just enough challenge to inspire, but not frustrate. We introduce them to language concepts, supported by physical activities that reinforce them. All this in a colorful, engaging landscape that beckons them to try something new and spread their wings.
It’s tempting to just cancel everything and enjoy unstructured days. But that may not be the best decision for you and your little one.
Here are the Top 5 Reasons to attend our programs in the summer:
We’re safer than a playground: our proprietary equipment is specially designed for children up to 5 years old, and there are no “bigger kids” running them over or slamming into them as they come down a slide.
We are temperature controlled: you don’t have to worry about rain or excessive sun and heat. You don’t have apply sunscreen to a squirmy toddler, or douse your child with bug spray.
We are a safe environment for them to explore: no chasing a toddler around an unconfined area, having your new walker fall on the pavement, or having your baby eat sand.
It keeps your the routine your child is used to: as tempting as unstructured days may sound, little ones find a reliable routine to be comforting.
Siblings can attend together: we offer classes specially designed to engage multiple age groups, so you can enjoy class as a family!
