Category: Play & Learn Classes

Play & Learn Classes

Resolutions: Done!

There’s something about the start of a new year that makes us all reassess our goals and priorities.

Things like: 

  • I want to spend more quality time with my little one
  • I want to be less distracted, more present
  • I want to meet new people who are facing the same challenges (and joys) of raising a young child
  • I want to do everything I can to support my child’s development

Surprise! We can help with all of that!!

Our classes grow with your child from birth to kindergarten, and give you time each week to: 

  • Enter your child’s world of play without distractions
  • Make new friends whose children are at the same place developmentally as your little one, and 
  • Have fun while supporting your child’s physical, cognitive and social-emotional development

Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you, and mark your resolutions as DONE!

Play & Learn Classes

The Importance of Bonding

It’s no secret that a baby’s brain develops at an astonishing rate during the first few years of life. The most pivotal time for brain development is between birth and three, and 90% of brain development happens by age five!

Brain development (and cognitive and social-emotional development) is supported by building strong attachments, or bonding, with a primary caregiver. A good initial bond is a big contributor to a child growing up to become happy, resilient and independent as an adult.

That’s why having a loving, trusted adult participate in our classes – whether a parent, grandparent, auntie or uncle, or beloved caregiver who is like a member of the family – has been a cornerstone of our programs for over 45 years.

We understand how important it is to have that extra confidence boost that is provided by having the support and encouragement of someone the little one has bonded with.

Join our extended family now, and see how much fun you and your little one can have while playing and learning together.

Child Development, Play & Learn Classes

Top 5 Reasons to Attend in the Summer!

Summer, summer, summer, summertime!

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!

No matter the reason or season, Gymboree Play & Music is here for you!

Child Development, Play & Learn Classes

Check Out the Handleball!

I’m just one of the many pieces of equipment that your child will use during their class at Gymboree Play & Music, from our youngest members in the Babies class all the way up to our “big kids” in our preschool classes!

I look really big to your little one but – SURPRISE – I’m full of air, so I’m not heavy at all! And whether they are sitting on top, rocking, bouncing, rolling or pushing me, there’s a whole lotta learning going on:

  • Being up high when they sit or lie on top helps build confidence
  • Rocking helps build core strength, and bouncing helps promote coordination
  • Rolling or pushing me across the floor promotes motor planning, problem solving and coordination; plus teamwork, cooperation and turn-taking are all supported
  • Talk about imagination: I can be a boulder they push up a hill, or a tree to pick apples from!

All of my equipment friends and I are specially designed to challenge and support the development of children from newborns to preschoolers. Best of all, we make learning fun! Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you.

Child Development, Community, Play & Learn Classes

First Friends

There’s something about watching your little one recognize and connect with another one that just makes you feel all warm and gooey inside.

Those first “friends” are so important. While babies don’t “play” with each other, they may stare, babble, or scream excitedly back and forth. They may also ignore each other at times, which is ok too!

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

It’s never too early, or too late, for your family to join our family at Gymboree Play & Music.

Music Classes, Play & Learn Classes

Finding the Best Program for Your Little One

You want to find a program to attend with your little one. But how do you choose? Here are a few things to look for:

Gymboree Play & Music has been the global leader in early childhood education for over 45 years, with research-based programs that grow with your child from birth to kindergarten.

Kind of makes it an easy decision, doesn’t it? Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you today.

Play & Learn Classes

Summer Adventures With Your Baby

Summer can be filled with fun outings and family adventures. But a relaxing day at the beach, a lake or on a camping trip isn’t quite as “chill” when you have a baby in tow.

Suddenly, in addition to the regular “stuff” you’d need, there are pack-n-plays, a gazillion diapers, extra blankets and baby-safe toys to consider. Not to mention the stress of keeping your baby from putting foreign objects they find on the ground in their mouths, or crawling off into the hot sand or dirt.

Gymboree Play & Music provides a cool place for you and your baby to hang out in the summer, making new friends and supporting their development in a fun, welcoming space.

No matter the season, Gymboree Play & Music is here for you and your little one to play, learn and make new friends together.

Community, Play & Learn Classes

Creating Connections: Grow Your Tribe

Parenting a young child can be full of amazing and magical moments.

But, unless you are lucky enough to have a group of friends or close family who are in the same point in their parenting journey and lives, it can also feel isolating and lonely.

For over 45 years, Gymboree Play & Music has been creating a fun, welcoming space where parents can gather not only to support their child’s physical, cognitive and social-emotional development, but where they can connect and build friendships that can last a lifetime.

If you’re lucky enough to already have friends at the same place in their life, bring them along to a Gymboree Play & Music location near you! We can all use more members in our “tribe”.

Child Development, Music Classes, Play & Learn Classes

Growing Young Minds: Music

“Music is life. That’s why our hearts have beats.”

Cecily Morgan

From the youngest age, children are inspired by music. A baby will turn their head in the direction of the sound. Young toddlers will wiggle, bounce and shimmy along to the beat. And preschoolers will move with defined purpose, even following simple choreography!

The importance of music in early education is clearly documented:

  • Music supports sensory development: exposing your child to different types of music can help create more pathways between the cells in their brains.
  • Music can improve literacy and numeracy: from an early age, babies can hear the difference between different types of sounds. Exposure to music enhances a child’s natural ability to decode sounds and words, and helps them anticipate what is coming next in a song and how to put these sounds in a sequence.
  • Music helps build coordination: music encourages your child to move, developing their fine and gross motor skills.
  • Music helps develop vocabulary: even if your child doesn’t understand the words to a song at first, they develop their understanding by identifying the storytelling within it.
  • Music supports social-emotional development: nothing sparks more joy that a group of little ones all moving to the beat together!

That’s why music is an important part of all our classes at Gymboree Play & Music. Find a location near you.

Child Development, Play, Play & Learn Classes

Learning Through Play

Children of every culture use play to communicate, create and express their thoughts and feelings.

Entering your child’s world and “speaking their language” is what makes learning-through-play so powerful.

Play-based learning has been the foundation of Gymboree Play & Music‘s programs for over 45 years, supporting the physical, cognitive and social-emotional development of children from birth to kindergarten. Children are given the physical and emotional space to explore and learn at their own pace, with a variety of programs that grow with your child.

Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you, and immerse yourself in your child’s world of play today!