Tag: child development

Child Development

The Importance of Social-Emotional Learning

Imagine that for at least half of your life, you rarely – if ever – left your house. And you only saw your closest family members.

Then imagine that you were suddenly out and about in the world, processing new experiences and interacting with lots of new people. Would you know how to act?

That’s exactly what our little ones faced after Covid. Many of them had missed out on the everyday interactions that help develop the social skills needed for effective problem-solving, self-discipline, impulse control and emotion management.

Social-emotional learning is as important (if not more so for little ones) as academic learning. People with strong social-emotional skills are better able to cope with everyday challenges. They develop self-awareness, self-control and the interpersonal skills that are vital for school, work and life success.

That’s one of the many reasons why Gymboree Play.& Music has been supporting the development of young children – physical, cognitive AND social-emotional for over 45 years.

Community

Sending love to our members: past, present and future

At Gymboree Play & Music, we’d like to express a special kind of love:

Love for the generations of families who have been a part of our programs for over 45 years.

❤️ Thank you for being a part of our community ❤️

It’s never too late to join, and find a community of families all supporting their little one’s early childhood development. Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you today.

Child Development

Give your child space to create

Babbling becomes singing, scribbling becomes drawing, the “toddler bounce” becomes dance…

All pop stars, artists and dancers started the same way: as little ones who were given the space and opportunity to explore their creative side.

At Gymboree Play & Music, we believe the process is so much more important than the product. Purple cats with three eyes, silly songs with made up words, and freestyle dance moves are all welcome here!

Visit a Gymboree Play & Music location today to discover a safe space for your little one to explore their creative side.

Child Development

We Make Learning Fun

How about letting your little one be exactly what they are: LITTLE!

At Gymboree Play & Music, our programs grow with your child from birth to kindergarten – transitioning from adult/child classes for the younger ones to independent learning for the “big kids”- supporting physical, cognitive and social/emotional learning, including early literacy and math skills.

With plenty of opportunity to burn off some kid energy, sing, giggle and swim in a sea of bubbles, our classes are so fun they won’t even know they are learning.

Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you today, and watch your little one shine!

Community

Celebrate the Season With Friends and Family

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

Holiday parties, festive lights, celebrations with friends and family all add to the joy and fun. 

Having a little one (or two or three!) in the family, and experiencing the wonder of the season through their eyes, makes it even more special.

Our Gymboree Play & Music locations are also celebrating the season, and embracing the community of families that visit our centers week-after-week for fun and learning.

Get your merry on at a Gymboree Play & Music location near you!

Child Development

Give the Gift of Play and Learning This Holiday Season

The holiday season has officially begun! And, as much as we’d all love to focus on celebrating with friends and family, and the joy of the season, we are inundated with ads for STUFF.

Families with little ones only need so many big plastic toys. They are exciting at first, but are quickly cast aside and in the way.

A Gymboree Play & Music membership keeps families (both children and adults) happy and engaged for much longer than any shiny new toy. For over 45 years, we have been supporting the physical, cognitive and social development of young children – birth to five – and building connections and community: child-to-child, adult-to-adult, family-to-family.

Give the gift of play and learning to a special little one in your life. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to enjoy the gift too!

Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near the special little one in your life.

Child Development, Tips For Moms

Help Your Toddler Adjust to the End of Daylight Savings Time

It’s almost time to “fall back”.  It’s amazing how that one-hour difference can be such a difficult adjustment for everyone. But it’s especially difficult for young children!

At Gymboree Play & Music, we’d like to share a few tips to help your little one adjust before we turn the clocks back:

Start the transition early: 

Put your child to bed 15 minutes earlier (or later, in the spring) each night during the week leading up to the time change.  It will allow their internal body clock to make the adjustment ahead of time. While they may not actually fall asleep earlier than usual, their bodies will be relaxing a bit earlier each day which will eventually lead to falling asleep earlier.

Develop a healthy sleep routine:

It’s important to keep your child’s routine as consistent as possible, to establish healthy sleep patterns that will support them through life:

  • Establish regular times to go to bed and get up in the morning, including on weekends.
  • Develop a before-sleep routine of quiet activities: bath, teeth brushing, story.
  • Avoid high-energy activities in the hours before bedtime.
  • Make sure your child’s room is a comfortable temp (not too hot!), quiet and dark. Use a nightlight if they are afraid of the dark.

A quiet house will help your little one relax:

Ask friends and family not to call after a certain time and keep ambient noise to a minimum, If possible. This is especially important during the transition to Daylight Savings Time since it will be lighter out when your child goes to bed.

Back to bed, little one:

If your child wakes up too early, let them know that it is not time yet. Encourage them to play quietly in their room or relax in their bed until the correct time to start the day.

Maintain their regular nap schedule:

Don’t adjust their naps after the time change. While they may not seem tired at their usual nap time, their bodies will adapt.

Play & Learn Classes

From the mouth of babes: “I love my class!”

“I got so excited when Mommy parked the car a little while ago, because I knew we were going to my favorite place: Gymboree Play & Music!

I get to see my best friend each week, and Mommy always has a big smile on her face too when she sees her friends here.

There’s a really nice lady who shows me and my friends so many fun things to do. Right now she has me practicing my crawling. It can be hard work, but she sings songs and blows so many bubbles that it’s all worth it!  And I’ve overheard Mommy tell Grandma and Daddy that I always take a really good nap after we go to our class together.

Sometimes Daddy or Grandma ask if they can go to class with me instead of Mommy. I guess they love it too!

Tell your Mommy or Daddy to sign you up!!”

From birth to kindergarten, our classes grow with your child. Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you.

Tips For Moms

Toddler-friendly Halloween activities

Halloween is a fun excuse to dress up your little one and show them off. But scary decorations, spooky music and big kids in creepy costumes may be overwhelming for toddlers and preschoolers. 

Here are some fun, toddler-friendly ways to celebrate:

  • Look for organized community trick-or-treating events at your local mall or downtown shopping center. They usually take place when it’s still light out, and attract families rather than older kids and teens.
  • Go out early and limit the number of houses you visit. While it’s tempting to walk the entire neighborhood (because who doesn’t want everyone to “oooh” and “aaah” over their cutie?), it’s best to stick to close friends and family when your child is young.
  • Even if you don’t go out “trick or treating”, you can still dress your little one up and take lots of pictures! Post them using #gymboween2022.
  • Decorate cupcakes or pumpkin-shaped cookies.
  • Read a fun Halloween-themed book, like Five Little Pumpkins or Boo Halloween: A Peek-a-Boo Board Book. Watch a non-scary movie, like “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” or “Monsters, Inc.”.

Best idea of all? Attend a Gymboween costume party at Gymboree Play & Music! Adorable costumes, playful activities, songs and Ooodles of bubbles…nothing scary about it!!

Tips For Moms

Fall Family Fun!

It’s almost the weekend. Here are some fun family-friendly activities to do in the fall:

  • Go leaf peeping: if you live in an area where leaves change, it is prime leaf peeping time!  Just be sure to take some breaks in your drive, to give your little one time to burn off some energy.
  • Take a nature walk:  even if leaves aren’t changing, you can still take a walk. Whether your little one is in a carrier, a stroller, or walking on their own, it’s always fun to get out into nature and look for leaves, interesting rocks, bugs, birds, and animals.  Make sure you pack snacks and water and take lots of breaks if your child is walking on their own.
  • Visit a pumpkin patch:  if you haven’t purchased your pumpkin yet, what are you waiting for?  Pumpkin patches offer great photo ops, and some offer hayrides!
  • Go apple picking: depending on where you are, it still may be apple picking season. It’s a fun outdoor activity, and you end up with tons of apples to make into delicious treats to share with friends and family.

Whatever you choose to do this weekend, be sure to take lots of pictures. These times spent together when your children are young will be precision memories.

Want to make more precision memories? Join your child in their world of play at a Gymboree Play & Music class! You’ll both make new friends, and your child will be having so much fun, they won’t realize how much they are learning. Find a Gymboree Play & Music location near you today!