Gymboree Play & Music

Since before I had my daughter I've always heard of "Mommy and Me" classes and always thought that it must be an interesting thing to do with your little one. That is why when I first found out about Gymboree Play & Learn I wanted to sign myself and my daughter up right away! I used to see their place on the 3rd floor at Bellevue Square, but never knew that it offered those kind of classes. Even though, they don't call them "Mommy and Me", they still have a similar concept.

anyway, it so happened that during the period that we have registered in they had a promotion, which consisted of no registration fees, they call it "New member initiation fee", the registration fee is usually a one time payment of $50. Also instead of paying the full amount for the class which was $90 I only paid $65 for the first month, which in my opinion was a great deal. If you register for another class or enroll a sibling you get a %50 discount on that second class. which means you'll only pay $45. The also offer a $10 discount out of your monthly subscription when you go to Tell Gymbo and take the survey.The Art, Sports, and School Skills classes have a duration of either 60 or 120 minutes.While the Play & Learn, and the Music classes are for 45 minutes.Of course each age group has a certain level that they can attend. Finally, the membership includes a free Open PlayGym time, which basically provides a safe and fun place for the kids to play in, which is great. Especially if you've been to the kids play area at Bellevue Square during the weekends, let's just say that unless your kid was strapped to you, you wouldn't be able to keep an eye on them all the time!

Now after getting all the technicals covered, let me talk about my own experience with Gymboree Play & Learn. We've joined two classes, the Play & Learn3, and the Music I class. the first two weeks my daughter was a little bit shy, even though she goes to the Adventure Kids Playcare three times a week and sees other kids, but I guess that the atmosphere was a little bit different. That being said, the teachers do try and give each kid a little bit of attention so that they can have some interaction together. They do their best to remember my daughter's name, even though it is not a common name in the US. Whenever we go there for a class or for Open Gym, We get greeted with such enthusiasm that makes us feel special even though that is their way of greeting everyone! The little efforts that the teachers try to do really make a huge difference to our experience their.

In the Music I class the number of children is a lot smaller than that in the Play & Learn class, which I think is appropriate since I would assume that in the music class my daughter and I would be in a more intimate and cozy mood. Rather than at the Play & Learn class where we would be operating on full "capacity" running, climbing, and sliding. The music class has themes every month, which usually include music from all around the world. We start with a "Hello" song, where we say "Hello" to each child, and then move to singing, tapping, and even dancing. We end the class with a lullaby, bubbles -which our teacher says is not something that happens in other music classes, and we're glad that it's happening in our class- and finally a "bye bye" song, where we say and wave "bye bye " to every child.

The Play & Learn class starts with a "Welcome song on the play mat. and then Gymbo the clowns joins the group in a bouncing and swaying song. Then the teacher starts explaining the activities that we are going to do today, and then the parents are invited to move between the activity areas and see what their kids will enjoy the most. However, my daughter doesn't seem to be interested in doing those activities as much as she enjoys walking around and playing with the small balls. After playing for a while, a song calls everyone to come back to the play mat for some motor skills building activities. Then the bubble time and the bubble song starts and finally the kids are asked to go under the parachute - which is my daughter's favorite-.

However, I do warn you that as soon as you join, you'll probably be singing their songs all day long because your kid will keep asking you to do so! My daughter has her own "Gymboree Dictionary" which includes: 

1- UP UP = It could be used for Gymbo, or for "Gymbo the clown" song

2- pop pop = The bubbles song

3- esss esss= The hello and bye bye song in the music class

4- clapping her hands in a certain way = The we;come song in the Play & Learn class

And many more...