Do you have a Gymboree near you!? If you do, I would recommend you look into their classes and programs that they offer!
Before I had my daughter I was so focused on the labor and birth aspects of my life I sadly did not do as much research on fun activities and classes to do with her once she was born!
According to their website, Gymboree Play & Music, is the global leader for developmental play, music and art classes for parents and children ages newborn to five. Based on a blend of early childhood development theories complemented by more than 45 years of hands-on experience, Gymboree Play & Music classes are available through centers in the United States and over 30 other countries.
On Oahu we are lucky to have a local Gymboree chapter on the island! So, once my daughter was crawling I looked into activities to do with her and that is how I stumbled upon this amazing organization!
They have classes for babies, infants and toddlers! Their classes are structured and full of fun learning opportunities! Their baby classes focus on rolling, scooting, hand eye coordination and more! Their toddler classes focus on crawling, walking, socializing and playing with different interactive toys. Their toddler classes focus on strength, walking, running and so much more!
I am bummed out I did not get to attend any of their baby classes but I started going when my daughter was seven months old and was crawling!
Her teachers started the class off with circle time where she would put toys in the middle and have the different infants gather together and play! Then the teacher would pick a topic and all of the parents would go around the room talking about the topic! It was a great way to connect with other parents whose kids are around the same age!
Every few weeks they would completely change the layout of the playroom keeping things fun and interesting for your kid! I gathered such valuable information from the teachers and other parents that reassured my thoughts as a new mom! For example, we talked about sleep difficulties, food aversions and baby gear we loved or hated!
Once my daughter was taking her first steps around 10 months we stopped going to the “crawlers” classes for infants and moved up to the walkers classes for toddlers! The classes became that much more fun! We still started off each class by gathering in a circle but instead of commenting on a topic we now sang and danced with our toddlers all together! Once your kid starts to walk it is harder to keep them still to share parent hacks.
Then the kids would all get about 15 to 20 minutes to explore the playground! My daughter has learned to climb, balance on a board, push objects and throw a ball into a small basketball hoop! At the end of every class the parents all gather around in a circle and the teacher goes around the room blowing bubbles for the kids to play in. It is so much fun!
I find myself humming the songs on the car drive home which my daughter loves and she will clap and stomp her feet to the rhythm! Classes are around 45 to 50 minutes long and you can opt to drop into a class of your choice or pay for a membership. At my local Gymboree a membership is under $100 and it comes with two classes a week plus an open gym class.
Although I have not been to the open gym classes from what I am told it is where you can go to their location and play with the equipment without the structure of the teacher organizing the class.
I am so happy I stumbled upon Gymboree and I am so happy to have met mom friends who are in the same infant and toddler struggles like myself! It is really fun to see my daughter interacting with the other toddlers by running around, popping bubbles on the ground, giving hugs and dancing with the other toddlers. Hope after reading this short blog you will look into going to a Gymboree if you have one near you! My daughter gives it five glowing stars!
-Kindly Kaile
