Gymboree has such a special place in my heart. I grew up going here thirty years ago and the owners…read moreare still the same owners. They are still kind, patient, and fun. It's clear that their passionate about the business and they've nurtured it very well. The play area is super clean, organized, and creative. There is SO MUCH for a child to enjoy, but I love that everything is spread out and there's also empty space so that it doesn't feel overwhelming (and it's possible to step aside for a quiet moment if your kid needs it).
Their classes are amazing. They aren't cheap, so we were on fence, but we ultimately had to buy a class pass because our baby loved it so much. The teachers are so calm and happy, always sharing that they are a "yes" place, so if your kid wants to crawl away during an activity, you let them explore what they want. The classes are the perfect mix of structure and new activities and also flexibility to let you kid be independent and do what they want. Each week, they have new activities and configurations to teach your kid new skills, but paired with classic favorites like the parachute, bubbles, etc.
We started with the monthly membership, which allows you to take one class a week (play, art, or music) and then go to as many open gyms as you want, which I believe they offer almost every day. The open gym times are for all ages, but the classes are age-specific and have direction, songs, activities, etc. Our son is smiling the whole time he's here and sleeps so well after. He basically made the choice for us that we're coming back. We weren't able to make it to many open gym times, so we switched from the membership to ten class pass which allows for flexibility.
One of the best parts about going here for the parents is that there's an app where you can see which classes have spots available and sign up for those classes with a click of a button. Nap time is different all the time over here, so we love being able to join a class just minutes before leaving. There's also no contracts that you ever have to sign. They were totally fine with moving us from a member to a class pass and even when my friend had to cancel, they just cancelled for her then and there and didn't make a thing of it (like most gyms for adults do!).
We're so thankful for the teachers here and for creating such a fun, heartwarming, and welcoming space. We've met so many adult friends here too because everyone's been so nice.