Gymboree Play & Music, Upper West Side

Where they are: Learning through listening and watching, moving, and “singing” with coos and babbles. What to expect in class: Experience music from all around the world-- music from both past and present, near and far! From The Beatles to Bach! In Music 1, children will delight in the sound of instruments, and “singing” through musical baby talk. They'll enjoy being sung to, experiencing new sounds and the anticipation of surprise! Benefits: Physical: Sensory exploration time is supported while children practice their motor skills, which is crucial for your baby’s overall development. Cognitive: Music-play helps activate parts of the brain responsible for music and speech processing. It creates an early appreciation of music and supports language development. Social: Through music, you can hear and feel emotions. Tunes can be happy, sad, or angry! This supports social development in understanding emotions in a new way. Adults: You get to engage with your little one making emotional connections and strong bonds. Being involved in your child’s play helps both of you feel more connected.

What to expect in class: Experience music from all around the world-- music from both past and present, near and far! From The Beatles to Bach! In Music 1, children will delight in the sound of instruments, and “singing” through musical baby talk. They'll enjoy being sung to, experiencing new sounds and the anticipation of surprise! Benefits: Physical: Sensory exploration time is supported while children practice their motor skills, which is crucial for your baby’s overall development. Cognitive: Music-play helps activate parts of the brain responsible for music and speech processing. It creates an early appreciation of music and supports language development. Social: Through music, you can hear and feel emotions. Tunes can be happy, sad, or angry! This supports social development in understanding emotions in a new way. Adults: You get to engage with your little one making emotional connections and strong bonds. Being involved in your child’s play helps both of you feel more connected.

What to expect in class: We boogie down with our babies, get up and dance, give them baby massages, sing them songs, and explore new physical challenges every week through teacher-led activities on the equipment. Explore tummy time from a new perspective or on a new texture, slide down slides on soft lambskins, or take a ride in a gentle swing! Play as a group and socialize with others! Sing songs, learn a routine, and PLAY! Benefits: Physical: Tummy time, crawling, and physical activity stimulate gross motor development, problem solving skills, and spatial awareness. Cognitive: Songs, rhymes, chants, and routines support language development, memory, and communication skills Social: Our classroom environment promotes social and emotional learning Adults: Learn ways to play with your busy crawler! Enjoy games and activities, you can repeat at home, chat with other caregivers, and get some uninterrupted time with your little one.

Children are given free range to explore the set-ups, with their adults within a hug’s reach. Let your child take the lead and run out some wiggles!

(Newborns) Just getting comfortable being out of the house and beginning to explore! What to expect in class: You’ll learn a variety of ways to play with your newest little bundle of joy. Non-mobile babies are exposed to sensory play, songs, and the beginnings of social play. Meet like-minded parents while our expert teachers lead you through nurturing exercises and activities that stimulate your baby’s brain development. The first stepping stone to sparking a love of learning!

It’s all about opposites: loud and quiet, fast and slow, up and down! Contrasting ‘themes’ help your child learn better ways to communicate. We move across the bridge sllowwwly and then fast! They'll learn how to control body movements and use their body to navigate and problem solve across monkey bars, giant cushions, and through little tunnels. We’ll also practice repetition and routine with regular parachute and bubble activities. Soon your little one will be leading the Gymbo Dance!

Where they are: These mini-scientists are figuring out how the world works. They are curious and creative problem solvers who love to experiment with new ideas. What to expect in class: A multi-disciplinary class designed to introduce your child to engineering, design, art, and math. This S.T.E.A.M. inspired class is great for the young maker and thinker. It takes an active approach to school readiness and maintains our whole-child learning philosophy. Benefits: Physical: Little eyes, ears and hands are fully immersed in a sensory rich environment with curated materials selected to enhance sensory awareness and creative potential. Cognitive: Scientific thinking and experimentation provide children with the tools for creative problem solving. Social: Children build on the important social skills they’ll need for school, like peer collaboration, impulse control,independence, and confidence in a safe and nurturing environment. Adults: Parents and children work together as co-creators in invention, discovery and play.

These babies are on the move! Crawling, cruising, rolling, sitting, ready to explore anything and everything. Maybe your little one is walking! They might not be steady, but they’ve taken their first few steps. Now more than ever is the time to build those muscles, strengthen those legs, and let those little ones take off! We’ll explore new physical challenges every week through teacher-led activities, with a focus on different ways to use each piece of our equipment. Crawl through tunnels, explore different textures, slide down slides (or climb up slides!), toddle over bridges, or pop all of our signature bubbles! We’ll also practice social skills and memory building through sing-alongs and group-play. Playscapes, props, toys and the facility are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized before each class.

Where they are: These children are in the prime of PLAY! They are imagining, creating, and becoming independent learners. They are taking on new challenges, separating from their familiar adult and building the social skills needed for their preschool journey and beyond. What to expect in class: Engaging themes like outer space, animals, and bugs continue to foster imagination and allow adults and children to play together, building confidence and trust. Parent/child play time is followed by a gentle separation time where children are engaged by expert teachers in social activities and brain games like puzzles, playdough, and storytime. Class ends with celebration and the return of the adults, reminding children that adults always come back!