Gymboree Play & Music, Upper West Side

More adventures come to life through imaginary play in this multi-age play class. A perfect opportunity for siblings to experience class together, or for children to practice more diverse social skills like leadership and peer modeling.

Classes are taught by a trained teacher who will cover all 26 letters and relate each letter to real life in a fun and interactive setting. “A” represents Apple! Numbers 1-10 will also be learned and related to life -- 1 pear, 2 apples, 3 blocks. Benefits: Preschool Prep with HOMER offers highly engaging themes that create a captivating setting for children to be motivated and engaged as they explore movement and gain early learning skills in preparation for preschool, Kindergarten and life!

Where they are: We welcome all children, at all levels of development! Come explore our playscapes, for some unguided play time. What to expect in class: 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! Special Open Gym times will sometimes have extra activities like a no-mess art activity, a story-time or a surprise visit from Gymbo! Benefits: Physical:Allowing children to lead their own play offers time for them to try things repeatedly without worrying about the structure of a class, or trying something again they did in class earlier! Cognitive: Unguided play supports early brain development. Social: Sharing a space with mixed ages allows for children to learn and practice more sophisticated social skills and learn from their peers. Adults: Let your little one guide their own play, which has countless benefits. Spend quality time with them doing what they love to do, and mostly run out some energy!

Where they are: These babies are on the move! Crawling, cruising, rolling, sitting, ready to explore anything and everything. 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.

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: Children of all ages, at every stage can learn about music! What to expect in class: Engage your little one in a multi-age music class which provides opportunities not only to learn musical techniques, styles, and about different instruments, but also supports social and emotional development. Benefits: Physical: Sensory exploration time is supported while children practice their motor skills, which is crucial for your child’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 you feel more connected.

What to expect in class: Sculpt with playdough, create a collage, or experiment with different mediums. Build a giant tower with your classmates, and read stories based on our weekly theme! Benefits: Physical:Working with different textures supports sensory input, fine motor, and gross motor skills. Cognitive: Creating your own work supports confidence and problem-solving skills. Social: Not only are children learning social skills by sharing a work space and creating with others, they are also able to express themselves through another outlet before they have the verbal capacity to do so. Adults: Get uninterrupted time with your little one; watch them create and play!

Free play! Enjoy the music and the chance to explore the equipment setup on your own - at your own pace.

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.