Sunday 24 January 2016

5 Things We Love about Gymboree

5 Things We Love about Gymboree 

When Baby Charley won a free annual membership at Gymboree from the Manila Polo Club, our whole family was thrilled to try it out. However, Manila Polo Club, although near and ang lakas maka-sosyal, is not quite accessible, especially if one relies on a public transpo. Thankfully, there's one in Greenbelt 5!

What is Gymboree? 
Gymboree is an international company, which thankfully is available here in the Philippines, that offers gym plays and structured programs to children aged 0 - 4 years old. The institution promises helping kids build confidence, creativity, and life-long friendships through play and learning.

indoor playground
Using one of her free 5 classes, we decided to give Gymboree a shot, played with Baby Charley, and watched her interact with the other kids. After that day, we could see how Baby Charley enjoyed the day and was looking forward to more Gym Play at Gymboree.

Class schedules at the reception desk 
There are so many things we love about Gymboree, and I think these could be summarized into 5.

What we love about Gymboree

1) Safe and Fun!  
Have you seen Gymboree's colour trademark of orange, blue, green, purple, and red? They scream fun! And it was fun indeed to be at Gymboree. Baby Charley gets excited whenever we pass by Gymboree because she knows it's fun, play time for her. She just loves everything about Gymboree, and she particularly likes the slides and the giant ball!

We also love how the equipment's arrangements are changed regularly, so if you're a regular patron like us, you can expect something new every time you visit.


At first, we were afraid that Baby Charley might get hurt playing in this indoor playground, but we were surprised that almost everything is cushioned; plus, it's a requirement that parents should always be at a child's hug reach.


Baby Charley, though already a walker at 10 months, still needs to stabilise and balance herself whenever she walks (and runs, all the time). She has tripped several times while playing at Gymboree but we're never worried because the whole play area has cushions.

2) Venue to interact with other kids 
Baby Charley is an only child, and it's just her, her daddy, and me in the house, so you can say life could be a little boring for her. Even though we play with her all the time, she still wants to play with kids her age - or any kids na lang period.

We do bring her outside often, and we travel to the province so she can meet her cousins from time to time; however, it still feels different to see her with other kids often. This is another reason why we're very thankful for Gymboree - Baby Charley can play and interact with kids - younger and older kids.

Extreme games! 
We also love how the other kids play kid-games with her. She seems to enjoy running around, screaming, climbing, and hustling with other kids, too. Moreover, what we really appreciate most is how we see Baby Charley waiting for her turn, sharing the toys and the slides, and being gentle with younger babies in the Gym Play. These are the things she has learnt and developed on her own.

Sharing the toys
3) Teaches independence and problem-solving skills, and builds self-confidence 
Gym Plays could be a mommy's worst place ever - especially if she has a toddler. I was really worried that Baby Charley would get hurt in the area, so I would choose which equipment in Gymboree would be best for her. At first I was also thinking how I could teach Baby Charley how to play on the slide, the tunnel, the basketball, etc.


But Baby Charley surprised me when I saw her go through the tunnel on her own, unafraid of what's gonna happen to her. I also saw her observed how the other kids jumped around and push the toys around. Before I knew it, Baby Charley would like to try everything in Gymboree!  Gasp!


So yes, she went through every tunnel, pushed everything, shot all basketballs, climbed all, took the most breath-taking slides, jumped, ran, tumbled, and laughed her heart out.


You could see how proud she is of herself for doing all of those on her own! 


4) Playtime for the whole family 
Gymboree does not only offer playtime for Baby Charley, but playtime for the whole family as well! This is not like those play areas where you leave your kids while you go shopping somewhere else; Gymboree requires parents or any adult to stay and play with the kids in the play area.


This works well for us because we really enjoyed playing with Baby Charley or at least watching her play with the other kids.

Daddy and Baby goofing around! 


5) It was accessible.
There are over 16++ Gymobrees in the Philippines, with 10 here in Metro Manila. Since Gymboree is an international company, you can also use your Gymboree Membership abroad. There are also 2 Gymborees in SG, one in Harbour Front and the other in Tanglin Mall, so Baby Charley can use them, too, when we visit my brother in Hougang again.


There are also more perks being a member of Gymboree like discounts and free gym plays, and seeing how much our family loves Gymboree now, we're sure to renew Baby Charley's annual membership this year.

We are in no way connected to Gymboree, and we just wanna share how much we love Gymboree, and you can check their website for more info on the locations near you.  We're a patron of Gymboree in Greenbelt 5 and we're there almost every weekend. If you see us there, don't hesitate to say hi! :)

35 comments:

  1. Hi Mommy! How does it work in Gymboree? What kind of classes? Parang pang nursery na for toddlers? Or parang play lang? And how much does it cost kaya? Thank you! :)

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    1. Hi Mommy! they have other structured classes and a pre-school, too! they have arts, music, and gym play. It costs around Php3,200 for a month.
      Baby Charley and I just enjoy the play gym where she just plays on her own. We're not enrolling her in any classes. :) But you can check their website or call them to be clearer. :)
      Thanks for visiting, mommy! :)

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  2. Your cutie bebe is surely having fun. There are so many things to love at Gymboree. The teachers are sweet and nice. My kids are now 13, 13 and 9. My youngest still kulet me to go back, 'I told him, done ka na, you're big na.They love GYmboree.

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    1. I think Baby Charley loves Gymboree, too! :) It's really fun to be there. :) Thanks for visiting, Mommy. :)

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  3. I saw this Gymboree at SM Megamall. Thanks for the heads up. I know where me and my baby will go.

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  4. Baby gymboree is love! It really teaches the child to be independent. Ang dami pang interactive activities for parents and kids.

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    1. So far we haven't attended those classes besides their gym play. Baby Charley really is excited every time where at Gymboree. :)

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  5. Haven't been to Gymboree pero I heard na talagang maganda sya for kids.

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    1. Yes. The kids there are having so much fun. Mas masaya if there are more kids in the area. :)

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  6. Gymboree is great for small kids because everything is soft, rounded, and safe :)

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    1. True! That's why Baby Charley loves going there. :) Thanks for visiting. :)

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  7. We tried gymboree once lang. And this post reminds me, we should go and visit again now that the baby is bigger and could enjoy it more.

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    1. Yes! :) I think Gymboree is really for babies or young kids. :) Thanks for visiting. :)

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  8. When my three boys were just toddlers, we often visit these kind of what they call as "soft playgrounds." We haven't tried Gymboree though but heard good feedbacks about it. Now I'm excited for my fourth baby to experience Gymboree. It would be our first. Ihihi

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    1. Wow! three boys! :) I bet your new baby will love playing in Gymboree - made just for babies like him/her. :) Thanks for visiting. :)

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  9. I wasn't able to bring my youngest to Gymoboree and he's 5 now. What a missed opportunity!

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  10. Gymboree's really good! We have a Gymboree about 15 minutes away from where I live; sadly, I'm too busy to take my son there. I must find the time!

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    1. We really make sure to bring Baby Charley at least twice a month cos she's getting bored playing alone in our unit. :) Thanks for visiting. :)

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  11. Wish I knew about Gymboree when my kids were still kids! :D

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    1. LOL! Sayang. It's really fun for Baby Charley. :) Thanks for visiting. :)

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  12. My friend loves bringing her son to gymboree.Now I know why :)

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    1. Yes, it's super fun for Baby Charley, and she really enjoyed playing with other kids there. :) Thanks for visiting. :)

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  13. My friend loves bringing her son to gymboree.Now I know why :)

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  14. HI mommy, Im familiar with Gymboree, but is it like daycare where you leave your child and come back for a certain amount of time? and if yes, are the people there certified in child care? or is it just a simple play place for kids? Lol sorry for all the questions XD

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    1. Hi, Mommy Kharla. :) I think it's different from daycares.
      Gymboree offers Gym Play where you can play with your kids. It's a requirement that an adult should be with the kid all the time. However, they have other classes like Art, Music, and Pre-school where the kids will be on their own. :) Thanks for visiting. :)

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  15. Excited to bring there my son soon. For sure he will enjoy that playground.

    Mhaan <3 | Mommy Rockin' In Style Blog

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    1. I'm sure he will talaga! Baby Charley loves it there! :)

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  16. My daughter goes to Gymboree for preschool. Highly recommended :) You should try their classes too :) For sure your little one will have fun.

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    1. Is it nice ba? :) I'm thinking of sending Baby Charley there nga for playschool before we try big school. :) Thanks for the heads up, Mommy. :)

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  17. We went to the one in Megamall too and really liked it! Although I have to admit may kamahalan siya compared to other play places :)

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  18. My eldest used to play at GYmboree trinoma. He had one trial class lang, we didnt enroll him. But I'd say that their place is really kid-friendly. :) Hello to baby charley!

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  19. Very timely! I was thinking of bringing my little girl to Gymboree too!

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  20. i used to love going to gymboree with my daughter when sshe was still little, learned a lot of fun basic skills there :)

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