Gymboree class/Commercialism - Page 2

[calgal007]

GAAAAAHHHHH! "So we'll have a happy gymbo day"???????? GMAFB!!!!! I think Gymboree is a franchise deal. So, the amount of pushing of commercialism probably depends on the personality of the individual franchisee.

[dentente]

My dd went to Gymboree from about 4 months to 18 months of age. Some months she went a lot. Some months she hardly went at all. Our experience was overall very good. She enjoyed playing with the same kids every week. She loved the teachers who were all very competent and affectionate of the kids. The equipment was fun. I don't know how we would have coped during certain rainy weeks where we could not play outside. We made copious use of the make-up policy on those rainy weeks. Dd got to blow off steam and I got to commisertate with other harried moms.

I was pleasantly surprised by the very Pro-AP moms at the group I attended. Most moms BFed. Many co-slept. It was a great way to feel normal because many people in family were shocked at my parenting practices. It was a safe place to NIP too. The managers of the franchise were very cool people. We often had lunch with them after class. They all had kids.

I think like many other playgroups it's what you make of it and how cool your particular branch of Gymboree is. I am sure there are sucky ones run by sullen post-teens. If you get stuck with a Gymboree that's all mainstream moms who's eyes bug out when you NIP then you won't be very happy. I am sure there are good ones too. I was never pushed to buy anything. When I renewed our membership they usually gave us tons of cool stuff. We scored a free parachute and a free Gymbo although I do find him creepy. He hides in the closet. I loathe the Gymboree clothing, though and never used my Gym-bucks. The girls clothes tend to be frilly and uncomfortable to my dd. We did not like the musi classes that much and the new art classes look like they could be similar.

Try it. It's free to try. If you like it then it might be a great solution to the playgroup thing. Especially good for the smaller kids.

Denny

[LoveBeads]

GMAFB ?:

Edited to say: I got it! Yes, GMAFB!

I was thinking G M was for "gag me" so that shows you that I was definitely a teen in the 80's!

[calgal007]

We've always talked in initials; I forget that.

[calgal007]

We've always talked in initials; I forget that.

[anythingelse]

We love gymboree and have done the kids classes alone and their sibling class in two states. Ours now does not sell anything, it is in a church gym. The teacher is the most loving ap grandma & I sing loudly off key all songs and she never says boo about that. I have made some awesome homeschooling momfriends there and it saved my sanity through a long winter with a new baby to have this class for my preschool age older #3ds.

You can buy gymbo the clown at their website lol!!!

Mary
mom to four wonderful kids

[Periwinkle]

A music "class" we're in once a week, which we otherwise adore, hands out Sesame Street stuffed dolls during a made-up song about them, and we all have a contest to watch how quickly all the little 12-18 monthers can identify each one. I hate it. (don't get me wrong, i love love love Sesame Street, just not for my 14 month olds yet) So I would find the Gymbo/Gymboree thing annoying too.

[LiamnEmma]

I don't think you're ridiculous. We went with ds when dd was a newborn, and I enjoyed it, but there was no way I was ever going to buy him Gymbo, that's for sure. And I was always a little put off by the "This week all our XXX is on sale!" la-dee-dah stuff. But I also figured, that's their business, it doesn't mean I have to partake. And I could also see then that the teacher made all the difference. There were some I avoided (one of the owners in particular) and others I loved. Plus, ds grew out of the equipment in the space of about 6 months. Then we discovered My Gym and we love it so. We've never looked back since. There's still commercialism (it's a business after all), but everyone enjoys it more. Funnily, the other day ds said to dd (who has never really been to Gymboree, and I didn't even think he remembered Gymboree to tell the truth), "See? Isn't this better than Gymboree?" But, different things work for different people, and boy, Gymboree served it's purpose for us at the time we attended.