You may not know it, but Gymboree isn't just a cute clothing store in the mall. Part of the company offers classes for little ones. Classes? For a baby? Yep, they think of everything! We had a pass for a free class, so we went to check it out today. The visit started with free play at the gym, where they had big blocks, ramps and tunnels set up as well as toys strewn around to encourage exploration and discovery. As soon as Wesley's feet touched the floor, he headed into a giant tunnel and I went around to the other side and we played a little Peek-A-Boo. We rolled balls on the floor, played with some scarves and interacted with some of the other kids.
The organized part started when we were called to the center mat with a song. The kids (all 10-16 months, about 6 of them) were encouraged to push a giant ar log across the floor. Basically they all walked toward the log and pushed it with their hands and the group leader helped it along. All the moms walked behind the kids and of course we all cheered when the kids got the log to the other side of the mat. Then we walked around to the other side and rolled the log back.
More free play followed for a few minutes as a parachute was set up on the floor. Then, another song asked us to come back to the parachute. The leader sang a song as she brought out the "Busy Box," a tupperware container full of rattles. The kids SWARMED the box when the leader set it on the floor. The moms encouraged the kids to shake the rattles to the beat of the music playing in the background and we tried to get them to dance a little bit. Another song from the leader requested us to help clean up as we put the rattles away when we were done.
The leader then pulled out some bubbles and continued to enchant the children with a song and lots of bubble floating around. The kids were inside the parachute and the moms stood on the exterior and we picked up the edge of the chute and shook it. The kids really enjoyed it. Then we put the kids under the chute and we would raise it up high and then touch it to their heads.
There were a few other activities, a peek-a-boo clown puppet, more songs with motions and we left with an overall feeling of goodness. I think a large part of the appeal is the songs and the feeling of being actively interactive with Wesley. Sometimes I feel like I don't know how to play anymore. It was just refreshing and I felt like I really spent a good hour of quality time with him.
After class, we went to Chick fil a and got some lunch. We had missed the lunch crowd and no one was in the play area, so we went in and Wesley explored some more. He tried to crawl up the twisty slide, but the twist was just to steep, but it made for a perfect setting for some fun pictures. In some ways, I think Wesley had just as much fun at Chick fil a.
Of course, there were no songs or toys, but he had one of his favorite people with him. And no matter where we are, Mommy and Wesley ALWAYS have a good time!
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