I had the opportunity to try out Gymboree Play & Music in Bridgeport Village over the last two weeks. My older boys (2 and 4) went to both the family play and art classes and we had a great time! There are a few things that especially stood out to me:
:: Personalized attention: We’ve taken a few preschool classes through city parks & rec departments, so we have a bit of experience with these types of classes. The teachers at Gymboree blew our other experiences out of the water. My boys were called by name. If they wanted orange paint, they got orange paint. If they were jumping off a structure, the teacher created a pit to make it more fun. You sure feel special at this place.
:: Flexible structure: I’m all for rules and institutional structure. Let’s face it, playing by the rules is a necessary part of functioning in the world. But I loved that the people at Gymboree let my boys explore the gym while the other kids climbed up the imaginary tree. And that the art teacher encouraged my four-year-old to finish painting his butcher paper orange (yes, the entire thing) while the rest of the kids did the three other scheduled projects.
Obviously, if we were there every week I would make them do what everyone else was doing. But it was great that the new kids were allowed to get used to what was going on.
:: Options: The Bridgeport Village location has tons of different classes to choose from at very convenient times. I also like that they have classes that accommodate different ages so siblings can attend together.
If you’re looking to get your little kids into a high quality, organized activity, I encourage you to give Gymboree a try. Tuition is a bit pricey, but I think it’s worth it if you have the room in your family’s budget. It’s also a great way to meet other parents and connect with families in your community.
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The owners of the Bridgeport and Cedar Hills/Beaverton locations are extending a great offer to Frugal Living NW readers. Join Gymboree before March 31st and receive a $50 discount on your first month of tuition and receive a $25 gift certificate to spend at our on-site mini-store on bubbles, music, puzzles, puppets and more. Also receive a $25 GymBuck to spend at the Gymboree clothing stores on a purchase of $50 or more.
Call or email Gymboree at gymboreekids@msn.com for details. This offer is for new families only and may not be combined with other offers.
My apologies for not having pictures of our experience at Gymboree. My fancy-schmancy camera is on the fritz.
