Gymboree

[claireh05]

Hi all,

I am very sad today as I have just been told that the Gymboree on the Gold Coast has shut down :(

My daughter (8 months) and I loved it and got a lot out of it. I really enjoyed the structured play and was wondering if anyone knew of any other similar places in the Gold Coast? I have been told about 'Mini Movers' but that is only for 1 year olds and up.

We are in a Playgroup which is great, but I really wanted something like Gymboree as well. If you have any ideas, please let me know!

Thanks!
Claire :)

[leab]

I know!:no: I didn't even get to see it. I had booked in for a preview session and they called to cancel it.
Can you tell me - what sort of activities did you do. I know that there was a play and a music class. My DD is 9mo and very active, she loves climbing and standing and crawling and so I thought something more physical would be appropriate.

Do you know if they sold any books with the activities in them? Maybe I could do a mini Gymboree in my own home with my mother's group.......

[claireh05]

Such a shame you didn't even get to try it. My LO is 8 months and she was in the 'Crawler' class - there were lots of obstacles like tunnels and bridges that she was encouraged to crawl through and over - we did lots of activities to build up their upper body strength with things like trying to get them to crawl up ramps, finding toys in the middle of some really big tyres where they had to balance and lay on the tyres to play with the toys. There was always a sing session with actions and a bubbles section which my little one loved.

There is a Gymboree website, but it's American- they have an online shop - there are some good CDs. You can also find books with activities written by the gymboree developers in bookshops in Australia, but the only ones I have seen are birth to a year, so I don't know if it would be worth it for you seeing as your LO is 9 months already - I have one but a lot of it is too young for my one now.

A few of the gymboree mums and I are going to try and take our LOs to SMileez or somewhere like that (I have heard that there is a good play place at Burleigh) on a regular basis and try and get the bubs to use similar equipment to get some more physical play - maybe you could do something similar with your mum's group.

Ah well - lets hope they open something similar here soon - my bub and I have been going since she was 6 weeks so I won't know what to do with myself now!!!

All the best!:wave:

[eskimo kiss]

HI Claire

Just wondering if you are Heidi's mum?? It is Mackenzie's mum here. I was going to Gymboree last term but hadn't re-enrolled yet for this term...but then saw your post that it has closed down!!!

What is going on? What happened? Did they say why it closed down?

Such a shame...we really enjoyed going!

Nicole :)

[claireh05]

HI Nicole,
Have just sent you a PM - saw you were online so thought I would say hi!
Love the pic of Mackensie - I need to work out how I can get photos up - I am not very bubhub savvy at the moment!

[leab]

Claire: Thanks for the info:) I might look at getting one of their books. Although, as you said, mine is at that inbetween age so I don't want to waste my money on something age inappropraite. I'll have to do a bit of investigation:)

I've also been to those playcentres in the past with mine and while they were value for money (FREE for under 12mo!lol) the toddler areas are better suited to walking bubbas. With a crawling & teething baby the place is a Bacterial and Viral minefield! e.g putting everything in their mouth and hands on mats where sweaty adult & toddler feet have previously trodden. My LO almost always comes home with a cold 2-3days after visiting one.

Good luck on your trek to find something like Gymboree:) Let us know if you find something!

Leanne

[eskimo kiss]

HI Everyone

A friend of mine recently has been taking her little one to something a bit similar to Gymboree. It is called Kindergym, I went last week and tried it out. It was good, although not as good as Gymboree, however it didn't really work out for us with the days and times.

I am not sure of the age group, there were bubs from about 9 months up to about 2 years I think. It is held at a church in Mudgeeraba. Cost is $25 for the year then, $5.00 per class. They don't have a lot of equipment, but it might suit some people. The other people were nice. PM if you want more details. They did have singing and bubbles!

But you really could do similar stuff with your mum's group if you got organised!!!

:) Nicole

[Everextendingfamily]

Hi..I am new to the bub hub thing. Just thought I would mention that I have just started taking my kids to Kel's Cubbyhouse in Southport. It is awesome!!!! Another mum recommended it to me. The lady (Maree) that used to work at Gymboree now holds craft, activities, reading and music classes there. My kids love it. I love the free coffee and morning tea.... he he he:)

[mum2ryan]

Wow,
I can't believe Gymboree closed down. I took Ryan last year to both the crawling and then to the walking class and he loved it. I didn't register again this year as the classes were getting to full and being pregnant I didn't know if I could keep up with him once he found his feet.
I'd definately be interested in something similar for Ryan and bub who's due in 3 weeks :smiliedance:

[lros34]

Hi,

If you visit the website www.kindyroo.com.au and www.kindyroo.com this organisation was established in Melbourne for assisting in baby and toddler development. They also use music in their classes and equipment to assist parents in learning about their baby/childs milestone development. They have 3 locations on the Gold Coast.

I take my ds to these classes and he absolutely loves it, they have a room full of equipment probably similar to Gymbaroo for the children to climb on eg. ladders, tramps, skeeter boards.

The lessons are $15 each for 11 week term = $165 and they provide instructions/assistance on being able to perform activities held in the classes and at home using your own household furniture.

They have both babyroo classes from 6weeks old for non-mobile babies, mobile babies and then kindyroo for toddlers thoughout the week.

Hope this assists in knowing about another activity out there.

[claireh05]

Thanks everyone,

Funnily enough I was going to take my bub to Kel's Cubby House for the first time on Thursday, but she was sick so we didn't end up going. Glad to hear it's more than just a playplace and that they have activities run by the staff there. I never knew it was there until last week when a friend told me about it and I only live round the corner (well - pretty much anyway!)

Kindyroo sounds great too - I have just printed off the number and will ring on Monday! Sounds very similar to Gymboree. Thanks Iros34!

I know they have Mini Movers in Miami - that is for over 1 years and the child must be walking - maybe mum2ryan that might work for you guys.... I don't think you have to pay per term there - maybe you could try it first and see if you can manage now that you are pregnant.

Thanks again to all of you! Glad to know there are other options out there. :smiliedance:

[Everextendingfamily]

Hi

Me again...forgot to tell you yesterday that the Kel's Cubbyhouse classes are a really good size. They limit the classes to 8-10 children ... so the kids all get plenty of attention and don't get lost in the crowd.

The brochure I have says that you have to book for the classes. If it helps their number is :wave: 5528 2110.

Probably sounds like I am raving on a bit....but it is so hard to find a clean, stimulating environment for the kids.....and since I have found this place I just love it!!! It makes my life as a mum sooooo much easier.

Good luck!

[bubaloo1979]

Hi Claire,

We were just as devastated about Gymboree shutting down. :no: :banghead: My DP started working away (4wks on/1 at home) the week that it shut down so I was pretty upset as it was going to be a great outlet for me!!! We got our refund cheque for this term in the mail last week.

There was a group of about 6 of us from antenatal classes in the crawlers class (Wednesday) and we got onto Kindyroo as it was all we could find. We heard about Kel's Cubbyhouse but they didn't have as much equipment so we didn't head in that direction. I've been to 2 Kindyroo classes and it's quite good and has a different educational side that Gymboree didn't have. The equipment isn't as good and the classes aren't as good but I think once you've been to Gymboree, nothing could match up - we all had such a fun time! :smiliedance:

We heard that Gymboree may have been reopening but not under the management of Doug from Brisbane (who ran it before). Apparently he has a couple of prospects to take over the lease etc. My friend Krystle thought that she ought to get the story straight before telling us so she phoned Belinda and she confirmed that this was right but that it would be at least 5 weeks until it reopened and was in full swing again. I'd allow at least a couple more weeks on top of that - we all know these things take time.

So we decided to enrol into Kindyroo for this term and go back to Gymboree when it reopens. If you want to call the lady at Kindyroo on 55639647, she'll give you all the information you need - her name is Leanne. We paid $155 for the term. They are renovating a bigger room at the moment and I think it will be back on around 5 Sept. The class for our agegroup is on Tuesdays at 11.30am.

Anyway, I hope this helps and lets keep our fingers crossed for Gymboree to reopen. :fingerscrossed:

[upearlyalways]

Hi there. I was talking to a girlfriend yesterday who told me about bubhub. it is great. I was interested to see your post about gymboree shutting down. I have heard that Kel's Cubbyhouse are doing baby classes in the afternoons. This is great for me because bub is always up early and then sleeps most of the morning. I will be ringing today to find out more:sleeping: