Conference moira::parenting

    You might want to save your money and wait until your child is 
    2 - 2 1/2.  That's when they can try 'real' gymnastics and develop 
    their motor skills and strength.  Age 1 is too young for anything but
    play.  Why 'pay for play' when you can do it for free at the indoor 
    and outdoor playgrounds ?  

    One of these just opened in our town, too, and I enrolled my 3-year-old.
    What I recommend is that you take your child to try it out before
    signing up.  The Gymboree in our town had some "Open House" sessions
    before the "for pay" series started.  You can probably call to find out
    when (if) there will be such sessions at your location.  That would give
    you a chance to find out what sort of things they do and whether your child
    likes it.  My sister-in-law has been taking her 2 1/2 year old daughter
    to Gymboree (yet another location) for over a year, I think, and they
    like it a lot, which is one of the reasons I looked into it for my son.

					cheryl

    Great time for this note to be entered !! 
    
    I too have a 1 yr old and was going to sign her up for Saturday a.m.   
    classes in Holden MA.  I was discussing it with my sister last night,
    and she said might be a bit to expensive at her age, might even be
    a waste, BUT Sis offered to pay for her X-Mas present !!!!!!!  Even
    so, I hate to see the $$$ go to waste.  I think I might wait until
    the fall session.  
    
    I wanted her to see other kids her age, she sees her cousins all the
    time, but the youngest is 3 !  But I suppose while I'm at work, 
    Grammi can bring her to the park and see if theres any kids around
    her age ........ and it's "free" !!
    
    Thanks for the note !!
    
    

    
    We took Spencer to Gymboree starting at 3 months, I think we went a
    total of three (7 week sessions). For us it was very helpful because it
    taught us songs and games to play with the baby. (did you, before you
    had your baby know the washing song?)
    
    	Anyway, once Spencer was upright, we just couldn't justify the
    money when we could just bring him to the local playground and get teh
    play for free. The other thing is that we got a few parents who had
    kids his age and we all met once in awhile.
    
				Wendy
    

    
    
    This is great timing.  We were at Kids Fest at Mount Wachusett this
    past weekend and Gymboree (from Holden) had a booth set up there. 
    Robert (10 1/2 months) had a great time.  It was great to see him
    interact with another child (11 months).  Yes, he has other kids at his
    daycare ( 19 months, 2 1/3 & 4) but the interaction isn't the same.  It
    was a riot to see these two babies chase each other around and have a
    grand old time.  I was seriously thinking about taking him to a
    Saturday morning class, so he could have exposure to other children his
    age.  Plus it would be a great time for Robert and Mom to spend some 
    quality time together also.  
    
    Still thinking about it... Maybe I'll have to investigate an open
    house!   
    
    Better yet maybe we'll win the free classes that they had a drawing
    for.  ( yah, right, then the lottery will be next ;-) )
    
    Laurie O  
                                                                          

    
    
    	I think that the policy (at the Nashua branch anyway) is that the
    first class is always free. that being the case, it would be worthwhile
    just to check it out.
    	
    				Wendy

    
    
    There is no comparing a playground with gymboree. At gymboree the
    activities are structured and age appropriate. My daughter started 
    at 6 months and she loved it, now at 19 months she goes to the
    gymnastic  level. It was important for us that she got to play and
    interact with children her own age whereas otherwise she goes to
    the park with her mother and there may or may not be children her age
    to play with. The play at gymboree is more than play, it is
    developmental play that helps insures proper age appropriate
    development. 
    
    I certainly saw a difference before and after she started to attend,
    she would intiate the play she learned there at home. For children
    my daughters age the best I can hope for at a playground is a swing
    or a slide, which she loves, but as has been mentioned here there is
    alot of "spirited" play at the playground by the older children and I
    don't begrudge them that, after all there children too who need to play
    and my daughter will be that age too, sooner than I would like.
    
    JMO

    
    Where are some of the Gymboree's located??? I live in Townsend, MA.
    Would the Nashua one be the closest???? Where in Nashua is it???
    I have heard about these classes and might be interested in getting
    my daughter to take them. I love the idea of a free first class so
    you can see if it's something you really want to do without shelling
    out the dough.
    
    Patty

The one in Nashua/Merrimack is on Rte 101A, also known as Amherst Street.
Take exit 7W from Rte 3.  Proceed approximately 3 or 4 miles.  You'll
pass a nursery and Ciro's restaurant on your right.  Just after Ciro's
you'll see Pennachuck Square (a small shopping area).  It's in there.
Sorry, I don't have the phone number or street number here.

I believe the brochure said there's also one in Londonderry, NH.

    Gina's been taking Gymboree for three years now.  We like it a lot, and
    she now begs to go.
    
    They have very different toys than any playground that I've been at.
    The climbing structures are safer than any at playgrounds I've been to 
    and the child can conquer them better at a younger age.  
    
    Most of the "toys" are inflated large pieces, slides, and sort of
    structured mats that the instructor then uses to create games.
    
    I learned most of my songs there and also like meeting with other
    parents of kids the same ages.
    
    We've been very satisfied with the Nashua gymboree.  Their number is
    429-0229.
    
    judy

    Does anyone know if there is a Gynboree in the Ayer/Leominster area?

    
    Are you looking for the clothing store or the children's play center??
    the closest clothing store in in the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua.
    They would have a listing of the closest play center, but I think it's
    in Merrimack, NH at/near the Pennichuck Square.
    
    patty

    
    There is also a Gymboree in the new Natick Mall.
    
    Kirsten