to think Gymboree is not that hot?

[BlackSwan]

Went to a trial class this week... there were too many mums and bubs in the class so it felt crowded & the equipment was very busy.

Most of the class time was spent doing 'free play', with the obligatory parachute rustle (good fun for the babies) and bubbles thrown in. Then a weird bit where Gymbo the creepy clown came to kiss the babies.

At around 17 pounds a session - that seems extortionate to me. Even the Gymboree bubbles cost 10 pounds at their own shop. 10 POUNDS!!! But I do need to take DS somewhere for a workout & to socialise him.

There are free playgroups in my area, but having been there a couple of times, they're little more than a play mat with a few snotty nosed kids and a V-tech walker! We do go to music class which is good value and has a nice atmosphere.

Should I just accept this as the norm and enrol, or should I look further afield?

Why not start something interesting at your local playgroup?
The one I go to, its run by mums whose kids have all gone to school. It is just toys and snotty noses. But its a great opportunity for kids to socialise without a structure being imposed.
If its social skills you are hoping to develop, then what surely could develop your child's social skills more, than these types of groups?
Our playgroup leader is delighted to facilitate suggestions from parents. We have had supermoms attend who have super ideas and we go along with these occasionally. I have also made batches of playdough, etc and used this for semi-structured playtime.
The point I am really trying to make is that you don't need to go to expensive, gimmicky playgroup sessions. Any gathering in a reasonable room (or house, cafe, etc) is a great, real life opportunity for our children to develop lots of skills.
And for us to relax and enjoy adult company too!

will be brief as we're in between bath and bed here...

nellie - it must really depend on the franchise. Having done the maths myself, I see it actually works out at 18.60 a class. There's a 30 quid registration fee on top too! These are London prices.

Humanoctopus - what I found with the local playgroup is that it wasn't well frequented, the carers were mostly nannies or carers rather than other mums... I like having a bit of structure, but I also want a bit of 'gym' - climbing and crawling through things - so I would still prefer an organised session. Also compels me to go if there's a weekly session we have to attend.

i was looking at the gymboree website the other day and noticed that they were advertising classes for newborns, which struck me as one of the most bizarre use of money I've ever come accross.

£17 a class sounds a huge amount. We have just started Monkey Music with DS, nearly 20 months, and so far he loves it. But mainly we just go to the park and playgrounds. Yours will be walking soon which will make those easier, along with the spring sunshine.

I think one is a bit young for socialising too really though he might enjoy looking at some other kids sometimes, and of course you might like meeting other mums - but you can do those things at loads of cheaper places.

Have you tried looking at a local gymnastics club to see if they run preschool classes?

My DD goes to a preschool gym class, she has been going since she was 15 months old and she has learnt loads of skills. She is now confident on the beam, swinging off bars and so on.

Are you sure about the cost? We also pay £38 per class? I think ther might be a joining fee, but I can't believe they are asking over £65 a month?!?! I thought the prices were fixed across the country even though they are franchises?

I've been going with dd since she was 10 weeks old - it gave me so many ideas of how to interact and play with her from an early age. We are lucky though and don't ever have too many people in our class so maybe that helps... And possibly the staff, ours are fab.

Btw, I am in London too so don't think that can be it!

I have the price list in front of me. 8 classes for 149 pounds. Equals 18.60 per class. Registration fee is on top.

Slightly cheaper if you buy 12 classes... 200 pounds for 12 classes, which is 16.60 per session.

In that case - no way!

youngjoly - thanks for the tip re gym clubs, great idea... starting the search now.

You have all scared me into checking what I am paying as I have only just signed up.

The monthly cost for Leeds and Harrogate is £26.90 which works out at £6.72 (and a half)per week - and I had to think twice about that...can't imagine paying £17 for a session!!!

You need to move up north.

hereabouts are you?

If by some chance your in London, Talacre sports centre in Kentish town does baby gym...basically a giant padded hall (the floors are bouncy :o) with stuff to climb all over etc

Is not a structured lesson such but it's fab!

think it's £4.60 for an hour

17 quid? Is that London? I am oop North and DS1's Gymboree classes (albeit about 2 years back) were around a fiver each.

As with all these things, how good they are depends on the group leader.

But I can think of no activity where I would justify spending that amount of money.

Just seen quitescared's post of 19:31 - I am in Leeds/Harrogate as well. If it's the same people doing the class, Quitescared, your DC should enjoy it- DS1 loved it. Think it's a guy called Chris - he's very good with the children.

its a rip off

look soon its SPRING, get yourself to a playground, and look further afield for mother and toddler groups, I love em and they are only a quid!

also try wacky warehouse/soft play, in term time when the big ones are at school they are fine

I also live in London and am horrified at £17 a class! Do you live near Harrods by any chance?

I live in Greenwich. I used to take DS to "Baby Sensory" classes which he enjoyed and this was around £8 a session. However I ultimately decided this was a little too expensive for me and started taking him to the "Toddler World" soft play at the local leisure centre [around £3 per session] and also my local Surestart Stay and Play session for 50p [which includes fruit for the kiddlies .

To be honest DS seems to enjoy the cheaper sessions and venues as much as he ever did the Baby Sensory...

I am in London too and paid about £45 a month for gymborie. Did one class a week but ther was a drop in session 6 days a week and when the weather was bad I used to go a lot. Dh works weekends so the sat morning session was invaluable. It's a brilliant franchise here though and they let you take siblings to the free play sessions for free. Also I don't think there is a tie in so you could just do a few months while the weather is cold.
As for the freaky clown, yes it's a bit weird but the songs are brilliant and I loved the special time with my ds's.

Just read back and I sound like a promo girl for gymborie. I'm not! Was thinking of buying a franchise when we were thinking of moving to somewhere that didn't have one though ....

Tholeon - I take my young baby (3 months) to gymboree and I absolutely love it!

They have almost taught me how to play with her in a way that isn't just shaking a toy in her face, and she spends the whole 45 mins laughing and smiling so to me, it's well worth the money...

Of all the things we do; aqua tots, rhyme time, French rhyme time, baby sensory and mother & Baby group, it is by far the best.

They're going to want another cheque from me on Friday and I'm going to give them one :) lol

In terms of people saying take your baby to a playground etc, it just seems such a difficult age to me.. They're far too young for things like that, but too alert to sit in a house / pram all day.

If I could find even more activities like Gymboree, I would! They're a lifesaver..(

(I dont work for Gymboree ;)) lol

I'm with bupcakesandcunting.

What did people do before all these over-inflated classes? They went to the park!

We went to baby gym once, £5 (again with obligatory parachute) to do what we can do in the park and with added fresh air. I don't think the woman leading it even liked children and we had to spend the first 15 minutes doing introductions, like I'd remember names of 20 kids and their mums.

They don't really need socialising to the tune of £17 a session. IMHO.

I go to Tumbletots (£5 a session). It's ok. The group leader is friendly (it's a man) and the equipment is varied and suitable. But to be honest, I don't think 11 mo DD gets loads out of it, she'd be just as happy bouncing on the bed at home and going round the shops in her buggy.
We only go because I meet two friends there and they do nice coffee in the leisure centre cafe

French Rhyme Time? Really? For a 3 month old.

Are you winding us up Giraffe?

Sorry if you are serious but it seems such a lot for a 3 month old to er..absorb.

Lol... I know it sounds crazy, but it's just something different, I go with a friend and her baby and we just have a laugh..

It's a bit of a break from twinkle twinkle ;)

. I have to bow down to you Giraffe, my 6 month old DD's idea of an outing is a trip to the supermarket or the school run...

Oh dont! It's as much for me as it is for her!

I just got so stir crazy in the house that I went a bit overboard with the activities...

Now I find that if I just keep her in, she's much harder work because she's bored.

'rod for my own back' springs to mind!

And I'm not totally Mary Poppins about it, I always go out for cake after (and sometimes wine :p)

17 quid? They've seen you coming.

Both my DSs have learnt how to climb far too well by jumping over our sofas, playing in the park and jumping on the beds. 17 quid a week could probably enable you to buy your own equipment.

How about soft play with some friends? At least you get to eat cake and choose who you eat it with.

17 quid? Clearly the age of austerity isn't as widespread as I thought.