My Gym vs. Little Gym vs. Gymboree

Dancer6978 · February 2012

Thoughts?

So far we've tried out The Little Gym and My Gym. Here are my assessments from one class each (ETA: our son is 27 months old):

- The Little Gym: structured, focuses on specific skills

- My Gym: not as structured; much open play time with no direction; doesn't focus much on specific skills

Concerns: Does Little Gym offer enough play time? Does My Gym offer too much and not enough actual skill goals?

We haven't been to Gymboree yet, but that will be next weekend.

Please share your thoughts on your experiences at each! Thanks!

Arcadia1114 · February 2012

I haven't been to either of them because they are so expensive. There's an independently owned play place near us that we pay $6 for access to the center and an extra $2 for a dance class. It is a great place. The price makes it even better.

egsquared · February 2012

We only have experience with Gymboree, but the structure of that is probably somewhere between the two that you describe. There are 'structured' activities all through the class, but LOs are free to participate or not. I'd say my DD 1/2 participates and then just plays with whatever interests her for the rest of the time. Gymboree is not at all gymnastics focused or anything and I don't think they're really focusing on any specific gross motor skills. It's more about imagination and using the play equipment in the theme for the day (shopping, camping, etc.)

Which is best probably depends on your LO. Based on how DD acts at Gymboree, she probably wouldn't do as well at Little Gym as maybe she would at My Gym.

Another thing to note though is that, at least here, kids age out of most of the Gymboree classes at age 3, so if you're looking for something more long term, Little Gym or My Gym may be the way to go (I don't know the age limits there though).

lemonJAM · February 2012

We've only done a couple class each at My Gym and Little Gym. I much preferred the structure at Little Gym. My gym was too much like free play to be spending that much money.

Dancer6978 · February 2012

lemonJAM, that's what I was worried about. Do you think your child gets enough "free play" time at Little Gym? The gym room seemed bare compared to My Gym's room.

My son had fun at both places, though. I think My Gym was fun for him because it had so many different things to do, but it was much less structured, and even though there were several facilitators, I didn't feel like he got the same one-on-one attention that he did at Little Gym -- and I did feel that a lot of the time it was just him running around and me chasing after him.

Bronxgirl73 · February 2012

We belonged to Gymboree for about a year and a half and we loved it. However, t only goes up to age 3 and I would say it is better fro kids 2 and under.

lemonJAM · February 2012

Dancer6978:

lemonJAM, that's what I was worried about. Do you think your child gets enough "free play" time at Little Gym? The gym room seemed bare compared to My Gym's room.

My son had fun at both places, though. I think My Gym was fun for him because it had so many different things to do, but it was much less structured, and even though there were several facilitators, I didn't feel like he got the same one-on-one attention that he did at Little Gym -- and I did feel that a lot of the time it was just him running around and me chasing after him.

We tried both places over the summer, so DD was just over 2. I think LIttle Gym did give enough free play time and she liked it better there too. I'm not sure what My Gym classes are like when the kids are closer to 3 or 4. Maybe they get more structured as the kids get older. If we were going to sign up for classes again, we'd definitely do LIttle Gym.

WiggleBaby · February 2012

lemonJAM:
Dancer6978:

lemonJAM, that's what I was worried about. Do you think your child gets enough "free play" time at Little Gym? The gym room seemed bare compared to My Gym's room.

My son had fun at both places, though. I think My Gym was fun for him because it had so many different things to do, but it was much less structured, and even though there were several facilitators, I didn't feel like he got the same one-on-one attention that he did at Little Gym -- and I did feel that a lot of the time it was just him running around and me chasing after him.

We tried both places over the summer, so DD was just over 2. I think LIttle Gym did give enough free play time and she liked it better there too. I'm not sure what My Gym classes are like when the kids are closer to 3 or 4. Maybe they get more structured as the kids get older. If we were going to sign up for classes again, we'd definitely do LIttle Gym.

we are in a My Gym class now at 3 yrs and it's fantastic for us. I have also tried Gymboree and liked it, but think she would get bored with the smaller space really fast. My Gym lasts until they are much older, and plus it's just a larger physical space so she can really run and get out her energy. (we don't have a Little Gym in my area)

the Terrific Tots class (I forget what age they go into that group) is what we are in now at My Gym (but we've been members since DD was very small). They start with free play till everyone arrives, then do circle time (warm up exercises, song/dance, and a practice gymnastics skill for the day). a little free play while they setup the activities, then the kids split up onto 2 different mats to do a gymnastics activity. they are expected to sit, wait their turn, and watch their friends. then they switch mats and do the other activity. then a bit of free play, but during it they bring out swings or something fun. THEN another circle time with a special surprise item to explore and do imaginative things with, the teacher leads them in this (maybe a frisbee that can become a steering wheel, a pizza, a hat...). then a story/song and say goodbyes.

looks like your son would enter this same Terrific Tots class very soon (it starts at 2.5 yrs, so that's 30 months old, right?)

when we moved into this bigger kids class it was a big transition. it definitely has more structure than the classes prior to this, and will set DD up very well for the next class up, which is independent kids-only. i am looking forward to that, and it's one of the reasons we've stuck with it this long.

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