Why Gymboree?

It all began with an idea: stretch a child's rapidly developing mind and body and you prepare that child for life. At Gymboree, we know that the first relationships and experiences that children have profoundly impact their future. It is therefore essential that parents nurture a child's development during this time. Gymboree supports the development of the "whole child" and believes that playing and learning are inextricably linked. Our approach and unique learning environments integrate the very best of physical, cognitive and social activities for young children. And since parents and caregivers are key to a child's development, we give you ideas to inspire your child to problem solve, think creatively and gain self-confidence. After all, you are your child's most important teacher, and the Gymboree community is committed to helping you become the best parent you can be.

We Are the Global Leader in Early Childhood Development

Gymboree Play & Music has been fostering creativity and confidence in children ages 0-5 for over 30 years. We have over 600 locations in 30 countries, making us the global leader in early childhood development programmes.

Our class curriculum is developed by our programme directors in collaboration with the child development expert Zero to Three®, to ensure our programmes provide the best support and early enrichment education to children and their parents.

Our Locations Are Safe Places to Play and Learn

We provide an environment where children are free to move, play and explore safely. Our proprietary equipment was designed by Jay Beck, a respected playground designer with more than 30 years of experience, who created every structure with the needs of children in mind. Our play environments are designed to deliver the high-quality standard parents expect for their children.

We Have Over 30 Years of Experience

Gymboree began in 1976 when Joan Barnes, a mother from California, tried to find a safe, fun place featuring age-appropriate activities for parents and young children to play together. Unable to do so, she did what any enterprising person would; she started her own programme. The core of Gymboree's curriculum is our sensory-motor play programme which has been continuously developed and improved over 30 years. In the last 10 years, Gymboree introduced Music and Art, and most recently School Skills and Sports.

Gymboree Play & Music was introduced to Switzerland in 2002. We are currently running programmes at three locations — Basel, Geneva and Zurich. We are preparing for our market launch in Germany with our first location in Munich open in early 2010. The Gymboree Play & Music master franchise in Germany, Austria and Switzerland is owned and operated by Play2Learn GmbH.

Find out more about Gymboree Play & Music in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

There Are Many Benefits to Joining Our Gymboree Family

We have so much to offer you and your child at Gymboree. When you join our Gymboree family, you'll not only enjoy our classes each week, but also have access to our play gym sessions, and receive free classes, parent handouts and more.