Classes include play and learn, music, art, sports, and classes for families. In addition to their regular class time, kids can also enjoy scheduled drop-in times to play in the gym. Birthday packages also available. Tel: (416) 410-6386
Ages: 0- 5 years
Major Intersection: Bayview Avenue & Eglinton Avenue West
Address: 123 Eglinton Avenue West (2nd floor, above grocery store), Toronto, ON
If you make an inquiry, please mention that you saw this listing on the Melanie On-The-Go / Kids On-The-Go website. Thank you!
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Share your thoughts below with other parents, caregivers and management. Only the rating and your child's age are mandatory, the rest is up to you!
Activities We Did:
Singing, gross motor exercises (climbing, clicking, swinging on equipment), imaginative play (feed the monkeys, swing through trees,etc)
Good to Go!:
We’ve done some form of Gymboree class since my daughter was 12 months (music, art, p,ay and learn) and I think after a year of it, the kids has gotten everything “new” out of it. They are very organized and clean, the equipment is setup to challenge and we’ve normally had great staff. Open play is always great if you can make it, makes the price tag easier to swallow and their summer passport program is good. We used to just show up and run off energy and I know my daughter gained a lot of gross motor skills through them when she was younger. They do “parties” for special holidays during open play and it’s run like an official Play and Learn class.
Not so Much/ Suggestions for Improvement:
My daughter was a little bored, i think if your child is used to such classes the max age might be 2. Maybe the art classes would remain interesting to her but play and learn is definitely out. Their art classes are nice but we haven’t done them since summer 2011.
Quick Tips for Others:
If you sign up, do the art or music and show up for open play to do the things they do during Play and Learn, more variety for the $$.
Additional Ratings:
- Amenities: 3/5
- Value: 2.5/5
Activities We Did:
sing, play, dance
Good to Go!:
great to meet other moms, nice and clean, friendly staff
Not so Much/ Suggestions for Improvement:
expensive for just once/week
Quick Tips for Others:
go for the summer -they have special rates, you can go as often as you like – better value and worthwhile
Additional Ratings:
- Amenities: 4/5
- Value: 2/5
Activities We Did:
Babies had tummy time with balls rolling around while the moms had a short discussion, free time to enjoy the gym equipment, baby soccer with the moms holding the babies, parachute play, singing with actions.
Good to Go!:
- I did like the summer promotion where you could come to 3 scheduled classes (not just your own) as well as 2 open gym times. However 2 of the classes and 1 of the open gym times are at lunch time, which gets tricky when you start feeding your baby solids and getting them into a feeding routine.
- I was impressed with the gym equipment however to really take advantage of it, you need a baby who is crawling well and wants to explore (i.e. working on their big motor skills) or a toddler. If I could do it again, I would probably have waited until my little guy is 9 or 10 months to try out the classes.
- I like that there are thick mats everywhere so I didn’t have to worry about my baby falling over when he was still learning to sit up well.
- They have some really good baby toys for sale and they’re decently priced.
-The staff are really friendly and helpful. My little guy decided to completely poop bomb himself and me and the staff ended up lending me a shirt so I could continue the class. Mind you, after rushing to get to the class, I was willing to wipe myself off the best I could and continue on..
- The mats are very clean due to the socks-only policy. And if you forget yours, you can buy a pair for only $1!
Not so Much/ Suggestions for Improvement:
- Basically, except for the gym equipment IMO there’s nothing special about Gymboree. You can find baby toys and get the social interaction from Ontario Early Learning Centres (OEYC), there’s also circle time and singing offered by some OEYC’s (see my post on the popular Don Valley East OEYC and Mother Goose)- just call your closest Centre and they can let you know what they offer or check their calendar online. City-run programs also offer good baby classes (generally starting at 6 months) and they’re very affordable so it’s not as big a deal if you miss a few classes. (I like community centres that have rooms that are spacious and have good natural light for e.g. Antibes Community Centre in North York, Ellesmere CC in Scarborough, Memorial Pool & Health Club in Etobicoke, and Edgehill House in Etobicoke. I wasn’t a fan of Barbara Frum CC in Toronto- I’ll post about that later.)
- I had to join for a minimum of 2 months. I probably would have bailed after a month if I had been allowed to.
- You can’t do makeup classes if you’re not registered anymore. Keep in mind that children get sick all the time, especially in the fall and winter months so you might accumulate quite a few makeup classes that may end up being hard for you to schedule in.
- I didn’t like how many times “Gymboree” was mentioned during the class. ”Here are at Gymboree we do blank this way”, “trot trot trot to Gymboree“… it was a bit too annoying for me. I know I’m at Gymboree. I get it. You don’t need to keep reminding me.
- I hear the Open Gym time gets really busy/ crowded in the fall/ wintertime.
- Not too many amenities. There’s the public washroom next door where you can change baby and if the smaller room is free, you can nurse baby in there. There’s also a small bench right at the front but it’s a bit awkward to nurse/ feed baby there.
Additional Ratings:
- Amenities: 2/5
- Value: 2/5