Is Gymboree a Kid Country Club?

Both my kids attended Gymboree classes and it was a really good experience for them. The classes gave my kids a chance to socialize with other kids their age. The format allowed my kids to explore, develop, and learn.

It was also a very good experience for my wife, who at the time of my daughter"s birth, was dealing with being a first time mom, a stay-at-home mom, and a new mom to the area. We moved to the sticks 2 months before my daughter was born and when we moved, my wife and I did not know anybody. Gymboree and other baby social events like swimming lessons and library events created an amazing opportunity for my wife to meet other new mom"s and form friendships. Because of it, my wife found friends who I am confident will become life-long.

But despite all the good qualities of Gymboree, the expense of the classes can create some issues. This is no $30 YMCA enrollment fee where you are pretty much paying a high school student minimal wage to paint pictures with your kid. This is more in the range of $200 for 12 weeks. This is no rip-off establishment though. That $200 gets you clean facilities, safe equipment, and licensed trained staff.  You do get what you pay for and your kids enjoy themselves.

I have gotten some weird static from people who do not send their kids to Gymboree class. Normally, it is in the form of comments like, "Well, we can"t afford to send our kids to Gymboree" and other BS lines like that. Almost as if they know their kids would like it but they just don"t want to pay for it. At first I got self-conscious about the decision to send my kids. I thought to myself that Gymboree is sort of a baby country club: it has paid members who can enjoy the great facilities while those who can"t afford it must watch from outside the window. Also, you must register early to get the class time you want—sort of like reserving a prime tee time.

I don"t know if those that criticize Gymboree simply do not see the value in it. Or maybe they feel it"s a waste of money. If you are one of those people, I encourage you to take advantage of the free class that Gymboree offers. If your kid enjoys themselves, the cost might not be such a big deal.