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thread: alternatives to gymbaroo

  1. #1
    BellyBelly Life Member

    Jan 2005
    in the valley of cuddles with mountains of smiles
    2,369

    alternatives to gymbaroo

    what do people think of gymbaroo ?

    took ds(big) to kindergym years ago as preschooler and then it was $5-6 session - OMG now it is $170 for 10 week term
    or $60 to try 3 weeks

    then we had 8 -10 in a class

    just way too expensive and I would need to take another carer I believe anyway for 2 babies

    has anyone seen a routine - home made I could do at home have not had much luck googling

    open to suggestions /

    I have a small plastic slide / swings / I can make our own low rise balance beam on grass /fit ball

    what else could we do ?

  2. #2
    maggie Guest

    would love to know, i also enquired and found it tooo expensive-- but its meant to be great.

  3. #3
    Registered User

    Nov 2005
    Sunshine Coast
    1,142

    Gumboree have a book called "the parents guide to play" that has activities for different ages up to 30 months almost all of which don't require any specialised equipment. It costs about $25. HTH

  4. #4
    BellyBelly Life Member

    Jan 2005
    in the valley of cuddles with mountains of smiles
    2,369

    thanks

  5. #5
    BellyBelly Life Member

    Jan 2005
    in the valley of cuddles with mountains of smiles
    2,369

    thanks Fletch - great ideas

  6. #6
    BellyBelly Member

    Oct 2004
    Cairns QLD
    5,471

    FireFly takes her kids to KindaGym which is over at Windsor. I'm not sure what age group or costs. Maybe she will pop in with some details.

  7. #7
    BellyBelly Life Member

    Jan 2005
    in the valley of cuddles with mountains of smiles
    2,369

    I wasn't sure if they did that in Windsor - we went to St Marys years ago.Thanks FJ

  8. #8
    BellyBelly Member

    Jun 2005
    Sydney
    2,121

    I took my DD when she was 18 months old to something like gymbaroo and i found it expensive too.....
    making every friday moring your time in the park, throwing a ball around, take some rope and make it like an obstacle or something.
    I also have heard thru other ladies at my DD dancing class that some schools or YMCA's have reasonable gymnastic classes.... around $7 a lesson....

    Im sure if you looked around your backyard, or in the kids toy boxes you could find things to make a obstacle course.

  9. #9
    Registered User

    Mar 2007
    54

    Have you tried your local PCYC, YMCA or community club? I have taken my son to the offical gymbaroo classes, they were to strick and way to expensive. We are now going to our PCYC and doing kiddy gymnastics it cost $9 a lesson. Its structured but not enforced and they understand kids will be kids.

  10. #10
    BellyBelly Life Member

    Jan 2005
    in the valley of cuddles with mountains of smiles
    2,369

    thanks for all the suggestions - I have time to research since they are only 9 months ... I am glad other people think they are expensive too.

  11. #11
    Registered User

    Jan 2005
    Mooroolbark, VIC
    1,154

    I know of a program called "Music Together" in Ringwood East Melbourne, but I have a feeling that you're not in Vic??

  12. #12
    BellyBelly Life Member

    Jan 2005
    in the valley of cuddles with mountains of smiles
    2,369

    I ordered a book online today ...'Gymboree - Toddler play' - so I will see what they suggest.

    I am in NSW Carrie.

  13. #13
    Registered User

    Aug 2004
    Hunter Valley, Wine Country, NSW
    3,006

    Trish - you can also buy the activity sheets for the different age groups but it may be included in the book you`ve brought.

    Our Gymbaroo is a bit cheaper then yours but is still expensive when you look at what they do, Matthew has got a lot of out it and it gets him socialising with other children his own age.

  14. #14
    BellyBelly Life Member

    Jan 2005
    in the valley of cuddles with mountains of smiles
    2,369

    $8 a class is more like it - I will give it a go thanks

  15. #15
    Registered User

    Oct 2003
    Forestville NSW
    8,944

    I found a private gym that runs kinder classes & you pay for a year of insurance and then its $7.50 a lesson if you sign up for a term, or its $9.00 each class if not signed on for the entire term. We did a term there & have gone occasionally since Jovie was born.

    Another thing that they use heaps is trampolines at our gym.

  16. #16
    Registered User
    Add krysalyss on Facebook

    Feb 2007
    on the move.....
    2,745

    You could try your local PCYC. They often run classes like these and would be a lot cheaper than gymbaroo. My niece goes and loves them. I think the one shes goes to are for 18mths to 3 years.

  17. #17
    Fire Fly Guest

    I have been taking DD to Kindergym since she was 18months old. Thats the youngest that they start them.
    There are 3 classes with 3 different age groups. Classes are run for the school term which is usually 10 weeks. Its $6.60 a lesson with the first one being free once youve been to one term. The program varies depending on age but they have free time to start then they participate with the teacher and the other kids. The free time gets shorter the older they get. The class that Dd is in now is 3.5 to 5yrs. She has 10min free time then the rest is with the instructor. Parents are allowed to sit down and watch at this age as the kids attention span is longer so they tend to want to do whatever is asked.
    Ill be starting DS when he turns 18months. He has a go now and seems to love it but i dont pay for him cause he doesnt go with the teacher, he is with me.
    Next term will be DD last term and only because i want to start her in 2 days of pre-school so that has to be sacraficed unfortunatley. Im not made of money otherwise she could do both.
    DD goes to the one at Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium at Windsor. Phone # if anyone is interested is 45878788.
    The kids get a sticker book at the start of the term which they love, at the end of each class they all get a sticker. I keep them all. I seems monotanise (s) to me but kids love repotition so thats how they learn. They learn to wait there turn, listen and how to be active sensibly. Its worth it i think.

  18. #18
    Registered User

    Jan 2007
    81

    I take mikenzee to gymbaroo and i have to say i love it i know its expensive but i class it as one of her chrismas presents she loves it, we are lucky at the one we go to her teacher is actualy a nurse at the kiddies hospital where kenzee spends a lot of time, and she is realy good with all the kids ansd gives individual atention to the ines that need it kenzee has hypertonia and also global developement delay she sees a FT,ST,PT,OT and i find gyberoo als combines all of those therapies as wel so we love it

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