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 ?

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

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

thanks :D

thanks Fletch - great ideas

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.

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

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.

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.

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.;)

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

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

I am in NSW Carrie.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Zander does a tiny tots gymnastics class at the local indoor sports centre. It costs us $7.80 per 1hr lesson & he absolutely loves it :)

I wil check this out too Sarah thanks everyone