Gymboree Play and Music

Came here for a toddler’s birthday today! The place is really clean and the kids had loads of fun. It’s a perfect place if you plan to throw a mid size party. The staff is awesome as well!

Went here for a trial class and didn’t sign up bc of the cleanliness. When I first walked in I could smell the «grossness». After walking around I noticed the mats having dirt/​dust/​matter in the cracks. It looked like it has not been cleaned in days. It really just feels like the place needs a super clean wipe down with Lysol and a vacuum. The facility I went to before this one was very clean. I would only return and sign up at this location If the place becomes cleaner and smells better! Otherwise, driving further away is the best option for my family and anyone else with kids. There was a boy who was coughing his lungs out the day I went! Not Gymboree’s fault but I believe something could have been said! Sidenote-​I went on a Sunday and the class was pretty full.

I am writing because I recently went into the the Pleasanton location to cancel my membership. The associate recommended that I put my account on hold so I could use some of my make up classes (I had 12, which was why I wanted to cancel in the first place. I just was not able to fit the classes into my busy schedule at this time). The woman told me she would cancel my account after the month hold, and that I wouldn’t be able to use any make up classes after the cancellation (so use as many as we could during the holding period). I agreed to do this, and was assured by her that my membership would be cancelled the following month. We still only ended up using a couple of them unfortunately. I remember it was very busy as a class was about to begin that day, but the associate told me she would put everything in the computer. She was actually very nice, and was offering this to me because we had so many unused classes. I thought, ‘how nice of her to give us an opportunity to use missed classes!‘
When I got charged for the following month, I called the office right away. Bianca (the manager?) informed me that I would need to come in person to cancel (I already did that!), and that she had no record of my attempt to cancel (not my problem). She also said she wanted to ‘investigate the matter more’ and continued to call and email me with a bunch of ridiculous questions. Bianca never once apologized for this huge inconvenience. Regardless, I am a very busy full time working mom, and don’t have time to «investigate» how her team did not properly take care of a customer. If they misplaced forms, did not enter things correctly, and/​or told the customer they would do something that they did not, then it is their responsibility to fix it in a timely manner. This has been a time consuming issue, and shows that this location is actually more interested in trying to ‘trap’ customers into membership fees THAT THEY WILL NOT USE, instead of just making them happy, encouraging positive word of mouth, and opening the door to joining more classes when their schedule is more open.
Additionally, it goes without saying that it is beyond disappointing when a customer comes in (in person I might add) to cancel their account, and actually ends up getting finangled into being charged for yet another month they will not use! Anyone who has any sense of making customer service a priority, knows what the right thing to do in this situation is.
I will be posting this review on ALL Gymboree sites in the bay area so that everyone knows how Gymboree handles cancellations. I definitely feel obligated to inform others.
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I love this place! Bianca, Victoria, Veronica, and Sarah are amazing. They are great at engaging with all if the babies in the classes we attend. I go to the Level 2 (6−10mo) class, and even though my daughter cannot crawl yet, she loves being around all of the other babies. The girls are super engaging with my daughter while the other babies move and groove lol Also, it’s nice to meet other parents with babies close in age to my little one.

Great experience. I brought my 2 yo. nephew in for a little bonding with kids and the instructors were awesome. Their patience and attention made it easy to let the little one enjoy his play time.
The place was clean and staff was nice!

I came today for a free preview class with my 6 month old. For a class that is meant for 6 – 12 month old babies.
First of all the teachers were very loud and babies were often startled by their exclamations. Second all activities in the class besides parachute were meant for babies who can crawl. as soon as they realized my baby doesn’t they completely excluded her from all games. Although there were two teachers not one of them approached us and offered an alternative activity. Because they excluded us they didn’t bothered to remember my baby’s name and when we were singing good bye all babies but mine was address by name. That is after they have asked for her name 5 time by then. And she had a name tag. It was so awkward that everyone laughed at them when they asked me for her name for the last time. They later explained it was a unusual name and hard to remember. Which maybe it is but they should either only open their doors to the babies with names from a preapproved list or take 10 seconds and try to remember everyone’s names.
It felt awful to be Isolated and singled out like that and We will never come to thins location any more.

First, I’d like to say that my nine-​month old baby LOVES going there. Most of the instructors we’ve had have been very good (especially Jessica, Manuela, and Jenessa (sp?)), though there was one young woman, whose name I can’t recall, who rushed through all the songs at the beginning of the 6 – 10 month class so she could get us into «free play» more quickly.
Here are the issues I’ve experienced:
1. There was a $ 35 per month increase when my child moved from the 0 – 6 month class to the 6 – 10 month class, and we didn’t use our membership any more times per week than we did when my child was in the 0 – 6 month class. To me, that is a very steep increase.
2. My child kept getting colds after going. The place is very clean and they do a good job of maintaining general cleanliness, but I’m not sure if they clean toys between classes. Babies put everything in their mouths, obviously, and I never saw anyone cleaning toys before or after class.
3. No one supervises the floor between classes. I have had issues with toddlers who were there for the class right before my baby’s. One tried to make my child cry by screaming in her face and squeezing her hand (I picked her up right after the physical contact). His mother was right there and said, «He’s just having fun» after I told him he was too close and couldn’t touch my baby. The next week, a different toddler was throwing balls around and hit my baby in the head. Her mother did step in, stop the behavior, and apologize profusely after it happened. And the week after that, yet another toddler was wildly running and jumping around the floor, coming dangerously close to the babies who had circled up for their class. There needs to be a rule that babies don’t enter the floor until all the toddlers are gone, and all the toddlers need to leave the floor before the babies come in. I talked about the incidences with a staff member, but she essentially brushed off my concerns and said, «Yeah, it’s crazy that parents don’t watch their children and expect us to be babysitters.» I realize that staff members shouldn’t have to be disciplinarians, but they can at least supervise the floor instead of congregating at the front desk.
Again, my baby loves the classes and I see the value in going, but not at $ 79 per month. I’d either like to pay by class or have the monthly fee be lower. For me, it’s no longer worth nearly $ 20 per class since I can only make it once a week.

My daughter and I attended classes here for almost three years. It’s a great way to sing, dance, play, and just «be» with your little one. They have a fantastic make up policy, so it really is worth the monthly fee. We’ve done the art, music, and play gym. I will always treasure how my pumpkin’s little face would light up at parachute time!
They’ve recently updated this facility, and it’s very nice. They change the equipment around frequently, to provide new challenges and experiences. Sometimes, the weekly themes are engaging and lovely, and other times the kids have no idea WHAT is gong on! I always appreciated when they would take cues from the children, ex: Ms Nicole would bring out those glorious Gymboree Bubbles almost every single time my little one tried to ask for them in toddler speak. We love the bright colors, and the endless variety and supply of balls to play with. Our 3^rd child is part monkey, and it’s priceless to have a large padded room for her to run, jump, climb, slide, and bounce! I rarely ever had to remind her to slow down at Gymboree. I rarely had to say no, and that is the best! For a while there, I thought I was the one who was going to need the padded room!
The staff is warm, welcoming, and very accommodating.
The owner/​manager is very approachable, I did have a concern at one point and it was dealt with immediately.
I gave 4 out of 5 stars because the music is always on a little too loud, not a crime… Just an observation. Something else, you can’t cancel your membership over the phone. They make you come in and fill out paperwork, not exactly convenient for busy parents.
They have a rest room that is well stocked with diapers/​wipes and a clean changing table. That was a pleasant surprise.
I also like that the shopping center itself has a coffee shop, and a nice grocery store. Very convenient.
Thanks for the memories, Gymboree!

I’ve been coming here with my twins for a few months now. I really LOVE how they are awesome toward multiples. Their policy states you should be a hugs reach away from your kids, but the instructors are always there to help out when one of them needs some help and I can’t be right there.
I think it’s clean, but I bring my 2 years old so they know not to touch the garbage can. I do think the water is more a source of tantrums so perhaps they should get rid of it. I just don’t let mine have water while we are there (no tantrums!).
I like the routine it offers, they have a blast and always nap really well after going (yay for me!).
It’s nice for me since I’m a SAHM and its safer then the park since they are in an enclosed space and they are actually learning from it. They love going, so I love taking them there to have fun. It’s 79 a month plus 59 for a sibling, so it is pricey, but if you take advantage of the open gym times then it works out better. I wish they had better open gym times, as they seem to plan those right during naptimes or dinner time (6:30, really?).

My son is two years old and loves going to gymboree! We have been enrolled for a few months now and It is really helping him learn routine and how to play with a group and do group activities and I notice every time we go he is getting more and more involved. His teacher is Ms. Bianca and she is really good with the kids. She sings and dances with them (great singing voice too!) My son loves to run around and climb and I love it too because he burns off all that energy and takes a nap right when we get home. The price is a little high for $ 79 a month we go once a week for class and we can drop in for free time play at certain times. I have only met miss Bianca but the other teachers always seem nice as well. I would highly reccomend going and It is worth the price to stimulate my little one’s mind and he loves going!

My children love this place! Pleasanton Gymboree has been remodeled and it looks great! The teachers are so enthusiastic, motivating and warm people.
Great place for babies/​toddlers.

A great place to take kids on a rainy day. My children especially love the «Playgym» — the unstructured play periods when there are no actual classes but when the place is open for independent play. The place is super clean as they wipe things down regularly. Yes, I wish it was less expensive, but regardless, it is a very nice place for young kids to play and develop all kinds of physical and social skills.

I took my daughter to gymboree play, music, school skills, and summer camp classes from 6 months to 4 years. She loved every minute. I also started my son at 6 months and he gets excited every time we get in the parking lot. We love Pleasanton gymboree. especially, Miss Gigi. We go to the Halloween Party every year– it is a blast!

I’m really surprised that so many people love this place so much. I had a Groupon for $ 41 for 4 sessions. That’s about how much it was worth (sooooo not worth the $ 70 or $ 80/​month they charge, PLUS initiation, etc.). My son is 14 months and I put him in the music class (Music 1, I believe). Anyway, it was nowhere near as engaging for him as a previous Music Together class that we took a while back. They shove you in the back room that is used for their preschool classes. Something that agitated me is that they had a nasty dirty garbage can sitting right on the floor like a neon sign waiting for a curious toddler to go over and grab at it or play with it. I would always move it up onto the counter, which I’m sure the teacher didn’t like, but whatever.
The other thing I was really annoyed by was that the teacher would bring out these little xylophone parts so that the BABIES (I repeat, BABIES) could take turns on it. Ok, if you have 7 babies in a room, and you expect them to be happy about taking turns playing with this thing or even being capable of waiting their turn, you’re nuts. Sure, we can introduce our kids to the concept of taking turns, but at least try to occupy the 6 other kids with something else. Babies and toddlers don’t sit well or wait well. Seems to me like this place doesn’t GET that.
I know I sound like a horrible complainer, but the other thing I had an issue with was cleanliness. Each time babies would stick the musical stuff in their mouths, I never saw a «yuck bucket» or anything like that. Made me wonder if they clean that stuff regularly. I shudder to think about that, actually! I suppose I should be glad our Groupon is expired now. Good riddance, Gymboree Pleasanton!

I took my then-​16-​month-​old son to a free music class here a few months ago. The class itself was decent, but my issue is with the staff.
While we were in class the teacher thought it was acceptable to place her open palm on my sons chest and push him backward, telling him to «go back to [his] grown-​up».
When I called to file a complaint, I was told by the manager that my claim was unbelievable. They then asked what I wanted to happen, since I guess they didn’t feel the need to take action.
When I asked to speak to a higher-​up, I was told that it was impossible because this Gymboree facility is privately owned.
A few months later I signed my son up for an art class to give Gymboree a second chance. Before my class I received a call from the manager who told me she didn’t feel I should return to Gymboree because the teacher who had pushed my son was still there and she wouldn’t want me and my family to feel uncomfortable.
I’m just wondering why in the world a child-​oriented facility would employ people who have such a cavalier attitude toward the safety of children and the level of appropriateness of their employees’ behaviour. We will NOT be going back to Gymboree because of this and I strongly encourage you readers to think twice before taking your precious little ones to a place where the teachers feel it is OK to push toddlers.

A year ago, when my daughter was just crawling, I took a trial class at Gymboree in Pleasanton as well as some other music classes. I enrolled her (Level 2) because she seemed to like the music and the stimulation at Gymboree the best. At that age, I think Gymboree is great especially since they are too young to go to the park. She’s now 2 years old and still loves it. She gets excited with the familiar Putamayo music at home. I think her gross motor and social skills have improved as a result of Gymboree. Now that she’s older, we’re trying out the Art and Music classes too. All the instructors (Allen, Kelsey and Gigi) are enthusiastic and attentive– they know all the kids by name from the very beginning. Special thanks to Jigna, the owner, for donating a raffle prize to benefit Japan’s Earthquake Relief. This Gymboree has heart! :)

My daughter started the Music class there last month and she loves it! The teacher, Ms. GiGi, who is also the owner, makes it very fun for the kids and the activities are very age appropriate. What was fun for the adults is there is a focus on a different kind of music every few weeks… and it’s not «kiddie music»! The weeks we have been the themes were R & B and Queen! The teacher has a lovely singing voice and is very enthusiastic and responsive to the little ones. For the adults, she throws in bits of good child development advice on getting your kids to relate to music.
The only downside is it is a bit expensive. I was lucky to get in on a Groupon special but otherwise the usual classes are $ 79 per month with a $ 50 enrollment fee. Also, the usual commitment is a three-​month signup. There are specials run sometimes so it might be best to try to enroll during a special promotion.
Added info: Your monthly fee does get admittance to free playgym times, which is good if you live close by (we don’t, so we don’t go out for these extra times)

Tried a free class to see if we’ve been missing out on a great opportunity for my son to interact and play. The instructor had really good qualities about her: compassionate, knowledgeable, efficient, and she had a great set of pipes. It felt like we were listening to an actual recording every time she sang.
I don’t know if we’re going to actually enroll in the program because of the $ 79 monthly fee, but I feel like it’s a great place for a baby to learn new skills and feel safe enough to do what all kids want to do: play.

I wrote my original review over a year ago, and I am even more pleased than I was before. This is a place we visit at least once a week and the teachers are consistent and my son always has a great time. I feel they deserve an updated review!
The staff is great, the classes are educational and a great way to get your toddler to socialize. Currently we are doing the art class as well and enjoy every minute of it.
I would recommend this location to anyone with babies or toddlers.
And I agree that Ms. Gigi is awesome, as well as Mr. Rob!

I haven’t visited any other Gymboree locations but I am really happy with this one. My daughter is 13 months old and I think this is one of the few places she really gets excited about going to. She likes parks but Gymboree is something different. She sees the building and get so excited.