BUSINESS: Gymboree Play & Music

When someone says “go to your happy place,” that would be
Gymboree Play & Music. The global leader in developmental classes for kids,
they have been fostering creativity and confidence in children ages zero to
five for 35 years.

Gymboree Play & Music partners with companies like Zero
To Three Institute whose mission is to promote the health and development of
infants and toddlers. Together, they bring the best educational programs and
play equipment to the public.

Blythe Donovan, new owner of the Oklahoma City franchise
since February 2012, explains, “Our classes are specifically intended to
maximize the learning experience for age-appropriate activities to develop
cognitive, physical and social skills as kids play. The guidelines change as we
learn more about how the brain works.”

Blythe holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Northern
Arizona University and has a long history with Gymboree. One of her earliest
memories is of her time as a child in Gymboree classes. Blythe has spent the
last eight years teaching at several Gymboree locations, the last three at the
OKC location.

With support from corporate, which provides lesson plans and
extensive training, Blythe is able to focus on what matters—the kids. “Our
philosophy is that children learn best through play. So we work with parents to
learn how to engage their children through play—working on and developing motor
skills, creative play, special awareness, temporal reasoning, and many other
developmental benefits. Their kids don’t know that they’re learning. They’re
just having fun,” Blythe stated.

Membership is on a month-to-month basis, which means no commitments
or contracts. Schedules are flexible and Blythe

strives to provide as many make-up oppor-tunities as
possible. Gymboree hosts birthday parties and other special events which are
open to the public. Special discounts for these events are available to
members. They also bring their program to local schools and daycare facilities
with Gymboree On the Go.

A free preview class is offered to everyone. In addition to
play, classes are available in art and music that are a lot of fun as well!

Check out the Gymboree
corporate website at gymboreeclasses.com or call the OKC branch at
405-755-3445. Gymboree Play & Music Oklahoma City is located in the Shoppes
at Northpark, south entrance, at 11928 N. May Ave., OKC 73120.