Where they are:
They’re learning to play independently and as a team.
What to expect in class:
Lots of co-operative games and imaginary adventures designed to build self confidence and promote the important personal and social skills needed for a successful transition into school.
Gymboree Play & Music Explorers Advanced classes are designed for children aged around 3 to 5 years. These classes support children who are ready for more independence, structure, and challenge, while continuing to learn and grow through play-based activities.
Explorers Advanced classes include structured physical challenges, creative projects, problem-solving tasks, music, and group games. Activities are designed to encourage focus, cooperation, confidence, and independent participation in a fun, supportive environment.
Gymboree Play & Music Explorers Advanced classes support concentration, listening skills, cooperation, confidence, and independence. Children practise following instructions, working as part of a group, completing activities, and expressing ideas — all important skills for success at school.
Explorers Advanced classes introduce greater structure, longer activities, and more complex challenges. While Explorers Plus focuses on early school readiness, Explorers Advanced helps children build confidence, focus, and resilience needed for formal learning environments.
Parents or carers stay with their child throughout the Explorers Advanced class. Teachers guide adults on how to support independence, build confidence, and help children navigate structured activities and transitions.
Children develop focus, coordination, problem-solving skills, communication, cooperation, confidence, and emotional regulation. Explorers Advanced classes also support creativity and resilience through structured play and collaborative activities.
Yes. Explorers Advanced classes are suitable for children who have started school or are about to start. The classes complement school learning by supporting physical development, confidence, creativity, and social skills through active play. However they normally run during school hours so this might not be possible if a child is in traditional full time school.
Yes. Explorers Advanced classes are inclusive and supportive, helping shy children gradually build confidence. Teachers encourage participation positively and allow children to engage at their own pace while developing independence and social skills.
Children should wear comfortable clothes suitable for active play and creative activities, such as leggings, joggers, or soft trousers. Children should have bare feet to ensure safe movement on padded equipment. Adults should wear socks.
Gymboree Play & Music Explorers Advanced classes are available at locations across the UK. You can find your nearest Gymboree Play & Music centre here: https://gymbo.co.uk/locations/
My son Jude loves the class and gets so excited when he knows we are going. I look forward to it also. The fact he can explore the room but engage in activities when he wants to is brilliant. The staff, children and parents are lovely and it’s always a welcoming space. Even when we have had to change a day or time, the other classes have all presented with the same amazing qualities. The staff members are incredible. They engage with every single child and bring a positive and happy atmosphere in each and every session. I admire how hard they work to create such an amazing environment for us in class. Thank you!
Karen who runs the Cheam Branch is simply outstanding, my two boys love her classes. She is engaging and so good with the children, her baby class in particular is the best baby sensory class around (and I’ve tried a lot!) ⭐️ would highly recommend
I have taken my granddaughter once a week for a year and she has thoroughly enjoyed every session. She has grown in confidence and developed her physical skills greatly. The children are placed in groups according to development which means it is suited for their particular stage. As well as developing children’s physical skills, the sessions also include singing, movement and language development. Can highly recommend.
We love Gymbo! I’ve attended the Bearsden and Milngavie classes since my 3.5 year old was 9 weeks old. We’ve done baby massage, gymbo music and the normal gymbo programme from babies to explorers and the classes are always well planned, inclusive, and just great fun. We recommend Gymboree to all of our friends!
My 5 month old loves her Gymboree classes! It’s a fantastic way to keep them entertained, get out of the house and meet other lovely mums. Each lesson is so wonderfully put together. Elanoor is obsessed with Karen and is mesmerised by her beautiful singing voice.
Karen is very kind and helpful. My daughter loved going to Gymboree.
My son absolutely loves the sessions, they are really well planned and really relaxed and inclusive.
Friendly and helpful people working there. Clean and well taken care of. The open gym for a 3.5 year old is a good option. The art sessions although engaging for the price of £40 it feels like something that can be done also at home. Maybe small projects at process art, might be more appropriate to the price.
We love gymboree and my grandchildren love it and have really come on and learned how to interact with other children. The staff are really lovely and friendly and so are the people who go
We moved to London and signed up our daughter (11 months at the time) for Gymboree classes. We religiously attended classes for over a year and couldn't be happier. She went from crawling to running around and jumping with Gymbo. She loves Gymbo and her Gymboree family and it's bittersweet to say goodbye as she is moving on to nursery and other activities. Thank you so much to Pav and each and every Gymboree teacher.
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Both of my children (3.5 years and 11 months) go to Gymboree Play & Music and love it. My toddler goes to their drop-off Lego class which she raves about. It's very creative, working not only on Lego skills but also painting, drawing etc. My infant son loves his Gymboree Play & Music Crawlers class - particularly loves crawling all over their props, through the tunnels, etc. Great way to get the infant crawling over obstacles! Gymboree Play & Music is part of our weekly schedule for both kids and we look forward to participating every week. Invaluable!
Cannot recommend Gymboree Play & Music Watford enough--truly THE BEST! ❤️🙌 What makes it so special are the amazing teachers/staff, especially Amber, Jack, Philippa, and Hannah! They’re not only incredibly talented in music and arts, but they’re also absolutely fantastic with kids of all ages.
My little girl was only 18 months old when we first discovered this wonderful place and started attending sessions. She’s now 5 years old, and we’re still here! That says it all 🥰
I genuinely believe that so many of my daughter’s milestones have been reached early because of the time she spends here. She was talking, walking, climbing, and exploring ahead of her peers, and I credit so much of that to the incredible environment and activities here. The space itself is wonderful — safe, clean, and full of opportunities for little ones to run, jump, climb, and burn off energy without any worries. But for me, Gymboree has been just as important as it has been for my daughter, especially as a mum without a village. ...What I didn’t realise was how much I would gain. I’ve made lifelong friendships and found a support network of the most incredible people.
