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/
We love our classes at Gymbo! Polly is so warm and amazing with my little one. Each class is different and teaches them confidence and skills.
Love it! My boys have grown in confidence each week, the staff are so friendly, the spare fab. Perfect safe space for managing energetic twins and not feeling worried about where they are and what they’re doing, plus staff are always willing to help if needed. The membership works well and I like the option of adding open gym sessions too.
I've been taking my baby to Gymboree in Bristol since she was a few weeks old, and I'm now about to go back to work after maternity leave. It's been the best baby activity I've been to, and we've tried a few! It's more than a baby group - early on it was an activity to get out of the house for me, and later the multiple sessions during the week and open gyms really helped entertain my daughter when I was running out of ideas. Polly and team are amazing and it feels really inclusive of everyone, I can't praise them highly enough. I can have been having a tough day and l would leave gymboree lighter. I honestly feel very lucky to have been in walking distance of such a lovely and well-run gym/group.
We couldn't have chosen a better place for our little son to enjoy!
Customer services are absolutely fantastic, warm welcome, and always happy to help everyone!!
100% recommended!
Lovely staff and great classes but unfortunately no drop off classes at the a Bristol franchise for 3+ year olds.
Unfortunately the main website does not make it clear that the drop off classes for older children are not available everywhere, and promotes this as a core offer. We joined online and hoped that I could be with a napping baby whilst big sister had some fun, but these classes weren’t on offer and it was just 0-5s all together.
We gave it a go with one of these classes but it was just too much work with a tiny baby and a toddler to keep in check. We may return when the little one is walking.
Staff are very passionate and it is a great, but just not a good fit for us right now.
Such a warm and caring environment—the staff are amazing and my grandchild loves coming here!
Both my grandchildren and myself love the classes. Teachers are great and topics so inventive. My only slightly negative point is in the last few weeks the class has been very busy
We’ve loved the classes from baby sensory through to runners and explorers! Such a lovely safe space to play and learn!
We've absolutely loved coming here over the last two years. We started attending the regular classes when our nursery hours accommodated it, but now we do the parties and weekend open sessions when we can. Polly and the team are fantastic and make you feel so welcome! It's really boosted my toddler's confidence both physically and socially.
My daughter has been going to Gymboree for over a year now, and it's easily her favorite activity. I'm sure that her physical abilities have improved so much because of it. And I love the flexibility - the monthly membership is such good value, as we always end up going to a extra class or two each week on top of her regular one. Plus they run through school holidays! And I can't forget to mention the energy and enthusiasm Polly and Susie run their classes with. The kids all love them. Thank you Gymbo and team!
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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.
