Physical: Exploration of the different equipment supports problem solving, navigating skills, and confidence.
Cognitive: Repetition, songs, and interacting with their familiar adult supports language development, vocabulary, and memory.
Social: Our classroom environment supports social and emotional development.
Adults: Need your little one to take a good nap? This class is high energy and full of fun. In fact- you might want to take a nap too!
Gymboree Play & Music Runners classes are designed for active toddlers who are confidently walking and running, typically around 16 – 24 months. These classes provide structured activities that channel toddlers’ energy while supporting physical, cognitive, and social development.
Runners classes include obstacle courses, climbing, jumping, music, movement games, and imaginative play. Activities are more energetic and structured, helping toddlers practise coordination, balance, listening skills, and early group participation in a fun, supportive environment.
Gymboree Play & Music Runners classes support gross motor skills, coordination, confidence, self-regulation, and early social skills. Through guided play, toddlers learn to follow simple instructions, take turns, express creativity, and build independence.
Yes — Runners classes are ideal for high-energy toddlers. Sessions are designed to give children plenty of opportunities to move, explore, and burn energy in a safe, structured way while learning how to participate in group activities.
Runners classes introduce more complex physical challenges, faster-paced activities, and greater independence than Walkers classes. While Walkers classes focus on building confidence and balance, Runners classes help toddlers refine coordination, control their movement, and engage in imaginative and group play.
Yes, parents or carers stay with their child throughout the class. Teachers guide adults on how to support independence, encourage positive behaviour, and help toddlers navigate structured activities and transitions.
Children develop strength, coordination, balance, listening skills, social awareness, and confidence. Runners classes also support early problem-solving, creativity, and emotional regulation through music, movement, and play-based learning.
That’s very common at this age. Gymboree Play & Music Runners classes are developmentally appropriate and flexible, allowing toddlers to engage at their own pace. Teachers gently encourage participation and model positive behaviour without pressure.
Toddlers should wear comfortable clothes that allow running and climbing, such as leggings, joggers, or soft trousers. Children should have bare feet so they can move safely on padded equipment. Adults should wear socks.
Gymboree Play & Music Runners classes are available at locations across the UK. You can find your nearest Gymboree Play & Music centre here: https://gymbo.co.uk/locations/
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.
My son joined gymboree since he was around 6 months old. He's 2 now, and he still enjoys the session very much. The session also helped him first to crawl, then walk; now he's running around and climbing everywhere. The host really helped with his development, and he is especially very comfortable with Amber.
Staff are very friendly and patient.
Enjoyable family classes, reassuringly clean equipment and lots of fun for our 19 month old.
We’ve had a really lovely experience with Gymboree Play & Music UK. My baby has been attending since 6 months old and is now nearly 15 months, and we’ve enjoyed it throughout. The staff are always friendly, caring, and helpful, and I really appreciate that they always do their best to accommodate requests.
The classes are fun, educational, and great for my baby’s development and confidence. It’s also been wonderful for the social side of development and for making friends with other babies and parents. I also really appreciate the open gym option, as it gives us the flexibility to come often and enjoy the space outside of classes too.
It’s such a welcoming environment for both babies and parents, and I would definitely recommend it to other families.
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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.
