Gymboree Play & Music, Oakland

We attended Gymboree Play & Music at Lakeshore for a year, from when my daughter was 18 months to 30 months old, and it was such a wonderful experience!The teachers are fantastic--Ms. Leah in Play & Learn and Ms. Muna in Music class were both patient, energetic, and great at leading activities that kept the kids involved while fostering social and motor skill development through Gymboree's catchable bubbles. The classes struck the perfect balance between structured routines and free play, making them ideal for school preparation at an early age.At some point last year, a new owner took over and made some really thoughtful improvements that elevated the space. They spruced up the otherwise plain walls, added a baby gate to prevent little ones from running in and out of the play area without their adult, and even replaced the circle time carpeting. These small but meaningful upgrades made the environment feel even more welcoming and safe.One of the things we really appreciated was the flexibility in choosing which class to attend. Most of the time, we could just drop in, which was incredibly convenient. That said, for busier days--especially when it was raining--it was a good habit to book a class in advance through the app to make sure we had a spot.At first, it took about a month for my daughter to feel fully comfortable, which I think is completely normal. She started by observing and then gradually joined in after watching her peers interact. It was amazing to watch her growth--learning problem-solving skills (like navigating play structures, balancing, and safely calculating jumps), improving her motor skills, and practicing taking turns and following directions.A big plus is that the play area is always so clean and well-maintained--much better than the park. And while socks are usually required in indoor play spaces, I appreciated that kids could go barefoot here, which helped with my daughter's stability and movement.My daughter loved it so much that she would sing the songs at home and even ask for parachute time outside of class! Now that she's moved on to preschool, I do wish there had been a transition class to help bridge that next step at a younger age. Otherwise, our time at Gymboree was truly special, and I highly recommend it for little ones and their parents looking for a fun, social, and enriching experience.

We love Gymboree! The staff is friendly andalways have great energy. The space is always clean, fun and the singing, playing with bubbles and dancing is another fun treat for the kids.

Gymboree has been a real boost in physical and social development for our daughter, who began attending at 1.5 years of age. Ms. Stephanie is our daughters go-to! She now walks in, removes her shoes and hurries to the circle mat for the intro circle time, to see what her teacher has to share. All the staff as SO sweet, feels genuine and parents can be friendly. Our daughter is almost 2 and yells "bo-ree, bor-ee!" When we are near Lakeshore or when asked if she wants to join a class for that day. She even sings the songs and looks for Gymbo at home, and don't get me started on the parachute but she never wants us to stop! It really means something to us to see our child light up for something that benefits her in numerous ways. - 1st class is a free trail, don't be shy - mingle! - Nice bi-weekly rotation of developmentally appropriate play structures- Very clean! I've seen teachers clean between classes - Pretty inclusive child demographic- Focus group-time is short, maximizing children's open play time - Teachers know children's names and temperaments- Activities are challenging but child orients their experience with adult support - Weekly mixed-age class has art and open playWe are really grateful to the Gymboree teachers and for our great experience. See you there! :)

We've been coming here for a couple of years, since my oldest was a baby. It's such a joy to watch them grow and master little challenges and songs and dances. Miss Moona is our favorite teacher! I only took off a star because I wish we had more options for classes to attend (ie more times per day).

My daughter is now 13 months and has been coming here weekly since 6 months old. She LOVES the play, the people that work there, and being social. It's a fantastic place for her to run around and try new things. Ms Stephanie and crew are so wonderful and friendly and keep the place clean. The first time my daughter nodded her head for yes was when I asked if she wanted to go see Gymbo at Gymboree.

My daughter is 21 months and we have been coming for the past few months. The staff has been amazing and they have a lot of different classes including music and art that my daughter loves! She has also improved her physical development and socialization by interacting with the different play structures. Ms. Muna and Ms Stephanie are the best!

Fun place for the kids! Good engaging teachers, safe space, most parents are very attentive and help other kids have a. Good time too!

Gymboree has done SO MUCH for my toddler since we joined about a month ago. Since he's a pandemic baby and hasn't had much interaction with other kids, I thought we'd give it a go. Signed up for the $139 a month unlimited plan, and now we're going 4 times a week! The teachers are all very sweet and awesome with the kids; always patient and encouraging. They switch up the play areas enough that it never gets old, but stick to fun routines the kids get really excited about. I'm so happy I gave this place a shot. My son is talking more, dancing more, becoming even more social, and most important, he gets so hyped to go to his little classes. He gets to burn off energy while learning and we get to watch babies have a blast. Worth every $.

Loved all the different activities. Especially the balance bean. And the air log. All children so engaged. Ms. Muna was full of energy and has a great singing voice. Thank you! Zoe Lazare and Joaquin.

Is awesome place for the baby to play with Nice location and easy to park The employee are awesome