Doing Gymboree Again!

Well, after some contemplation I decided that I was going to put Bug back into Gymboree. Several reasons have influenced me in my decision.

1. The Gymboree location moved, and they are closer to my home.
2. He was able to attend the level 7 class (3-5 yrs olds) Drop off Pre-School program that is 2 hours long one day a week. *even though he does not turn 3 tell March*

3. They would be very structured, learning a social skill, as well as a small amount of discussion on a new letter each week.
4. The class size is small- 4-5 kids only.
5. I can get a little “Break”, since I drop him off for his class. **** This is much needed for me at this time. And knowing how much he loves Gymboree I knew he would not cry when I left.
6. I spoke with the owner after receiving her letter in the mail about Bug being eligible to join the Level 7 class and she said she would give me the “High –5 Membership fee” which is 30% off the regular price of the class since Bug was going full time from April 2006-October 2007. I took him out of the Level 6 program for several reasons that I can post about later.

Today was Bug’s first day of the Drop off Pre-School Program at Gymboree. It was at the new location, but that didn’t seem to phase him one bit. Gymboree looked the same to him. There were only 3 other kids in the class today; 1 other boy and two girls. The parents stay for the “Hooky Poky Song” then we give them kisses, and we leave. It was SO nice to see him so happy when I left. I actually had to get him to give me a kiss- chase him down, because he was having so much fun with Teacher Heidi. I told him to be good for Teacher Heidi and he ran up to her and gave her a huge hug. You could tell he was in HEAVEN! I waived at him as I walked out the door and he didn’t even care! WOW! Now that feels good. Should I be sad? Because I am not at all, but rather very HAPPY! I got a break to do something I wanted all by myself…and it felt sooooooo good.

The parents arrive 15 minutes before class is over and I got to see Bug playing with the other kids. He was so cute to watch him dancing to the music that was playing. Then they got their carpets and sat down on the mat to do some coloring on this really cool Leap Frog drawing pad. Each kid got their own drawing pad with head phones to wear. Bug looked so grown up wearing his head phones. It just made me so proud. Then it was time for the parents to come back into the play area and ask our kids what they did today. Bug was a bit distracted, and I could tell he was a tired. He was running from one play area to the next, really fast. Teacher Heidi said that he only had a few times where he got upset, but she just told him to use his words and he calmed right down. And distracting him worked very well too she said. Also, she was very impressed on how much detail he made on his art project. She said that he was really good about putting each of the colored squares, feathers, string, etc..on the glue that she put on his paper. He put each piece right on top of the glue. She said that most kids don’t seem to have that concept yet at his age.

I will bring my camera next week to take some pictures of him. I wish I had brought it today because it was so fun to see how grown up he has become. Happy Mama!