THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996 TAG: 9601050202
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY LAURIE GOMEZ, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 116 lines
FROM THE MOMENT children walk through the door they know that this place is for them. Brightly colored mats and equipment invite them to explore and push the limits of their imagination, enthusiasm, and mettle. And they do.
Gymboree has come to Chesapeake. While the location at Greenbrier Athletic Club may be new, the 20-year success record that comes with the program has been built by a company that cares about children.
Since 1976 Gymboree has encouraged some three million children to climb a little higher than they did before. To go down the slide by themselves for the first time. To venture farther away from mommy and make a new friend. Gymboree is ``a celebration of childhood,'' says Michael Dougherty, president of Gymboree Play Programs, whose headquarters is in Burlingame, Calif. And that celebration now takes place in the United States and eight other countries, including Australia and Singapore.
``We have grown our business with an emphasis on parents and the importance of play in childhood development,'' Dougherty explains. ``This is significant, since play is the predominant way that children learn before the age of 5,'' he adds. Local franchise owner Tricia Coulson emphasizes that ``parents are their children's best teachers.'' That is why the program involves parents in everything the children are doing. Part of what instructors try to accomplish in each level of Gymboree is to serve as a catalyst to providing quality parent-child interaction.
Gymboree was begun in the San Francisco area in 1976 by Joan Barnes, a mother of young children. Barnes was looking for a way to get mothers together to form a support group. Dougherty says that Barnes, ``almost by accident found that children were enjoying themselves, too.'' She realized that there was really a need to help parents learn how to play with their children in a way that would strengthen the bonds between them and help the children developmentally. Thus Gymboree was born.
In hour-long sessions, Gymboree instructors introduce children to a magical world geared totally toward them. They are introduced to a new friend, Gymbo, a stuffed moppet just the size of a toddler. Together they sing songs, experiment with pieces of the learning-oriented equipment, and interact with other children and their parents.
And while Gymboree may seem like just fun and games, Coulson is quick to point out that ``the emphasis is on the whole person; it's not just a physical program.'' While an integral part of Gymboree's mission is helping children to learn more about themselves and the world around them through what Dougherty calls ``exploratory play,'' there is much more to these activities than meets the eye.
Children roll on balls because it's fun. Instructors know that it helps develop the inner ear. The little ones crawl through tunnels because it's exciting. Parents learn that it also teaches depth perception and head and neck control. These skills aren't just important in the physical world; this development has been proven to help children master skills such as reading later on, Coulson said.
The program was introduced to the parents and children of Hampton Roads in 1984. That's when Coulson and her husband brought the franchise here. ``It's not like you could just call up and get a franchise,'' Coulson explained. The company chooses its franchises very carefully, she said. When she expressed interest in the business after reading an article about the program, Gymboree executives insisted that the Coulsons come out to California for an interview. They did, and in April of 1984, Coulson began bringing the program to local children.
At that time there were only three levels, Baby Gym (for 3 months-1 year), Gymboree (1 year-2 1/2 years) and Gym Grad (2 1/2-4 years). Now there are seven levels. Barbara Jenkins' oldest child, Amber, was in that first class, then when second daughter Alyssa was old enough she joined, too. Eleven years later 16-month-old Annika is enjoying Baby Gym.
``It's been a big part of their growing-up years,'' Jenkins said. ``It's a special time that I set aside with no other distractions. It's just she and I. All I have to do is mention Gymboree and she gets excited.''
Jenkins said another positive aspect of Gymboree for her was having the opportunity to talk and share with other parents. ``I still have friends from that very first Gymboree class,'' she said.
Gymboree is always changing. New classes have been added since those early days. Now even newborns can get in on the fun. Cradle Gym gives infants and their parents an opportunity to chat about issues that concern them, from the perils of that first cold to the ins and outs of nursing. Babies are fascinated with each other and with the stimulation that is offered through songs, gentle movement and vivid colors.
Change also comes about through research and training that is often initiated from the corporate level, but just as often comes through the thoughtful reading and interest of Coulson and her instructors.
Gymboree board members include people such as doctor-turned-author Burton White, who wrote ``The First Three Years of Life'' and early childhood education expert Dr. Michael Meyerhoff. These individuals help formulate equipment design and activities used in each Gymboree class.
``Gymboree just keeps getting better and better!'' said Coulson. MEMO: More information on Gymboree programs is available by calling 623-2244.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by MORT FRYMAN
In the cradle gym, part of the fun is mothers learning from each
other about caring for their babies while the infants enjoy
exercising.
Teacher Susan Hood uses a Raggedy Ann doll to teach parents what
movements the babies will use during exercises.
Baby meets baby: Mariellen Poynter gets a close up look at Louis
Gomez. Both babies are 4 1/2 years old and get their one-hour
workouts in Gymboree.
On the Cover
Donna Mooney plays with her son Tyler, 5 months, under a
parachute. While trapping air under the chute, the parents sit and
chat and tend to their babies. Staff photo by Mort Fryman.
by CNB