Eat, drink and be married!

Off we headed to Gymboree for yet another trial class to figure out what kind of class would actually interest the bub. Gymboree only has 1 outlet at Tanglin Mall and they offer two types of trials -

$60 a session which can be waived if a package is signed up
$80 for two sessions which cannot be waived if package is signed up

We headed for the two session trial which can be used for both the gym and music classes. Plus! Both parents were allowed for the trial too, which is a huge brownie point for me.

Play area was huge enough and C was kicking in excitement way before he was placed down and a poonami happened. What the poof.

Anyhow lesson plan goes

• Introduction with some songs
• The lesson was all about ramps so the babies and toddlers were allowed to roam within the stipulated activity area for 10 minutes
• Over the course of the lesson they explored climbing ramps of different difficulty levels and also the slides if they could and also walking on an inflatable float
• Rocking horses and boats followed suit and what looked like a miniature wall climbing exercise
• Bubbles and the same exercise as Kindermusik where the babies were placed in the middle of this flimsy and flouncy colourful sheet with parents moving them all over
• Farewell and goodbye

The second lesson was all about rocking and movement

• The layout of the class was same same but different, they probably configured the slides and ramps differently this time
• Instead of a rocking horse, there was a rocking ramp and gigantic inflated tube
• Bubbles and parachute was also used again

What I loved

Premise was large enough and surprise-surprise, C was actually taking on the steps like a pro though we do not allow him near any at home. 


His first easter egg hunting done, at Gymboree no less! He was all tears when we had to pry the laminated egg from him...whoever gives up chocolate for laminated eggs?

What I didn't

I found ramps a tad too advanced and he was barely following through the activities that well as compared to the older babies. The fact that the age group of the class extends from 9 months to way over a year old does mean the abilities of the children are also very varied. The 10 month old twins we saw were definitely more agile and curious about slides.

We discovered his fear for clowns, the parachute and inflated huge tube - hmm. 

The instructor was generally encouraging but was not as engaging as the Mygym ones. (The ratio for that class was 2 to 5 children) but here we saw 1 to at least 10. 

Would I enrol? 

We are on the fence about this somehow since he seemed less interested the second lesson as compared to the first.

 

I am not a fan of sewing or home economics related and even had so many brushes with my home economics teacher, I wish when I grew up I would not have anything to do with it. And never say never, really. 

Just thought I pen this down lest one day I forgot how three generation's worth got captured in a single picture. 

My mom's sewing basket has travelled time with us, from the days of painstakingly cross stitching pieces of embroidery and the hours! I remember taking her sewing basket out in the afternoons and trying to make a mess of her needles, threads and whatever I could find within...surely, it seemed like a treasure trove to a child. 

Growing up, I never had issues with zippers, missing buttons or hemming my clothes because there's always mom. It marvels me how many occasions this single sewing basket has saved me from embarrassment and last minute quick fixes - I am the kinda chor lor girl who would pick at the hemlines for the heck of it and end up with the skirt half unhemmed. 

Just last week, I saw down by C's cot, picking out colour threads to sew his favourite buttons onto a napkin. For the first time in decades, I had the patience to finish my horrible sewing and making sure those buttons were fastened tight enough and feeling most accomplished over my piece of work. 

The circle of life indeed, and the days ahead looks like I need my own sewing basket to create memories with. 

"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Luke 12: 34. 

This year's Good Friday and Easter is exceptionally meaningful to us and we give thanks to Him for all his blessings. For giving us a family to call our own, for giving us hope and a miracle.

How did the lesson go? 

45 minutes comprised of

1. 5-10 minutes of free play time where they placed some balls on the carpeted floor and C had a ball of time literally chasing them. He made himself heard when they had to be kept. Ohoh.
2. A round of introduction with the teacher who sang beautifully. Almost like Nanny Maria in Sound of Music.
3. The drums were introduced and the parents were taught some rhythm tapping and my dear glutton was more keen on chewing the drumstick. Hurhur.  
4. Rattles with belles were distributed and we continued with shaking and tapping them. 
5. A dance item continued with parents holding their bubs.
6. Bubble time! 
7. They were placed on this huge fabric and parents were made to go in circles. C was clearly disinterested in getting dizzy with the rest and climbed out. LOL. 
8. Finally goodbye with a song.

What I loved about it?

The teacher's vocals. I kid you not I was enthralled but C was barely engaged inspite of her amazing range and tone!

What I didn't? 

It is a pity the babies weren't entirely the same age group and each had their own agenda (one even fell asleep mid way!). Even I found the lesson on the boring side, much less the babies with shorter attention spans.

So would I sign on?

Nope, not now at least. At this point classes with alot more movement interests this curious 9 month old more than sitting still and listening to music. To be fair, his fellow 8 month old classmate was content sitting and going through the activities very well so this just didn't work for us.