What is GymbaROO?

"Well to be honest, when you strip it all down, when you take away the fun children are having, when you take away the development benefits for the children - GymbaROO is really about parent/carer education."(Margaret Sasse: Founder of GymbaROO)

There is a direct relationship between activities and the stimulation children receive when they are babies and very young children and their ability to do well at school. This is supported and borne out by extensive research. It has been shown that children's neuro physiological development is vital for their ability to read and learn, and GymbaROO provides a fun filled platform for parents and carers to gain greater knowledge of what this entails in order to maximise their childs development.

"Children are developing 24 x 7" not just for 45 minutes a week at GymbaROO, so what we really try to do is provide parents/carers with activities that can be done at home for the rest of the week. It is not just about providing activities, but also the "how and why" those activities help the brain develop. We have a different handout every week for every different development group. All teachers must be tertiary qualified (vs. gym or swimming instructors) before even being accepted for GymbaROO training - they need to learn and understand all about neuro physiological development and then be able to communicate this to you little by little - as you need it. We also explore important issues such as, balance, posture and motor development, as well as their importance to overall development.

Gymbaroo�s equipment is specifically designed by GymbaROO (where designs have evolved over 27 years of experience), and built to Gymbaroo's specifications, to maximize the neuro-physiological developmental benefits of 0-5 year olds in the Gymbaroo environment.

Having said all this, we understand that it does not matter how good it is for the children, we know you will not come back if little Johnny/Emily does not demand to come back - so layered over the top of the parental information backbone is a weekly theme with games and fun for children. Each week an object from the theme is discussed and activities performed to customised music.

 GymbaROO is NOT!

A playgroup/ mother's group/ day-care facility etc, where children are left to their own devices, under a somewhat controlled environment.

It is a time where you as a parent/carer have one-on-one time together with your child doing activities and learning new skills, it just happens to be that other parents/carers and their children are in the same environment and learning with you.

We do see PlayGroup as a great place for parents to get together and socialize their learnings from Gymbaroo, and use it as a time to re-inforce developmental activities by engaging in some of the fun activities recommended by our program.

 Who should attend GymbaROO?

All parents/carers wishing to maximise the neuro physiological development of their children. GymbaROO Classes have been professionally designed and structured to cater for babies from as young as 6 weeks, right up to children around 5 years old.

 How many people attend GymbaROO?

Australia wide 15,000 children attend a GymbaROO class every week".

"Australiasia wide 15,000 children attend every week" (this includes N.Z. and other international territories such as Hong Kong & China, Hungary, Korea and Turkey). Australia's' population is about 20 Million, so when you consider that parents/carers attend as well, this really means that one in every thousand people in Australia attend a GymbaROO class every week......and we are still growing after 28 years.

 How long are the classes?

Typically 45Mins - but they can vary from centre to centre and vary with development stage.

 How much does it cost?

It varies from centre to centre. Please contact your local centre to find out.

 What does this include?

Fees include a visualisation , weekly handouts, and the use of specially designed equipment, hall rental, public liability insurance and most importantly parent/carer education and knowledge of neuro physiological development.

 What happens during a class?

Half the class is spent with music, dance, instruments and parachutes, featuring strength exercises and gross or fine motor development. The remainder of the class is "free-time" for the children to practise their "motor" skills on specially designed equipment.

 Can anyone join in?

No, only children who have enrolled may participate.

Parents/Carers are encouraged to make alternate arrangements for siblings, as the classes are age/development appropriate and the program is designed for 45 minutes of one-on-one time between you and your child. This is however a child friendly environment and if alternate arrangements cannot be made please discuss this with us and we will do our best to accommodate everyone's needs.

 What happens if I miss a class?

There are many valid reasons for which people miss a class, and therefore there is a system in place whereby you can do a make-up class. We would be happy to facilitate rescheduling your time, but please be aware that make-up classes do have some conditions:

Make-ups can only be done:

• "in the term that you are booked in, and are not transferable to other terms for insurance and logistics reasons.

• "if there is space available in other classes.

• "on a maximum of 2 occasions in any one term.

• at the discretion of the centre managers who may give priority for sickness or even limit the range of reasons for which make-ups can be allocated. Please ask you local centre for their local procedures.

 Do I have wait for the start of a term?

No, the program has been designed so that you can join at anytime and you will not lose out on any information as repetition occurs in the form of differing activities and themes.

 How do I enrol?

Contact your local centre and they will tell you how to enrol with them.

 How many children in a class?

It depends on the centre. It ranges from 12 - 18..

 What qualifications does the teacher have?

Gymbaroo requires teachers to have completed a three year tertiary qualifaction before being accepted to study neuro-physiological development and be trained as a Gymbaroo teacher. Teachers are expected to participate in regular professional development evenings and undertake ongoing study in neuro-physiological development of children.' Assistants are also expected to understand the fundamental rationale underpinning Gymbaroo's program and have sufficient understanding of neuro-physiological development to be able to contribute meaningfully to the session.

 How long has GymbaROO been operating?

GymbaROO has been operating as a business for 27 years.

 How many centres are there?

In Australia alone there are currently 69 Centres.

 What if I have other Questions?

If you have any other questions you may have these answered by e-mailing office@gymbaroo.com.au or calling 1800 559 426.

 Why is there a need for GymbaROO/BabyROO as a parenting tool for children to learn better compared to the natural intelligence that a child acquires organically without assistance?

Organic, natural development is in today's modern society a thing of the past. In truth, "natural development" no longer occurs because of all the interferences our modern society brings. GymbaROO really is about putting the "natural" back into the developmental opportunities! Children's development occurs as the brain creates the connections as it learns about the body, the world around it and learns to move in response. Many of the key opportunities that used to encourage "natural" development are no longer available to our children as a result of safety/litigation concerns, convenience and ultra busy lives; reduced opportunities to move and play - smaller blocks of land for living, parks with equipment that do not spin, sway or rock... we are only left with swings as moving equipment; lack of tummy time for infants; lots of "containers" into which our children are slept, carried, pushed, and constantly "held captive" - that prevent movement; too much "screen" time (computers, TV, game boys etc etc) and changes in diet (lots of processed, adulterated foods). Today's parents are so busy, they just lack the time and often the knowledge about how all this impacts on the developing child's brain. Historically or should we say in our natural evolutionary past, nature provided much of the stimuli, and we evolved to imbed these into our natural developmental processes. A simple analogy : it is accepted as basic knowledge that play in baby animals is about developing later survival skills when they adults. So is it reasonable to take "natural" out of life and still expect our children to maximize their future learning abilities?

 Why is it important for parents to attend GymbaROO/BabyROO along with their babies or children?

There are 2 key reasons - one involves the parents themselves, the other the babies and children:

1. The need for parent education is paramount if children are to be given the opportunity to develop to the best of their genetic potential. - extensive research has demonstrated that knowledgeable parents care for their infants with greater competence and confidence.. At GymbaROO parents learn about the natural progression of early childhood development, how it provides the foundations for the more complex skills of learning and what types of activities are important and "expected" by the developing brain for healthy development. Parents of today's society are somehow expected just to "know" what is important and how to assist their children's healthy development - but there is precious little education available. Most parents do not have the time to be able to critically sort through the masses of information on the web - and GymbaROO provides well researched and documented information in accessible and easily understood 'bites' on all key developmental areas, along with activities that reinforce the written information - so that it is easier to understand and learn.

2. While there are some who argue that babies & children don't need any specific developmental activities, at GymbaROO we beg to differ! Today's modern society often isolates babies from the very movement and sensory opportunities they need for healthy neurological development. They are restrained (often on their backs for long periods) in capsules, chairs, swings, bouncinettes, cots, play pens, walkers and many other types of containers! These containers deny infants the many sensory and movement experiences on which later learning is so dependent. Activities offered in GymbaROO are designed to help infants gain the important sensory and motor stimulation required for learning. Babies cannot do this by themselves, so it is important that parents know what experiences are important and how to provide an environment in which these experiences can occur.

3. Children also need opportunities to move and stimulate the connections being made in the brain that provide the foundations for later learning. Children whose message superhighways in their brain are not ready for learning will find activities such as drawing, painting, bead threading, puzzles, cutting out, word recognition, letter and numeral writing more difficult than those whose brain is mature and responding effectively and efficiently. The GymbaROO program is unlike any other program as it offers children the opportunities to fine tune their brains in readiness for learning in a number of ways, including: gross and fine motor development, visualisation skills, rhythm and music activities, coordination and strength activities, body awareness, motor planning and sequencing activities, visual & auditory skill development, as well as socialisation skills.

 What sort of results has been seen in school children who previously went through the GymbaROO/BabyROO program?

A study undertaken by Liz Duguid, a Scottish Early Childhood Educator who came to Australia on a Churchill Scholarship reported that children who had attended GymbaROO were far more likely to engage in physical education activities in middle childhood (6 - 12 years) than children of the general population.

A more recent pilot study undertaken in 6 low SES schools in Victoria, in which the GymbaROO movement program was implemented in years 1 - 4 showed statistically significant improvements in the reading and comprehension ability of children who had reading/learning difficulties when they participated in the movement program, in comparison to those learning challenged children who only engaged in "literacy" programs. Teachers also reported improvements in concentration, behaviour, socialisation skills, attention and general improvements in mood and self esteem. Even though the research program has been completed many of the teachers have continued it on their classrooms as it made teaching the children so much easier and more enjoyable.

 Why is the structured nature of the GymbaROO/BabyROO program so important?

There has been a lot of discussion about the importance of play in a child's development, and there is no doubt that a child learns through play. Unfortunately, the idea of play seems to bring with it the connotation that it is free from structure and that the best form of play is where a child is allowed to just ‘run free'. While a degree of unstructured play IS important to the developing imagination and thinking skills, it must be balanced with opportunities to engage in play that encourages the child to engage in the types of play that they otherwise would not be exposed to, or avoid (because they feel inadequate in that skill - therefore there should be flag in the parents mind when they see that occuring -). As mentioned above modern life means certain natural stimuli required to maximize natural development are suppressed or over exaggerated and structured play activities are required to rebalance development.. The GymbaROO program runs for 45 minutes once a week. Not a long period, but long enough to give children and parents lots of ideas about the types of activities that are both fun and important for development. Many children take these ideas home with them and engaged in many hours of unstructured play as they instruct teddy on playing musical instruments for example, or they re-enact the very activities that help their development progress. Most of the activities we do at GymbaROO can be replicated at home for little or no cost. The structure also enables children to learn a routine - and they love routine! We get into SO much trouble from the 2 year olds if the Treasure Bag is forgotten!!

 I have twins, triplets or more can we join in?

If you have twins, triplets, or even quads, we would love to be able to have you come along, so please call your local centre to see how "one on one time" might be able to be orchestrated. Soem may require you to bring a "helper" for each additional child, it depends on local circumstance, an assistant or teacher may be able help with another child. We cannot guarantee you and your children can be accomodated but centres will generally try their hardest, and frequently find a way, but they do have to be mindful of Occupational Health and Safety (limits what can be done) and other practical reasons.