Throughout the bay area there are several Children's Fitness Centers that provide a variety of services designed to encourage your child's development.  They offer classes, activities, parties, and even sometimes free play in order to provide a safe environment for your child to learn, play, grow, interact, and progress not only their motor development, but also their social, cognitive, and adaptive behavioral skills. Many Children's Fitness Centers provide a space conducive to play and the acquisition of gross motor skills and including some desirable equipment like: trampolines, floor mats, balance beams, tunnels, ball pits, climbing walls and much more.
 
If you are looking for a fun afternoon, specific class, place to play with your child, or an opportunity to practice your child's gross motor skills, Children's Fitness Centers have a lot to offer.  Since so many Children's Fitness Centers are available in the Bay Area and they provide some unique services, I will elaborate on a few specific centers that we hear about regularly at Starfish Therapies.
 
Gymboree
In addition to their children's clothing line, Gymboree offers a program called Gymboree Play & Music.  They provide several classes designed to nurture your child's overall development including: Play & Learn, Music, Art, Sports Skills, Family Class, and School Skills.  Classes have specific age ranges in order to ensure the skills that are encourage are age appropriate for the entire class. They have several locations throughout the bay area; each of which has slightly different hours and pricing. At Gymboree, you can sign up for a specific class or classes or become a member.  Membership offers additional benefits such as free play times, clothing discounts, special events, and some free/discounted classes. For further information or specifics on pricing and schedules please visit Gymboree online or call your local Gymboree Plan & Music location. You may also sign up for a free trial class on their website.
 
The Little Gym
The Little Gym offers an array of non-competitive programs "designed to build motor skills in a fun and nourishing way, while fostering enhanced emotional, intellectual, and social skills."  They offer parent/child classes, gymnastics, dance, cheerleading, sports skills, and karate.  In additions they offer camps, birthday parties, and "parent's survival nights" (a.k.a. an activity for the kids while the parents go out). They have several locations on the Peninsula and in the South Bay.  For more specific information regarding membership, classes, and locations please visit The Little Gym online or call your local The Little Gym location.
 
My Gym
My Gym has built various classes designed to use structured activities incorporating music, dance, games, sports, and gymnastic to enhance a child's physical, emotional, and cognitive development. They provide access to fun equipment like: a climbing wall, ball pit, medicine balls, monkey bars, and balance beam. At My Gym, there are classes that parents participate with their child and classes designed for the child to participate independently.  In addition to these Regular hour long classes they also offer Martial Arts, Camp, Fit & Fun Days (a 2-3 hour duration), and a Parent's Night Out Program. There are various locations on the Peninsula and in the East Bay. My Gym also welcomes children to stop by to check out the gym and try a class for free.  For more information including specific pricing and schedules please visit: My Gym online or call your local My Gym location.
 
Recess Urban Recreation
Recess Urban Recreation is a "membership-based play space for kids, and their adults, to learn, create, and grow."  It is located at 470 Carolina St in San Francisco, Ca. They offer a series of classes for both children and parents as well as special events.   Some of the highlights of their summer schedule include: a family CPR class, a kid's concert, a craft night, classes on potty training, and adult recreation classes like pilates & yoga.  They also rent out their space for parties and events.  While classes and other services are open to non-members, members have access to their playspace whenever they are open (see hours below) and may play as long as they like.  They provide three levels of membership ranging from $55-$150/month and an additional sibling can be added to a membership for $15/month.  Their basic membership includes simply access to the playspace and a discount on fitness and education classes.  The remaining two tiers of membership also included a specific number of classes and guest passes.  More information specific information can be found at Recess online or by emailing info@recessurbanrecreation.com.