Creative learning between parents and their preschool children is the goal of Gymboree Play and Music Centers, which plans to open a new location Jan. 3 at Rossville Boulevard and Fitch Avenue in Fullerton.

The location, which franchise owner Anita Moore calls her Nottingham center, will replace the one at Providence Methodist Church in Towson, which operated there for 17 years, Moore said.

The new center is a free-standing building formerly occupied by a DeWalt-Black & Decker office, said Laurie Schell, general manager.

The local site was chosen due to its proximity to the Beltway, Perry Hall and White Marsh, designated a county growth area, Schell said.

"This is an up-and-coming area, and Nottingham has a nice connotation," she said.

All six teachers at the Towson location will remain on staff at the new branch, Schell said. Teachers are required to hold college degrees and are certified by Gymboree Corp., she said.

Contrary to the athletic-sounding name of the franchise, classes at Gymboree centers do not involve tumbling or formal gymnastics, according to Schell.

Rather, parents choose a class among music, art and movement for one 45-minute session per week. The charge for the basic enrollment is $69 per month.

For an additional $30 per month, they can enroll in additional classes, or add a second child to the program, she said.

The Gymboree center will offer free demonstration lessons during an open house Jan. 21-25.

Children between the ages of 6 weeks and 5 years are welcome. Parents are required to take classes with their children up to age 3, but may drop off those ages 3-5.

"Gymboree involves all aspects of a child's growing and learning through play," Schell said.

"We focus on large and fine motor skills, not the 1-2-3's and A-B-C's that you'll see in a typical nursery school," she said.

Class size is limited to 20 pairs of parent and child, with one teacher.

Owner Moore said the play equipment at Gymboree was custom-designed and safe for children to "explore, play and have fun."

The chain operates more than 500 centers in 23 countries, including ones in Owings Mills, Columbia and Millersville. Dating back to the 1970s, Gymboree is headquartered in San Francisco.
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