https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 11 May 2026 09:22:05 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2167462 Tue, 05 May 2015 10:15:26 +0000 Maysprout 2167462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've gone through it with both my girls. Definitely made outings more stressful. But at the same time with consistency of rules they learn. If they tantrum at a place like Gymboree then I'd just remove them for a bit until they're calm, well that goes for most places.<br /> It's normal for kids to test boundaries and look for holes, it's annoying but just have to stay calm and strong. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2167349 Tue, 05 May 2015 09:34:26 +0000 cat620 2167349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's not just Gymboree. Last night we tried to go out to eat at a family friendly restaurant, and my son screamed almost the entire time. I talked to a friend of mine, and she thinks it's a control issue. She said toddlers go through a phase where they want to be in control of their environment and get mad when they are not. It makes sense why he is so happy at the park but mad at any organized activity. Has anyone else gone through this? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2167159 Tue, 05 May 2015 07:35:07 +0000 cat620 2167159@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Woolly Mammoth: I don't think him not participating is a huge deal to them. The biggest problem is the maracas, which unfortunately the teacher won't let him hold onto. She says they could damage the equipment if he banged them on anything, so she has a rule that they can only be used on the green circle and they must be returned after the song. He doesn't like either of those rules :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2167039 Mon, 04 May 2015 23:28:06 +0000 Woolly Mammoth 2167039@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At the Gymboree I go to they don't care if the kids play on the equipment instead of participating in the organized activities. I usually see one or two kids doing their own thing.</p> <p>My 19-month-old is having trouble giving up toys at the end of each activity, so the teacher usually just lets him keep it. Once he sees the next toy, he drops the first one and I just pick it up and put it away quietly.</p> <p>Could you talk to the teachers about what their expectations are? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2166741 Mon, 04 May 2015 16:32:41 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2166741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprild: aw well it wouldn't be the end of the world to take a break from Gymboree- summers can be busy anyway, kids try different activities. It's normal for kids to be running off and I'm not sure how flexible Gymboree is but if it's not a good fit then that's ok too, don't beat yourself up. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2166738 Mon, 04 May 2015 16:31:00 +0000 cat620 2166738@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bunnylove08: They don't allow outside toys to be brought in, because then the kids would probably fight over them. That's a good suggestion though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2166733 Mon, 04 May 2015 16:23:24 +0000 bunnylove08 2166733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprild: What if you brought your own maracas so he doesnt have to give them back. Would that be too distracting to the class? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2166724 Mon, 04 May 2015 16:15:19 +0000 cat620 2166724@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@edelweiss: That's true! We went to the playground today, and he had a great time! I think we'll try to do more outdoors. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2166548 Mon, 04 May 2015 14:17:49 +0000 edelweiss 2166548@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprild: that is a bummer! but i think that's really great that you've picked up on that he's enjoying unstructured free play right now. and with the warmer weather, it's much easier to go to a playground/park, and hopefully you can meet other families there (or set up playdates with your gymboree peeps)! and i'm sure you'll be able to go back to gymboree at some point and have a great time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2166467 Mon, 04 May 2015 13:15:35 +0000 cat620 2166467@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: he's not very verbal yet, so I think he is frustrated that he can't communicate. </p> <p>@gracecat: I've been thinking about what else we can do, but he seems happiest when he can run around and play freely.</p> <p>@2littlepumpkins: that's a good suggestion, but then we would miss about 10 minutes of class. The classes are already short at 45 minutes, so I would hate to leave after 30 min.</p> <p>@edelweiss: that's what we'll probably do. It makes me feel a little sad though, because we've been going for so long. And the instructors and other parents know us well </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2166018 Mon, 04 May 2015 09:52:33 +0000 edelweiss 2166018@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we took a music class where there were a few kids who did not want to sit in the circle or generally follow directions--it wasn't too big of a deal. but if the tantrums are becoming too stressful for you and LO, i say take a break for a few months. it's probably a phase. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2166010 Mon, 04 May 2015 09:49:12 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2166010@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Could you sneak out before the maracas come out? We do my gym and there are definitely kids who don't want to sit in a circle or whatever's, totally normal. The parents just try their best although I haven't seen any tantrums. Taking a break could be good too. :) or lookin into a different program. At my gym they do several choices out at once so the kids don't have to all be doing the exact same thing. There are only a few short points where they all do the same thing mainly the first and the last parts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2165904 Mon, 04 May 2015 09:04:22 +0000 gracecat 2165904@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would take a break too. It's just too stressful to bother with and its just a phase anyhow. DD had a similar issue with mommy and me yoga classes where she absolutely hated for me to do yoga and would just cry, so we stopped. It was not worth it. But she loves Music Together classes and always has. Maybe you could find another activity that he would enjoy? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2165896 Mon, 04 May 2015 09:00:14 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2165896@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@aprild: It might be worth switching to that for now. Is he very verbal? I think that's where we had our issue...from about 18 months until just after 2, he would have tantrums when he didn't want to do something organized. Now that he can tell us whether or not he wants to do something (he's 2.5 now), and we can explain to him how much fun it is :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2165861 Mon, 04 May 2015 08:35:29 +0000 cat620 2165861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: He's 22 months. I think overall he likes the classes. It's just a few things that set him off, but unfortunately those things are unavoidable. The good thing about Gymboree is they also have open gym time, which is where you can drop in during certain hours and let your kid play on the equipment. We never have a problem during this, because there is no instructor telling him what to do. However, I'm not sure the cost of Gymboree is worth it if we only go to the open gym. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2165858 Mon, 04 May 2015 08:32:47 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2165858@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO did this during swim class at around 18 months. He wasn't very verbal then, and his tantrums were how he verbalized his frustration at us wanting him to do something that he didn't want to do. We stopped taking him to swim class because it clearly wasn't fun for him or us. </p> <p>How old is your son? I'd stop for a little while and try again in a few months to see if anything has improved. But I never wanted to feel like I was forcing him to do anything...which is why we stopped swim class. It just wasn't fun for anyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/toddler-has-tantrums-at-gymboree#post-2165846 Mon, 04 May 2015 08:27:22 +0000 cat620 2165846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been taking my son to Gymboree since he was a baby, and he's always liked it and had a good time. I like the idea of us having an activity we do together weekly. Well lately, he has been throwing tantrums every time we are there! He seems to be going through a phase where he doesn't want to do any organized activities, so he refuses to participate in the singing or sitting in a circle and just wants to play on the equipment. If I try to force him to do something, he screams.</p> <p>The other problem is that he doesn't want to give anything back that was given to him. At Gymboree they play a song during every class and hand out maracas to the children. At the end of the song, the children are supposed to give them back. This always leads to a big tantrum where I'm yanking the maracas out of my son's hands as he's screaming and kicking on the floor. </p> <p>I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth taking him to Gymboree. It's becoming stressful for me, which is probably making him react even more. Do you think this is a phase he'll outgrow soon, or do you have any tips on how to handle his tantrums? Also, would you continue classes with this behavior? </p>