Play & Learn with Gymboree

Gymboree is coming to the Franklin Road Branch of the Indianapolis Public Library on Tuesday, November 17, for a session built for babies and toddlers aged 6 to 36 months. It's a half-hour program that pairs sensory play, songs, and the first stirrings of social play, all led by a Gymboree expert. If you've got a little one in that age range, it's exactly the kind of thing that gets them moving and interacting with other kids their own age.

The session runs from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM, so it's a quick, focused window—easy to fit around a nap or a lunch break. The program is made possible by the Everwise Foundation through gifts to The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation, which is why you'll find it here at the library rather than as a standalone class. It's a great way to get your kid out of the house and into a social setting without needing to commit to a full-day activity.

The venue itself has a bit of a history. For years, the area was served by volunteers working out of an empty church building, until the Wanamaker Branch opened in 1969 on Southeastern Avenue. That site was eventually replaced in 2000 by the current 18,000-square-foot Franklin Road Branch, which was built to keep up with a rapidly growing township. It's a full-fledged library, so if you're already there for the session, you can easily spend some extra time browsing the children's section with your little one.

Registration opens on November 3 at 10:30 AM, so you'll want to mark your calendar if you're planning to go. The session is on Tuesday, November 17, from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM at the Franklin Road Branch, 5550 South Franklin Road, Indianapolis, IN 46239.