PLAYSEUM?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this place appropriate for a 15 month old?

My 15 month old enjoyed it. He is very active and loved the sandbox and grocery store. I don't think it's an every week kind of outing, but great for a change of pace in the winter or on rainy days. I had a great time with him!

[Anonymous]

We just went today and it is a really great place. Such a fun concept and it worked way better than what I pictured in my head.

The only con is parking, that is pretty annoying. Also, I brought my 1.5 yo and my 4 yo and will not do that again. It was just too much trying to keep track of them. They each were interested in other rooms and it was a little stressful running from room to room trying to keep an eye on each one. I would prefer to take my 4 yo next time and spend time just with her working through some of the other exhibits that looked interesting, but I couldn't focus on them with the baby running around.

Overall, a very interesting, fun place and I will definitely be going back.

[Anonymous]

Well, I'm one of the previous posters who mentioned something skeptical about the "mission" of the place. I enjoyed it so much, and my 2'3" daughter did, too. I added $20 as a donation, because, honestly, I don't know how they're going to stick around given the exceedingly low entry fee they're charging...

[Anonymous]

The kids had fun. Parking is difficult.

[Anonymous]

This area has desperately been in need of a "kids type museum" for a long time. So you can imagine our excitement when we would not be trecking to Baltimore to a kids museum because a new place had opened in the dc/rockville/bethesda neighborhood. We brought our kids there and would like you to share our experience with you. We left with mixed feelings. The first area of concern encountered was parking. It is non existent, unless you happen to snag one of the 4 or 5 curbside spots and have pocket change for 2 hour metered parking. We had to walk a distance with many kids. Doable, but not preferable if you are one mom/caretaker coming with a few children. When you arrive there is a tiny foyer way leading downward to a flight of stairs where the entrance actually is. There is no place to safely park a stroller withour creating a firehazard or being in peoples way as you get yourself ready to go downstairs. The owners definately had a clever concept here. They have created several small rooms snaking off on a narrow hallway for your kids to "explore." They are thoughtfully created and very cute. Kids definately can have a great time here. There is a room with nailpolish and dress up, a small firetruck and hats and coats to put on, all very well put together. The MAJOR issue is that each room is TINY. Not more that two or 3 kids can comfortably fit in most rooms at a time, muchless room for a parent to interact with their child without being in the way. It is in many ways claustrophic. There were many people there when we went there and it was difficult to get from space to space without knocking into people. There is one large room at the end of the hall and that is nice as it is one place where a larger amount of people can comfortably play on a kidsize drumset, dress up etc. There is a ball room which is fun, however there is a childpressurized gate the kids have to climb over to get in. Kids were trying to climb it and knocking it down and falling. Sometoys were broken and posed a hazard. In previous posts people voiced concern about religious tones. There is a bookshelf with childrens bible type books near a bookshelf about other kids subjects, so nothing in that regard too overt. I would have to say on the whole, our kids had a nice time. They liked the rooms and what they had to offer. As parents sadly we were quite disappoined at the very end of our experience and our kids were too. We had waited to take part in their advertised art projects as the small space had been filled most of the time. Seeing that our kids were getting tired - we innocently asked if we could take the votive holder home and we would decorate it at our house. The staff member rudely admonished us in front of our kids that one of my children was too young to do the project offering no other substitution and that we could not take it as "take home" (we had come with many kids) We only wanted to make it easier for them. She ignored our kids who were quickly doing the project so we would be allowed to take it all the while boasting to a visitor (from another country) that there were so many people of many religions here. On the whole the kids had fun which is in essence why we as parents go on these outings. As far as staff treating parents as adults and not as kids, that's another story and leaves us cold. You cannot beat the price. That's a fair entry fee. If you do go, go when with one chil, two max, hope you get good parking spot and read the website, follow all "their rules" posted or otherwise and you will on the whole be pleased. Cannot say we will be actively recommending this to all our friends very soon. Hope you have a better experience...

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the detailed feedback. You are not the first person to complain about parking. Were those of you complaining about parking aware when you arrived that this place is in downtown Bethesda? I would actually consider the Playseum's location pretty good with regard to parking - there are two huge metered lots just behind the shops directly across the street from the location. But what were you expecting, exactly?

[Anonymous]

I think most people coming with small kids would prefer not to cross a very busy major road with cars rushing past them. Likewise, may find it tricky to park in a lot and hold hands with kids, carry kids, stroll with kids up a winding sidewalk where cars rush by. Yes, given that it is Bethesda, as I said it is doable. Not preferable by any stretch if you have more than one child (or children with disabilities who need proximity)

The major issue is the actual size of the playplace. If you come with child on a day it is not crowded I bet it is fabulous. If you come with several kids and others do the same, it is crowded and hard to get around.

One staff member can make visitors feel very uncomfortable b/c this person does not feel it is impolite to embarass guests in front of others with not so important minutia (ie-- can a votive art project be taken so a child can work on it at home) anyhow-

again-- best of luck to those who visit...

[Anonymous]

we went today for the second time and it was beyond insanely packed. I would bet they were way over fire code capacity, but never stopped letting people in. I was there with a 2 yo and 4 yo and it was so crowded that I couldn't see my 2 yo when he was 2 feet away. The grocery play area was an exact replica of the Soviet Safeway. It was truly insane and very hard to keep track of two kids with all the bodies in my line of sight.

OTOH, parking was very easy. We parked in one of the metered lots across the street, crossed with our stroller at the crosswalk--about 1 block total walking. Not sure what is difficult about that?

Also, if you have small children you might want to wait until school is back in session--there were lots of bigger kids there.

[Anonymous]

Echo other people's posts about:

1. There is one staff member who is incredibly dismissive and rude. She has dark hair and is a bit heavy. We went at 4:45 on a Friday, when it was not crowded, and she was more interested in spraying the grocery stuff with Lysol and starting to close down than show my kids the bunnies (there was literally noone else there and we had to wait around until she felt like trudging into the pet room).

2. Parking can be a nightmare, but it's only $2 for 2 hours in teh parking lot where CVS and the pet store is. It's a short walk to the playseum from there and the bonus is that it's covered parking.

3. 1 parent+2 or more kids = nightmare. The space is split up in a way that, if one child wants to go to one room and the other runs to another room, the parent goes crazy. It's much better when it is not crowded, mostly afternoons on weekdays. The proprietors let waaaayyyy too many people in on Saturday mornings, probably because she's trying to make her revenue for the week.

4. Because you have to pay for adults, the cost is comparable to Interactions in Bethesda or another play area if you only have one child. It's not that inexpensive.

I like the place well enough and I'm glad there's an indoor playspace nearby, but I def don't think it's the second coming (no offense to the bible-beater owner).

[Anonymous]

Husband just finished taking my daughter there and while he was there, his new coat was stolen. Basically, as other people have touched on there seems to be issues with space/logistics/staffing. Basically, with no good place to put items like strollers and coats it makes it a less attractive spot, especially for winter months (when you really are looking for good indoor activities). The staff handled the situation just OK -- first indicating that he "lost" his coat, which was clearly not the case because the person that took it took certain items out of the pockets and left those behind because they were only interested in taking the coat (a North Face coat). While this stuff happens, the place needs to address some of these space and logistical issues and could have handled the situation better. Bottom line -- be careful with what you leave out near the entrance of the place because from the sidewalk you can see in and there is no one in that area to provide any deterrent from someone slipping in and taking stuff. Of course there is really no good alternative offered because with the place being so crowded you cannot lug your stuff inside with you and need your hands free to help keeping up with your kids . . . Think that may have been our last visit to the Playseum for a good while until maybe we hear that some of the issues identified in this and prior posts are resolved.

[Anonymous]

Anyone else have their kids told that they were going to hell by the owner as was the experience of a poster on another thread?

Heard there is a new place in SS, anyone been there?

Sucks about the coat, not so surprised, the place is a madhouse.

[Anonymous]

We went with our kids. And WOW- it is a great concept- just WAY TOO SMALL. Parking not great, but we found a spot across the street. The kids had a pretty good time, but found it hard to play comfortably because it is just way too crowded. Kids rushing and waiting to use the toys their are playing with etc. Does anyone know if they have a limit to the people they let in? We can comfortably say we have no intentions of coming back. One of the owners?/staff was incredibly rude to my child. She was talking down to her in front of other playseum guests. It was awkward, uncomfortable and took us by surpise. My child actually cried and she could have care less. We opted, unlike this staffer to be an example to our children. So we gathered ourselves up and left. So they got 15.00 from us and it is the last they will get. My advice-- stay away from this place.

[Anonymous]

PP was the staff person the same dark haired woman someone else complained about?

You should ask "Miss Gina" for you money back. Sorry that your child was so upset.

[Anonymous]

I went the other day and my 2 year-old and I both prefer Interactions in Kensington.

[Anonymous]

I think that they are still getting their sea legs and have been swamped. It is not a super big space. It is really nice for what it is and it's very accessible. I would recommend that anyone who has an issue with a staff member ask for Ms. Gina (and no I'm not her) or email her later. She should get feedback so she can re-train her employee.