Anonymous wrote:@I haven't been there but my nanny just took my son. She said that adults are charged admission. I think that's crazy. Adults are not playing, if our paying children are there, we have to be there. They should change this. It's a turnoff.

Can you name one park or theme or otherwise where kids pay and parents get in free? If you do, start a blog. I'd love to go to say... Disney free and just have my kids pay.

Kensington's Interactions Learn and Play doesn't charge for the adults:

www.interactionslearnandplay.net

And, free and easy parking.

That really bugs me about Playseum. We're not from Bethesda, so it's not walkable.

Wow, I never thought of that. To be honest, my concern was more that they indicate on their website that accept donations of stuff for the Playseum. Don't get me wrong, our family are BIG recyclers - and we buy plenty of items from craiglist and swaps etc- but I am hoping whatever they do bring in there is properly cleaned. We were there when it first opened and have been back several times throughout the past couple of months with friends. The spaces have definately taken a beating in a few months. I bet it is hard to keep up. Do kids ever mind though???

So my kids went there and had a great time. They did not mind how narrow or how crowded it was for the most part. There is a cute room with a fire truck theme. They had to wait to get on the small fire truck and try on the gear. Here is my pragmatic concern as a parent as-- how are they maintaining cleanliness standards given the high foot traffic in there? My daughter placed the plastic fireman's hat on her hat after the kids before her-and kids put it on right after she handed it off. My daughter's class has had a lice epidemic. (I understand this has been an issue with quite a few schools) Nearly all the kids in her class have had it (my daughter has not gotten it yet- knock on wood). There is a room with make-up and dress up-- and a larger room with more dress up--This is a kids dream come true-- but I am concerned about how they can insure necessary cleanliness. As a mom who cleans her own house-- this would seem a near impossible feat from day to day -without a cleaning team. Maybe they have one. Regardless of the size, the kids seem to have a fun time.

While I think the name is very cute. It just unintentionally is misleading. Playseum gives you the sense you are going to a museum sized place or a spacious place. It is a fun place. Just not at all spacious.

we love this place and it's open all snow days...a lifesaver when all the schools are closed.

just don't go tomorrow, because we're going and i don't want it to be too crowded...


KIDDING

sort of

I'm one of the previous posters who found it hard to believe that there were such rude interactions initiated by staff... Perhaps, indeed, there is incredible variability with staffing. I've always had pleasant experiences. Perhaps there is one (or two?) bad eggs.

One of the things an owner or manager learns how to do very quickly is how to fire someone. Maybe that's what needs to happen, here. ?

There's a time for charity and there's time for making sure your clientele is treated well....

RE: "And I'm not sure I understand why the person working there would give your child something else to do--I thought the paper, crayons, paints, etc were open to everyone. Whevever we go, we just help ourselves. That's what I see everyone else doing, too... ???"

The day that we went seems a lot different than your description. Interesting.. When we were there things were not open to all in the way you describe. The day we were there a woman was running an art project. She stood sort of helpless as another woman (presumabley an owner/ supervising employee??) stood by stearnly observing. When we entered the area she specifically indicated the project was not age appropriate for the age of my children. I drove all the way out from Poolesville and had called in advance. I did not see anyone helping themselves to anything at all. There was a small round table that had lots of scraps and odds and ends all over it. No paper, no crayons, no paints for kids. She did not offer, there was nothing out there, and I did not see anyone helping themselves to anything given that atmosphere. Maybe there are no set rules as to how this room is run? Your description sounds so nice. Wish it had been our experience. Has anyone noticed that the rules have been different given various visits? So curious now...

We've been three times (it's just too convenient since we can walk there). The first time was NUTS because it was Saturday morning and there were a million little kids there. The second time was a Friday afternoon (right around nap time) and we had a pleasant time except for the heavy-set, teenaged or young-adult employee who rolled her eyes heavily when we asked to see a bunny. This was not the owner's daughter, who is a very pleasant tween who likes to show off her rabbits. I was kind of scared to go a third time (a couple of months later) because I read about the cleanliness issues, but thought it was ok. Not great, but fine for what you get. I'll never go there during 'peak' times again because it's just too crazy. But it's not filthy as far as I can see. The sand smells a little. But it smells like sand. Things look a lot more worn than they did in December, but that's through heavy use the last two months. They should replace those sad Barbie heads and refresh the make-up in the cosmetics area, but overall, we though it was an ok place. The surley employee even seemed subdued. Maybe the owner sequestered here behind the counter. Anyway, we some other places better (Interactions), and some places less (the new play space in Silver Spring) but this place is the closest to our house. We'll be back.

Like all businesses people decide whether they will or will not frequent it. Having been a executive for a small corporation for many years- I can assuredly express that customer service is everything. Many businesses rely on repeat customers and positive word of mouth. I think that it takes one or two visits to a place to determine whether or not it is place one will want to frequent. I was here with my son and I had a nice time. It was crowded, but I personally did not mind. My son spent 90% of his time in the sand room. We have not been back yet, though we will. I just read this site for the first time- it seems such a shame that of recent comment the tone borders on acrid. I cannnot imagine why anyone need negate anothers experience. We can all make educated judgement calls based on our own experience. My thought, try it for yourself-- see what your children think!

Consider yourself lucky the several times you were there to not have had such an experience. Different people have different experiences. Some great, some good, some indifferent and some outright not pleasant. Just the way it is - with anything. The reason we are on here is to voice our experiences. The good and the ugly. So that we as parents can get insight. You do not have to find it hard to believe. It was not your experience. Luckiy for you.

But that's why the forum is here. So we can share without having anonymous people question making implications.

Practice makes perfect and we hope this place picks up on this and improes. It is a neat place.

What forum are you on that you expect this? If you post, you had better believe people are going to have all sorts of opinions of your post - some agreeing and others disagreeing. Get used to it.

Consider yourself lucky the several times you were there to not have had such an experience. Different people have different experiences. Some great, some good, some indifferent and some outright not pleasant. Just the way it is - with anything. The reason we are on here is to voice our experiences. The good and the ugly. So that we as parents can get insight. You do not have to find it hard to believe. It was not your experience. Luckiy for you. But that's why the forum is here. So we can share without having anonymous people question making implications. Practice makes perfect and we hope this place picks up on this and improes. It is a neat place.

Anonymous wrote: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.

Can you expand on this? I have been there several times with my young child and I have NEVER experienced this or seen anyone else do this. I find it hard to believe...

Anonymous wrote:Maybe they could open up a couple of rooms a bit, change the layout. Lose one or two of the least utilized areas.

Totally disagree. I like the small rooms. Helps kids focus on what's in there. And... helps the parents keep an eye out for what their kids have taken out so we can put it back! Our job is to tidy up.

Anonymous wrote:I was saddened that when I sat down to do the given art project with my children. One of the employess told me flat out, loudly, in front of other guests in a less than pleasant tone that she was not old enough. She then began to chat with other visitors. I was saddened because we had been having a great time and we had just gotten there. She offered no other alternative for her (ie- even crayons and a piece of paper to scribble).

This is just SO out of the range of my experience! My dd is 2.5 and regularly uses the art materials. I did experience some overly enthusiasic helpers who wanted to put our supplies away before we were done (understandable--2 YOs pop from one thing to the next regularly, but sometimes return to what they started). I explained this, and said no worries: I would clean up everything before we left so that the next child would have a 100% clean space to work in (which I think every parent should do, anyway). And we were then left to do as we pleased. Very nice, indeed.

And I'm not sure I understand why the person working there would give your child something else to do--I thought the paper, crayons, paints, etc were open to everyone. Whevever we go, we just help ourselves. That's what I see everyone else doing, too... ???

I just wish there was more room in there. I think it is so much fun but so spacially restrictive when there is a large crowd. Does anyone know if it is special needs friendly?? Thank you...