Be With Me Playseum Guide to Fantastic Fun!
The Be With Me Playseum in Columbia and Easton, MD has so much to offer kids of all ages. Your kids will have a blast with tons of imaginative play options!
It was the pink wig that really made the outfit.
As soon as my daughter and her friend saw the stage… and then the large row of costumes against the wall between the stage their inhibitions were thrown to the wind. We couldn’t quite convince them to try on the wedding dress and get married… but tapping into their inner divas was totally a must.
So, they each picked out a dress and shoes… and then we saw the wigs. With the dress on, my little girl was playing dress up. Once she put on the bright pink shaggy wig though.. she became a star.
And that was how the entire evening went. The kids were doctors and nurses rocking babies in the maternity ward, sailors fishing for magnetic letters, a DJ conducting an interview, a chef creating the perfect culinary masterpiece.
There are so many reasons your kids will absolutely love hanging out at the Be With Me Playseum. And there are two locations; at the Mall in Columbia and in Easton, MD!
Over 20 Separate Play Areas!
Yes, you read that right. For the price of admission, your kids can play in 24 separate play areas…. ranging across a broad spectrum of interests.
Related: Tons of indoor play places in Maryland!
Tons of Opportunities for Dress Up
The owners/curators of the Playseum have gone to great lengths to find exquisite costumes for pretty much every station. Kids can don a chefs hat in the Italian restaurant or Bakery.
They can be the fireman, the police officer, the doctor, patient, or dentist. Kids can even dress up as Frederick Douglass or Harriet Tubman!
And this treat.. for real. Your kids can actually ‘get married’ in a wedding chapel. These little wedding dresses are so sweet!
Super unique imaginative play features
Just like with the costumes, the care that went into selecting the play features for each of the city areas will blow you away. The Emergency Room has real supplies and equipment.
Related: The best places in Maryland for toddlers and preschoolers!
The hair salon has a hair cutting chair, supplies, and wigs!
The two restaurant recreations are just spectacular. The Italian restaurant looks like a Bistro (or Bucca di Beppo).
Chevy’s actually donated real salsa bowls and sombrero’s for kids to play with. In both city areas, there is an extensive supply of plates, cups, silverware, and play food specific to the kind of restaurant you are playing in. Kids can take turns making pizza or tacos and being the customer. Super fun!
And yes.. the jail. Complete with bars, handcuffs, and an escape route. Al Capone has got nothing on this place!
Fun For Kids Of All Ages
Most of the city play areas are appropriate for younger and older kids (up to probably age 8 or 9). Many of the play features are soft (for younger kids) but there are also areas that would interest and challenge older kids more, especially the creative activities.
Related: 45+ Kid Friendly Restaurants with Play Areas
Get Creative
I can guarantee that the Art Creation Station will be one of your favorite areas of the Playseum. Every day there are different art projects geared to both younger kids and older kids. Also, there is sculpting material to play with and the awesome paint wall.
Related: 30+ Places with Drop In Art Activities in Maryland
If you want to do something more complicated, you can spend Playseum Dollars (see below for an explanation) to paint ceramics or wood, make jewelry, or more.
All projects go home with you that day and when we were there, Playseum employees (they should really be called camp counselors) were actually blow drying the ceramic paintings to ensure you could safely take them home.
Have a treat!
Another great spot to use those Playseum Dollars is at the Bake With Me Creation Station. For between $2-$3 your kids can decorate a cupcake or ice and decorate a cookie. For a little more your kids can actually ice an entire cake and do more complicated baking projects.
Of course, eating their creation is half the fun!
Related: Blandair Regional Park Guide to all the Fun!
Slime!
The Be With Me Playseum knows their stuff. For instance, the Science Creation Station is basically an excuse to make slime… because… SLIME!
The Playseum staff indicated that they will also do regular science experiments for kids to enjoy. In addition to slime kids can also make their own toothpaste or grow instant snow. Very cool. All of these experiments cost Playseum Dollars (between $3-$6).
I will tell you that my daughter and her friend both said that making slime was their favorite part of the entire evening.
Related: Check out all of these slime ideas!
Live Animals
In the Pet Shop Grooming Salon play area kids can borrow stuffed animals and you know.. give them a bath and haircut (pretend). But one of the coolest things about this play area is that it is also the home to a couple of bunny rabbits and more!
Related: Clark’s Elioak Farm is great fun for families!
Great toys and books for sale!
In addition to the 20+ play areas, the Be WIth Me Playseum also carries a well curated and lovely selection of books and toys you can purchase. So, yes.. they are also a Children’s bookstore and toy store. But seriously…. none of their stuff is junky.
They have a wide selection of Melissa and Doug toys, pretend play, costumes, unique games, and more. I loved perusing the book titles and the toys and books also mirrored the city play areas they were in. So, kitchen toys in the bakery.. for instance.
Kid Friendly Pampering
In addition to the Art Station, Bakery, and Science Station, kids can get a mini manicure or make bath bombs at the Soap Creation Station. Other pampering options (that take Playseum Dollars) include making lotion, sugar scrub, bubble bath, or lip balm. Pampering has never been so much fun!
Playseum Dollars
Ok– you don’t really need to get Playseum Dollars. Your kids will play their hearts out with all the play areas included in the admission cost.
BUT– the Playseum Dollars are so much fun AND you can teach your kids about budgeting. We basically bought 20 Playseum Dollars and the kids could spend them how they saw fit at the various ‘bars.’ When we were done playing, we let them use the balance to buy a small toy in the store.
It was a super fun way to teach budgeting… and we took home paint projects, slime, painted nails, and a decorated cookie!
Related: 100 Best Things to Do With Kids in Maryland!
Know Before You Go/FAQ
Admission cost: $15/person for the entire day. You get a wristband so you can come in and out as you would like. Kids under 1 year old are FREE.
There is no need to reserve a time slot and there are no memberships.
The Mall in Columbia location is open: Monday-Thursday 10am-6pm; Friday and Saturday 10am-8pm; Sunday 2pm-6pm.
The Easton, MD location is open: Monday-Wednesday 10am-4pm; Thursday 10am-1pm; Friday 10am-4pm; Saturday 10am-7pm; Sundays 2-7pm by reservation only.
There are two Maryland locations. The Columbia location is inside the Columbia Mall on the first floor right outside of Nordstroms. Park in the parking garage next to Nordstrom. Click here for Google Map Directions.
The Easton, MD location is located at: 7871 Ocean Gateway Easton, MD. Click here for Google Map Directions.