Children's Museum Chesterfield
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
Children's Museum Chesterfield offers an engaging, open-space environment with diverse educational and imaginative activities, particularly appealing to active children aged 1-8. It provides significant value through an EBT discount and stands out with dedicated toddler areas, imaginative play zones, and a friendly, attentive staff, making it suitable for a full day of family fun despite current widespread renovations and some visibly outdated exhibits.
Key Highlights
- ✓Significant EBT discount available: $2 per person (up to six) with EBT card, instead of the standard $9.
- ✓Engaging for a wide age range; successfully kept an 8-year-old and 5-year-old entertained all day.
- ✓Features diverse activity stations: a well-stocked art section for crafting, a stage with costumes for imaginative play, and a play place with a slide.
- ✓Multiple distinct areas specifically designed for children aged three and under.
- ✓Provides a nursing room for parents.
- ✓Large birthday party rooms are available and accommodating staff for events.
- ✓Staff is highly praised for being great, welcoming, and actively cleaning.
- ✓Large open space allows children, especially runners, ample room to play actively.
- ✓Includes a unique hygiene feature: a designated basket for 'dirty toys' (e.g., those put in mouths) in younger children's areas.
Standout Features
- ⭐Accessible pricing through EBT card discount ($2/person).
- ⭐Large, open play spaces ideal for active children to run freely.
- ⭐Dedicated art section with a variety of crafting materials.
- ⭐Imaginative play zones, such as a stage with costumes.
- ⭐Specific, age-appropriate areas for toddlers (under 3-4 years old).
- ⭐Availability of a nursing room.
- ⭐Spacious birthday party rooms.
- ⭐Consistently friendly, welcoming, and actively cleaning staff.
- ⭐Hygiene-focused dirty toy basket in areas for younger children.
- ⭐Gift shop offers 'thought-provoking' educational toys.
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →**Bring your EBT card:** Essential for securing a significant discount ($2/person for up to six people, instead of $9).
- →**Check renovation status:** Call ahead to inquire about the current status of renovations and specific exhibit closures (e.g., little kids section, silver diner, Wegmans exhibit) to manage expectations and plan your visit accordingly.
- →**Plan for an extended visit:** Children, even older ones, can easily be engaged for several hours, potentially a full day.
- →**Ideal for younger children:** If you have kids aged 1-4, this museum is particularly well-suited due to age-appropriate activities and ample space to run.
- →**Utilize hygiene features:** Take advantage of the dirty toy baskets for toddlers to help maintain cleanliness.
Things to Consider
- ⚠Visible dirt on chairs and props indicates a need for more frequent or thorough cleaning.
- ⚠Significant ongoing construction and renovations: the 'little kids section', a 'back exhibit', and the 'silver diner' exhibit are currently being renovated or are closed.
- ⚠The 'Wegmans' exhibit is noted as feeling neglected with 'not a lot of food' anymore, implying it's not fully operational or well-maintained.
- ⚠The facility overall feels outdated and 'needs a HUGE makeover' with elements that 'have been there a while and You Can Tell'.
Price & Value
Standard admission is $9 per person. Exceptional value is offered with an EBT card, reducing the price to $2 per person for up to six people. There are also mentions of 'plenty of ways to visit for free', although specific details for the Chesterfield location are not provided (could imply memberships or other programs).
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •A nursing room is available for parents.
- •The 'open space' could be beneficial for mobility, but no specific wheelchair accessibility or sensory-friendly accommodations are explicitly mentioned.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •The 'Wegmans' exhibit is described as having 'not a lot of food anymore', implying it's an exhibit rather than a food service.
- •The 'silver diner' exhibit is closed. No explicit policy on outside food or other on-site food vendors is mentioned in the reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •No specific information regarding parking availability or costs is mentioned in the reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •Reviews indicate children can stay engaged for an entire day, and the 'open space' is good for active play. However, no specific details on peak times, crowd density, or busy periods are mentioned.
🛡️Safety Features
- •Staff actively goes around cleaning, contributing to general hygiene and safety.
- •A designated basket for 'dirty toys' (e.g., those put in mouths) in areas for younger children helps maintain hygiene and reduce germ spread.
⏰When to Avoid
- • If your visit is contingent on specific exhibits like the 'little kids section', 'silver diner', or 'Wegmans' being fully open and operational, as they may be under renovation or neglected.
- • If you expect a brand-new or consistently pristine facility, as parts are visibly outdated and undergoing significant renovation.
- • If visible dirt on play props is a major deterrent for your family.
Pricing/Package/Events
Events & Schedule
Special Events(Last 2 months - Next 6 months)
Fall Festivals
Fall
Opportunity to volunteer at Fall Festivals.
What People Say
What's Great
- Clean and well-maintained facilities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Great for birthday parties (mentioned in 3 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Mondrea McCall
4 months agoPlenty of ways to visit for free, and since we’ve been to the downtown location. The chesterfield was next up one the list. The open space is perfect for runners which was such a joy to see. Also, we get it kids are going to jump onto the chairs and other props BUT it’ll be great if you all clean the items a bit more at least so the dirt isn’t visible…. We had a blast!
Kaylyn Taggart
8 months agoShow your EBT card and get up to six people in for $2 a piece instead of $9. Not going to lie, when we first got there I thought the girls were going to get bored quickly. Definitely my older one. I have an 8-year-old and a 5-year-old and I couldn't get them to leave. We were there all day. They have different stations and activities across a wide range of subjects. They have an art section with a lot of different materials for crafting. Lots of activities to get the wheels turning. There was even a stage with costumes for your little actor or actress 😄. A play place with a slide. Multiple areas specifically for three and under. Besides having restrooms, they also had a nursing room. The birthday party rooms were pretty large. The gift shop was small, but I absolutely loved the items they were selling. There are those toys to make you think, I posted a few pictures to give you an idea.
Melissa Wiley
10 months agoOverall this is a great place to take your kids. My 18 month old was thoroughly entertained for the hour we spent there. There's a lot to do for a range of ages which I think is great for families! However, it did feel like there's a lot of construction going on right now. With the little kids section being renovated, the back exhibit being renovated, and the silver diner being closed. Also there wasn't a lot of food in Wegmans anymore. I feel that exhibit is a bit neglected. I will say the workers are great! There was one going around cleaning things which I really appreciated. Also was greeted warmly and when we left told to have a nice day. Great staff imo.
Thomas Pond
a month agoHard to rate so I chickened out and split the middle. My grandson loves it and can keep himself busy for maybe 2 hours. The place has Great Potential but needs a HUGE makeover ( everything has been there a while and You Can Tell...BTW I think the staff does the best they can do with what they have )and it would really draw the crowds. Just one "Pops'" thoughts.
Margaret Henderson
2 years agoThis location is great fro the younger crowd. There is more room to run and play for the kids age 1 to 4. The activities are height and age appropriate. There is an art section that the kids just love every time. And the positive is that there is a are where dirty rows (toes in the mouth) can be placed in the basket. The sections allow for kids to learn and play at the same time. I like it here so much I had my daughters party here too. The staff were very much accommodating and the kids have a great time.