Yesterday, Mio got to go to the Be with Me Playseum in Bethesda with one of her best friends, Kailee! It was our first time there, and while it looks like a pretty small space initially, there are several themed rooms in which children can play and entertain themselves — they can easily spend hours there and never get bored!
Mio and Kailee playing with ice cream cones at the ice cream section of the “grocery store.”
Shelves lined with empty boxes and food containers for kids to shop.
The produce area, complete with plastic fruits and veggies.
Checkout counter with register.
The next room was a fire station.
Firefighters Mio and Kailee! Mio, I think you’re using that backwards…
Entering the “Pet Shop” room
I was surprised to see that they actually had real animals in the “pet store”!
Mio loved looking at the bunnies.
The “Bella Bethesda Salon” room featured dresses and wigs for dress-up.
Trying on princess dresses and heels.
Mio kept calling herself “Princess Mio!” Here she is playing with a fan.
As much as I have my reservations about the effect of the princess culture on little girls, I do admit it’s pretty stinkin’ adorable to see Mio’s smiles and spins of delight as “Princess Mio.”
A room themed to be “Grandma’s Attic.”
Climbing up into the attic.
There’s a lot of props and details that go into these rooms!
Playing with the instruments on the performance stage.
Taking a snack break while listening to Auntie Ju read a story.
Mirei looking up at me from my Ergo baby carrier. She was so well-behaved the whole time we were there!
Putting toppings on pizzas in the pizza parlor room.
Putting their pizzas in the oven…
Mio with her completed pizza!
Mio with the “cookies” she cut out of rolled dough.
A circus area where kids could dress up as clowns.
Mio and Kailee had so much fun at the Playseum that they were in great spirits on the drive home, squealing and laughing with each other! It was really sweet to see them playing so well together. Special thanks to Ju for suggesting we go to the Playseum and for driving all of us over!
