Children's Museum Chesterfield
4.5(518)4.5 out of 5 stars, 518 reviews Richmond, VA
About Children's Museum Chesterfield
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staff, making it suitable for a full day of family fun despite current widespread renovations and some visibly outdated exhibits.
What parents should know
Summarized from real visitor reviews.
Best for: Families with toddlers and preschoolers (1-4 years) seeking age-appropriate, active, and imaginative play.Families with a mix of young children (e.g., a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old) who need activities to engage both.Budget-conscious families, especially those with an EBT card.Indoor play on any day, offering a full day of activity.Birthday parties for younger children.
Why families love it
- 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.
Insider tips
- **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.
Good to know before you go
- 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.
- 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.
- Crowds
- 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.
- 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).
- Food
- The 'Wegmans' exhibit is described as having 'not a lot of food anymore', implying it's an exhibit rather than a food service.
- Accessibility
- A nursing room is available for parents.
- Safety
- Staff actively goes around cleaning, contributing to general hygiene and safety.
What parents say
"Plenty 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!"
4 months ago
"Show 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. Mult"
8 months ago
"Overall 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 gre"
10 months ago
Reviews sourced from public Google data.
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