Review of musiKids
November 16, 2009
by Kim Engstrom

4900 Auburn Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-215-7946
Google Map

Looking for a place for an indoor playdate for the preschool and toddler set? Tired of all the clean up involved after playdates at your house? Bring the kids to musiKids open play and make everyone happy.

Open Play
musiKids is located in downtown Bethesda just a few doors down from Imagination Stage. My 3 year old daughter and I popped in on a Tuesday morning for open play. When we arrived the “Eighth Notes” class for newborn through 15 month olds was just letting out. After the waiting area cleared out I realized that we were the only ones there for open play. It felt a little awkward at first but the musiKids staff member made a great effort to ensure that my daughter had enough supplies to play with and helped to guide her play throughout our stay.

The musiKids facility is one large room with one mirrored wall. A large portion of the wood floor is covered with cushioning which helps to make it more baby, toddler and preschool friendly. Upon our arrival the room was empty except for the music supplies used in the previous class. They quickly lead my three year old to the back closet to choose some toys. With the staff member’s guidance, my daughter decided to take out mats of all shapes and sizes to create her own obstacle course. She spent 30 minutes designing, playing and rearranging all of the mats using hula hoops, balls and a hippity hop to add to the action along the way. While we played the staff member was pleasantly present but not hovering over us. She spent some time sanitizing the toys from the previously mentioned baby class and jumped in whenever it looked like my DD was ready for a change. The musiKids instructor offered instruments, ride on toys and even bubbles! Preschooler heaven.

After about an hour, my three year old was all played out. It was lunch time and time for us to move on with our day. It was then that this mom heard the magic words, “Please don’t clean up, that is what we are here for”. To me, that was worth the $6.00 cost of admission alone! With the cold weather coming up, musiKids is an ideal place for an indoor playdate for preschoolers and toddlers. I recommend making plans to meet up with a friend at their facility as it would have made the experience even more fun for us to have had some playmates with us. Active toys, a clean kid friendly facility and bathroom, an economical price and NO CLEAN UP, how can you go wrong?

Know Before You Go
Open play is currently offered on Tuesdays from 11am to 12:30pm. This time may vary with the upcoming winter schedule. The cost is $6.00 per child. On the day of our visit they were not accepting credit cards for open play but it did not seem that this was to be a permanent policy. musiKids is located in the basement of their building but there is plenty of signage directing you to the location from both outside and once you are within the building. The nearest parking is street metered parking (and they do check…ouch). There is also a Montgomery County garage located past Imagination Stage on Auburn Avenue.

Classes and More
musiKids Bethesda also offers many music and movement classes for newborns through age 6. Classes are offered at the Bethesda location as well as in Olney, CCBC, Rockville and the Avalon Theater. All classes are taught by trained music professionals. Registration for the winter 2010 session begins on November 30th. musiKids will host an Open House on Sunday, November 22nd featuring free mixed age demonstration classes at 10:15 and 11:15 for new and prospective students only.

Birthday parties and summer camps are also offered at musiKids. Visit their website for class schedules, pricing and special event information.

Have you been to musiKids? What's your opinion? Just drop us a note and Our Kids will add your comments to this review.