Summary: while Doodlehatch is definitely not short of character, there are some key points that…read moremake it hard to love. A question I had prior to visiting Doodlehatch was "what is it?" The best answer I can think of is that it's an interactive art museum. There are tons of random sections throughout: a space area, a unicorn area, a tea party area, a giant bed, etc. Most are designed to be "interactive," but I don't know how much care + maintenance is going on. Parts of the exhibit don't feel sturdy and a lot of it doesn't feel clean. There are a lot of areas that have fabric that retain moisture/dirt like the giant bed (plush), bean bag chairs, and hammocks. Coming off a fresh pandemic, it didn't give the best feeling to "interact" with something like that. Conclusion: I think the concept is cute and the art is unique. The exhibit itself makes for a cute little outing. I'm just a bit more wishful as far as care/maintenance goes. I wouldn't describe myself as a germaphobe, but even so I didn't feel great about it.

Overall: Okay place to spend an hour or two with young kids, but it is very dirty and most exhibits…read morefeel like safety hazards and are close to breaking. They have multi-stall gendered restrooms. We went right when they opened on a Saturday morning and had the place pretty much to ourselves. We used a Groupon deal. My son just turned 3. His favorite exhibits were the mail station, the space station, and the room with the ukuleles and guitars. The mail station was really cute. It had instructions to write a letter to your younger self and you could put it in the mail box and organize the mail by year you wanted to send it back to. It really didn't look like this place had a cleaning regimen. I can't imagine who thought it was a good idea to put that many (very used) plush toys in a place where this many children visit. You sign a waiver saying you're liable for anything your kid breaks, but so much of this place is about to break and I'd be worried about my kid being hurt as much as I'd be worried about parts of these installments breaking.

I have been to the play n learn for many birthday parties. It is the perfect place to host a kids…read morebirthday, maybe 3-7 years old. It is a backyard play set showroom that they made over for parties and free play. They have the play sets, trampolines, basketball, and ping pong. It's clean, well organized, and all the kids have fun. Their prices and play hours are transparent and easy to figure out. I highly recommend the play n learn for young kids.

Fun way to spend a rainy morning with an energetic four year old. Clean and safe. Trampolines,…read moreclimbing, ping pong. Lots to do

A 45-minute drive from D.C. on a good day, Ellicott Mills Children's Museum is the area's newest…read morechildren's museum. Open from 1-5p p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, here's what you should know: 1) Admission: It's free. However, considering giving a donation to keep the history alive. 2) Space: Located inside a historic Quaker one-room schoolhouse, the museum is literally three rooms- a classroom, a general store and a "great room." Through exhibits and an alphabet scavenger hunt in the general store, visitors learn about 19th century life in a mill town. 3) Staff: Most are volunteers and friendly. 4) Parking: They have parking at the court parking lot or on the street. There is a restroom on site.

Such a cute little museum! I would 100% go back here. My kids loved it and the people who work here…read moreare so incredibly nice! They are very knowledgeable about the history of the building and give you tours. There are aspects that are interactive and my kids learned so much.

We recently visited Playseum for a playdate, and overall, it was a really fun experience! Located…read moreinside the Columbia Mall, it's filled with imaginative play stations that kept the kids entertained for hours. There are themed areas like a café, Italian restaurant, veterinary office, beauty salon, barbershop, grandma's house, and even a stage where kids can dress up and put on a play. If your child enjoys pretend play, this is definitely a great spot. I also appreciated that it encourages creativity instead of screen time. It's refreshing to see a place where kids can use their imaginations and just be kids. The only thing I didn't love was the pricing. Admission is $15 per person, including adults. I understand their explanation that they want parents to participate with their children, but in reality, many parents are simply supervising. Other similar indoor play spaces only charge for the children, or at least offer a reduced admission for adults. That pricing model would have made more sense to me. They also offer several add-on activities like decorating cupcakes, making slime, decorating cookies, baking, and even an animal encounter at the top of each hour. They're all cute options, but they do cost extra, so be prepared for the visit to add up if your child wants to do multiple activities. The animal encounter was fairly small, with just a few animals, but younger kids will probably still enjoy it. There is seating available for parents, although it can be limited since so much of the space is dedicated to the different play stations. Overall, the kids had a blast, the facility was clean, and there was plenty to keep them engaged. While I wish the adult admission and extra activity pricing were a little more family-friendly, I'd still recommend Playseum for a fun afternoon of imaginative play. We'll definitely consider coming back.

Would I recommend this establishment...absolutely! Can't wait to go back!…read more I found this place by searching for play activities near Columbia mall. I had never been here and wasnt sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised. Location: Inside the mall, on the first floor, right outside the Nordstroms. Easy to find. Cost: Worth the entrance fee, both child and adults have to pay. Fair price. There are also take home activities and play that cost extra, such as slime, treat making, soap making, and more. These extra activities are also fairly priced and and so much fun. The entrance fee to the Kids Playseum allowed you access to the establishment nextdoor, Playseum upstairs. They also have playseum bucks as well. Staff: Super nice, helpful, experienced and attentive staff. Everyone one we interacted with for our time there was fabulous. We were able to go to both the Be with me playseum and the playseum upstairs. Cleanliness: The kept a tight shop. The toys and amenities were well kept, organized, clean and in good condition. Options: There were so many rooms to play in, so many cute toys, books, dress up and imagination play. My favorite was the ice bucket where the fish were kept in the Safeway. Super cute! The girls loved playing here and definitely want to come back. Overall wonderful experience!

I like the slide. I like the balance beam, obstacle course I like the track with the triangle…read morethings that you rode all around. I like the swinging xs, the most challenging things ever. -JG age 6

I loved this place when it opened. Staff would be actively seen cleaning and maintaining equipment…read moreall the time. Sadly over time, maintenance doesn't seem to be a priority. Several things are broken and possibly unsafe. Management needs to pay attention.

I recently attended a birthday party at Hyper Kidz in Columbia, and this visit was a much better…read moreexperience than my first one several years ago. When we first arrived, the entrance was pretty chaotic. Parking is limited, especially when birthday parties are going on, and the lobby felt very crowded. Checking in also took longer than expected because one guest ahead of us needed help completing the waiver, while everyone else waited. Thankfully, a manager stepped in and got our party checked in quickly. The shoe storage area was another bottleneck. Since each party has designated bins, there were a lot of people gathered in one small space, making it difficult to get in and out. Once we were inside, though, things improved. The facility itself was clean, including the bathrooms, and the kids had plenty of space to play. The birthday host was very friendly, but he seemed a little overwhelmed and forgot a few things throughout the party. It wasn't a bad experience--just not quite as organized as other birthday parties I've attended. Overall, it was a fun afternoon, and the birthday child had a great celebration. While I probably wouldn't go out of my way to visit this particular location, I would attend another party here if invited. I still prefer the Rockville location, which has been a smoother experience for me.

The 3 stars are because of the seats where I can see my kids and other bad 2 are because 1 the door…read moregot stuck in the bathroom and my kid was crying (make baby proof) and also the spider web thing it had a hard trampoline at the bottom and my kid hit is head and the slide was a little steep (-3 stars-)

We celebrated my daughter's birthday at the Idea Lab last weekend and had a truly wonderful…read moreexperience. The experiments were led by three high school-aged young ladies, with help from the owner when needed. The young ladies did an absolutely amazing job; they were engaging and knew how to keep a group of 11 five year olds interested and on task the entire time. All of the kids (and parents) had a fantastic time. Logistics: The party was 2 hours; about 10 mins for everyone to gather, an hour and a half or so for the experiments, and another 20-30 mins for cupcakes afterward. We never felt rushed during our time there. The party room was immaculately set up when we arrived (table cloths, plates, napkins, cups, forks all provided). There were also tables available for food and gifts. They very nicely encouraged parents to stay out of the lab area (so the kids weren't distracted), but they weren't strict about this; there was also a large window in the hallway where the parents were able to see what was going on without being obtrusive. I truly can't say enough good things about our experience there. The ladies did a wonderful job!

From the owner: Preschool and K-8 STEAM summer camps, birthday parties, virtual school support, school's out camps…read more We also rent out our space - we have 4 classrooms, 1 gym space, 1 kitchen, located in Columbia MD. Schedule an appointment to tour in person during the weekends or daily, after 4:30pm. Our STEAM curriculum is developed by our Idea Lab Kids Corporate team. Our new offering, STEAM on Demand is an additional option for follow-along videos, enhancing our campus classes.

First off, the phone numbers listed on both their Yelp and Instagram don't even work. Second, the…read morestaff had zero customer service skills. Third, the bathroom sinks are literally falling apart. And why is it SO hot inside this place? They seriously need to turn up the AC. With all the kids and adults climbing around, it gets extremely hot and humid inside. On top of that, the floors were filthy and there was trash everywhere. Overall, the facility was poorly maintained and the experience was very disappointing. Would not recommend this place.

Loved this experience. The place was spacious ... clean... lots of staff constantly walking around…read moreassisting climbers. We came for a birthday party. Very easy. They also have a regular play area for kids to run around in.

We live right around the corner from Monster Mini Golf and had never been until we were invited to…read morea birthday party there. We had a great time! Monster Mini Golf is compact, but packs the punch in fun! The event room was well decorated. I had read that it's a women owned business, and it definitely shows! Each detail is thought out, and I can definitely see the care and love put into this place. We'd love to come again soon! This is perfect for bad weather! Come here on rainy, hot, or cold days!

My grandson and I went to Monster Mini Golf today and had a wonderful time. The facility was…read moreclean, the staff was friendly and personable and the manager (I think) made sure that my grandson and I felt seen and appreciated ("trivia" questions for prizes, understanding of a 5-year old's vocabulary, wants and needs!). The course was well-maintained, the music selections were excellent, and the staff was A-plus. Strongly recommend. He can't wait to return!

My kid attended a birthday party at Doodle Hatch, and it was a Tie Dye party facilitated by Roll Up…read moreN Dye. Everyone had such a fantastic time! My son loves his shirt that he made at the party. I also love that the company is eco-conscious, so there is very little waste at the parties. (Reusable cups, plates, and napkins are provided.) Erin & Kim were so fantastic! I highly recommend Roll Up N Dye for any age!

Went here for a volleyball bonding, and it was so much fun!!!! Can't wait to see how they turn…read moreout!!!!!!