About the Be With Me Playseum
Address: Ridgedale Mall (2nd Floor – JCPenney Wing)
Ask any kid what they want to be when they grow up, and they can usually rattle off an answer quickly. Maybe it’s a firefighter, a veterinarian, or a bakery owner. All those dreams can take shape at Be With Me Playseum, an interactive museum and store inside Ridgedale Mall. The location may look like a typical storefront from the outside, but the space is expansive, housing a wide variety of play environments for children ages 1-11 to explore.
20-plus play environments
This interactive destination allows children not only to play but truly immerse themselves in a variety of different playtime “stations,” which feature countless props, toys, and costumes. The creators of this space truly thought of every detail, and the decorations are adorable and realistic. It includes classics like a life-sized grocery store and realistic dentist’s office, but others tailored to our state, like the “Up North” section with a fire pit, fishing poles, and an area for (fake) snowball fights. It also has a Scandinavian cafe, where children can serve treats and coffee alongside many traditional items familiar to many Minnesotans.
Chairs and benches also dot the space so parents can take a load off and watch their children play.
Book and Toy Store
Throughout the Playseum, you’ll see an abundance of bookshelves, filled to the brim with board, chapter, and picture books designed to complement each individual play area. Want to learn more about trucks or construction after hopping in the skid loader? Just pull a book off the shelf. Children can enjoy reading them there and also purchase them to take home.
A small toy store located near the front of the Playseum sells new books and toys. The company does not sell electronic toys or screens. It focuses on “toys that engage family interaction and individual creativity,” such as costumes, science kits, and board games.
Creation Stations
In addition to their play destinations, the Playseum has interactive areas where kids can make something they can take home with them. Playing can work up an appetite, and kids can make healthy snacks or decorate cupcakes at the Bake Station. Do you have a pint-sized Picasso on your hands? Take them to the Art Creation Station, where kids can paint canvases, airplanes, or wood projects. After that, the Soap Creation station is the perfect place to clean up and make lip balm, bath bombs, and soap bars.
Note: Creation Stations cost an additional fee. Kids can use Playseum dollars to pay for the activities, which can be purchased at the front desk.
Related Article: Explore Endless Fun at the Minnesota Children’s Museum!
Be With Me Children’s Playseum Highlights
- Interactive, creative play museum tailored for kids ages 1-11
- Creation Station activities are available for an extra fee
- Admission is good for the entire day, so families can grab lunch or coffee at the mall before heading back in for more play
- No reservations or membership required
- Weekday Storytimes at 11 am and 4 pm
- Onsite book and toy store
- Host Birthday Parties and Field Trips
Know Before You Go to Be With Me Playseum
- Website
- Admission: $15 per person, ages 1-100
- An adult must accompany children
- Hours: Monday-Thursday 10 am – 5 pm, Friday-Saturday 10 am – 6 pm, Sunday 1 pm – 6 pm (make sure to check their website for current hours)
- Special events and holiday hours updated on their Facebook page
Mary McGuire is a mother of two young girls and freelance journalist based in the Twin Cities. Her current interests include searching for lost pacifiers, cleaning up crushed Cheerios, and sharing everything our great state has to offer with other families. Born and raised in Edina, Mary has worked in broadcast television for more than a decade at TV stations across the country.
