Today my little three-year-old and I checked out Stay & Learn (formerly Stay & Play) at the Children’s Museum at Short Pump. We were going to write about this together, but she’s taking a big ol’ nap right now, so I’ll have to be the one to share this fun experience with you.
We were greeted at the door by smiling faces and a name tag and bright yellow shirt for my little gal, so the folks at CMor would know she was part of the Stay & Learn program. We arrived at 9am and I had until noon to come and pick her up while she played. “Mama, can we stay later than that?” she asked me before we even had her signed in. This was a good sign. She kissed me good-bye and didn’t turn her head as I walked away: she was on a fun mission.
The train was rolling and the Stay & Learn room was staffed with an enthusiastic employee who was ready for my little gal and the other kids who were there for the program. The 9am-12pm session includes time in the art room, “supervised free play” time in the play area and on the train, and imaginary dress-up play time with friends (real and imaginary).The art room is stocked with more crafts & ideas than you can shake a stick at, and my little gal had the masterpieces to prove it.
I headed off to run my errands & get a bit of work done and was thankful to not have to drag my little gal in and out of the bank, the grocery store and other stops knowing that she was having a good time. When I returned, she was hand-in-hand with a new friend and I was told by the adoring staff that they were stuck together like glue all morning. 
Somehow, they also managed to paint some fantastic artwork, make a paper kite, and run themselves to the point that she fell asleep in the car fifteen minutes after we left, but not before asking when she could go back again.
Stay & Learn is available to members only for $25 per session, $20 for additional siblings. Pre-registration is required & CMor offers Stay & Learn only at the Short Pump location. Children must be potty-trained up to age six; CMor may offer Stay & Learn for younger Richmond kids in the future: stay tuned. CMor is an advertiser of Richmondmom.com.
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