New Jersey thought they were the only state to have two indoor children’s entertainment centers known as Kid Junction. Virginia is full of families wanting options when it comes to fun activities with their children so Kid Junction decided to open a third location.
Unlike indoor play areas that only offer bouncy castles or a climbing structure, Kid Junction is a cleverly designed facility stretching 9,300 square feet. The 
concept features a mini children’s museum, toddler area, arcade, moon bounce, climbing structure, café and four party rooms.
I cannot comment on the climbing feature because the building is not completed yet. The estimated opening date is June 9, 2013. However, that did not deter my child from exploring all the other fun things on display.
The toddler town area is a small enclosed area filled with soft blocks, discovery toys, and a train table. The kid-sized town incorporates the Sunshine Market, pizzeria, animal hospital, post office, KJ Theater and zoo. The grocery store and pizza parlor were the two popular attractions for all of the children. With shopping baskets, grocery carts, and check out registers, there was ample room for kids to pick up a box of Rice Krispies, a loaf of bread and some produce without running into one another.
What I also like is that in each room, there is seating for parents. The pizza parlor has comfy stools for parents to sit at the counter while their little chef(s) prepared pizza and sandwiches via a retro red kitchen. At one point there were five children running around preparing food while us parents were complaining that orders were wrong. It was funny seeing how serious the children took their “jobs.”
The animal hospital consists of a dalmation-studded examination table, office, x-ray reader, medical equipment, and stuffed animals. The post office was boring with only a telephone and some packages. The KJ Theater is great for the child who wants to experience being a reporter behind the green screen. Costumes are available for role play. The zoo is an open space with two robotic animals that children can ride. The cost is $1.50 per ride. My child had a hard time steering the panda, while the elephant was suitable for younger children.
The arcade has a great variety from a Pac Man Jr. video game to air hockey and Skee-Ball. Toddlers will delight in a ride with Barney or Bob the Builder. Tokens are 4 for $1 with most of the games costing one token.
The on-site café is peanut/tree nut free. My family disliked the pizza, but enjoyed the all beef hot dog and packaged ice cream bars. I like that they offered a selection of healthy items like fruit, yogurt, and carrots. The only outside food permitted is for children with severe food allergies, baby bottles and baby food.
The seating area is situated in the middle providing an overall view of the facility. There are two large televisions both set to a different cartoon. Both the men and women’s restrooms have changing facilities, along with a child-sized potty. Water fountains and hand sanitizer stations are present in the lobby.
Kid Junction makes safety a priority. Upon entering the facility, each member receives a hand stamp. Entry through the main door is monitored by the staff. Before exiting, an employee checks everyone to make sure their stamp matches the rest of their group. The facility is constantly monitored and cleaned by staff. The cost for children is $9.95 and under 2 years is $6.95. There is no charge for infants or parents.
Ways to Save
- Children who are multiples (twins, triplets) receive a 10% discount.
- Military, police and fire fighters receive a discount.
- Invest in a Fun Pass. Get 10 visits for $79.00. Kids under 2 are $55.00.
- Play Away is a great way for mom or dad to get some errands done or have some time to themselves. For $30.00 your children receive 2 1/2 hours of supervised play time, unlimited game tokens and a snack. Visit their website for additional information.
Kid Junction is open Monday to Thursday and Sunday, 10am to 6pm, Friday and Saturday, 10am to 8pm. The building is closed on Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. Children ages 1 to 9 can enjoy open play as long as they like. Just be sure to wear socks.
