Richmond For Kids
Richmond Virginia Kid Friendly Activites and Information
Sitter City is for Parents and Kids
0549 days
I wanted to share my experience using Sitter City because I figured that there are probably other parents out there that aren’t sure where to find a good babysitter. It’s always nice to ask a friend to recommend a good babysitter, but I also have found that sharing a sitter can also mean competing for their time. For those of you who are not familiar with Sitter City, it is an online resource for people to register and look for work as a sitter, or for people like me to post jobs when sitters are needed. So early last week I registered on their site for free, and posted a job for a much needed mother’s helper. I did say “free”, but let me clarify. It is free to post a job on Sitter City…and people can apply and send you messages regarding that job. You can even view their profiles. But if you want to be able to contact any of them you have to pay a little extra for that access. I have to assume this is to protect the privacy of those who are registered on the website from all but serious inquiries.
Within an hour of posting my job I had at least 5 responses. I probably had a more than a dozen in the next day or two. Clearly there is no shortage of people looking for jobs working with kids in Richmond. I could tell that some of the responses came from people that were applying for every job that they came across, whether it fit both of our needs or not. On the other hand, it was also fairly easy to narrow it down to a few people that seemed to fit our needs and seemed genuinely interested in working for us and our boys. I was able to set up interviews over the weekend and our new babysitter/mother’s helper started today.
One thing I forgot to mention about Sitter City is that they offer background checks on all potential sitters. Some people will go ahead and have it completed and part of their profile. Otherwise you can request one, but you may also have to pay for it. I never had to look in to that because the person we chose to hire had taken care of it herself which was a wonderful plus. I was anxious to have someone to start as I am almost 37 weeks pregnant and am finding it difficult to keep up with our very active 15 month old twins. Now that I have some help, I can continue to take the boys out to do fun things and blog about them right here each week. If you are in need of babysitter, please be sure to visit their website www.sittercity.com. I am very happy that we did, and the boys seem very happy with our choice as well.
Bottoms Up Pizza
0563 days
We have been big fans of Bottoms Up Pizza for years but only recently took our kids there for the first time. I’m not sure why we waited so long because it is extremely child-friendly. Don’t most kids like pizza? I have to admit that I was the one who wanted pizza, but there was no reason not to take the kids along for the ride.
We went early and were able to get a great parking spot right outside. We have never really had trouble finding parking in the area, but it’s nice to park close by when we have to carry the boys in and out. We were seated right away on the covered patio. There were only a few other kids when we arrived but more and more families with kids of all ages came in while we were there. Like I said, most kids like pizza. I brought plenty of snacks and toys to keep the boys happy while we waited for our food, although as usual, they were happy to people-watch.
They do have a kid’s menu at Bottoms Up that includes not only pizza, but also things like burgers, chicken fingers and grilled cheese for the kids who don’t like pizza. Instead of ordering from this menu though, I decided to share my Hawaiian pizza with them. They loved it! I love that it saved us some money by not having to order separate meals for them.
While we were eating one of the servers began setting up a large table for a birthday party, complete with presents and balloons. I had never thought of having a birthday party there, probably because our kids are still so young, but why not? The group of kids that came in for the party looked to be somewhere between eight and ten. They all seemed very happy to be there. I will have to remember Bottoms Up as a possible party location in the future. After our dinner we took a short stroll down the canal walk to burn a few calories, which is another reason why I love their downtown location. You can visit their website for the menu and address. http://www.bottomsuppizza.com
Cartwheels & Coffee in Carytown
1570 days
After having been cooped up with two sick boys for the last week or so, I was looking for plenty of fun things for us to 
get out and do. I’ve been wanting to visit Cartwheels & Coffee for some time, so I called some friends and off we went. It is located on Cary Street about two blocks up from the Boulevard. Since it was a little after ten o’clock on a weekday I was able to park right on the street in front. We parked our stroller out front with the rest of them and went inside to play.
I must say that it was a bit smaller than I expected. It is basically one large room separated by a 3-4 foot wall. The front is lined with tables, a coffee bar and a small enclosed area for small babies to play. The baby play area is free. The coffee bar is set up right next to the entrance to the larger play area. This is also where you pay for your older kids. If I remember correctly it was $4 for the first child and $3 for each additional child. It was pretty busy that morning and a little chaotic at first, but it didn’t take long for my boys to jump right it. There were lots of padded things to climb on, toys to bounce on, a rocking seesaw-like boat, a small stage area with some costumes, a toy kitchen area and a jungle gym for more climbing and sliding. My boys wanted mostly to climb and slide. It was a little nerve-racking for me but good for their development and stair practice. I assume that if your kids are a little older than mine you could probably safely sit in the front area with a beverage while they played. I will get there one day.
Since you do have to pay to play it probably isn’t something that I would do every week, but I will definitely go back again. The smaller play area was actually nice for me because the boys didn’t have as much room to run in separate directions. It was very easy to keep a close eye on them both. I think their setup is perfect for kids under the age of 5. In addition to the everyday play, they also have a free storytime every Friday morning, camps during the summer, various classes and they do birthday parties as well. Please visit their website for a complete list of their services, prices and monthly calendar. http://www.cartwheelsandcoffee.com/cartwheels/home.html
Kids Eat Free at Chipotle
3576 days
I was excited to learn that Chipotle is introducing a kid’s menu in the Richmond area this month. Every Sunday beginning July 11th through August 1st, you will receive one free kid’s meal with each purchase of a burrito, burrito bowl, salad or tacos. The new kid’s menu will feature child-friendly items like quesadillas and single tacos as well as a build-your-own taco kit. The kit allows kids to choose any 3 ingredients in either crispy or soft taco shells. These meals come with a small bag of chips and a choice of organic plain milk, organic chocolate milk, apple juice or soda. And they are all priced under $5!
If I could I would eat at Chipotle several times a week. I am so happy to know that they will now not only have a kids menu but my kids can eat for free each Sunday for a month. I know where we are headed this Sunday! If you have never been to Chipotle, this is the perfect time to try it. You can find their menu and locations here http://www.chipotle.com/en-US/Default.aspx?type=default. The promotion is regional which may be why I wasn’t able to find anything about it on their website. I noticed a sign in the Willow Lawn location and asked an employee about it. Just in case, you may want to call your local Chipotle to confirm this before you head out with the kids. Enjoy!
