Modern Apizza
$East Rock, 874 State Street
A New Haven brick-oven pizza shop.
Good for: An early dinner after the Peabody.
Skip if: it’s Monday; it’s closed.
Tue–Sat 10:30am–10pm · Sun 3–10pmSite ↗ for Modern Apizza
Report a problemGUIDE Hartford and New Haven · The Insurance Capital
Things to do with toddlers and little kids in Hartford and New Haven: the parent guide.
Hartford and New Haven are about 40 miles apart on I-91, so most families pick one city per day. Winters are cold, so plan an indoor stop from December through March.
Around town6 spots · checked Oct 28
The Hartford places we go back to, again and again.
The places we go back to all year. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.
Eat
Kid-friendly restaurants
Places where a dropped fork is no big deal and nobody minds a little noise.
Featured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Hartford that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Play
Indoor play and rainy days
For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour. For every indoor playground we’ve checked, with prices and sock rules, see indoor play in Hartford.
Free
Hartford Public Library
Downtown, 500 Main Street
Free storytimes, including a sensory storytime for kids 5 and under.
Good for: A free morning downtown.
Skip if: it’s a holiday.
Report a problemFree
New Haven Free Public Library
Ives Main Library, 133 Elm Street, and branches
Storytimes and stay-and-play mornings at Ives and the branches.
Good for: A free morning near the Green.
Skip if: it’s Sunday; Ives is closed.
Ives: Mon–Thu 10am–8pm · Fri–Sat 10am–5pmSite ↗ for New Haven Free Public Library
Report a problemFeatured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Hartford that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
Explore
Museums, zoos and big outings
Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.
Yale Peabody Museum
FreeDowntown New Haven, 170 Whitney Avenue
Dinosaurs and natural history at Yale, with free admission and weekend story time.
Tickets
- everyone; no ticket needed
Good for: A free rainy afternoon in New Haven.
Skip if: it’s a Monday; it’s closed.
Tue–Fri 10am–5pm · Sat–Sun 12–5pmSite ↗ for Yale Peabody Museum
Report a problemConnecticut Children’s Museum
$Downtown New Haven, 22 Wall Street
A hands-on children’s museum near the New Haven Green.
Tickets
- Kids $12
- Adults $12
Good for: A short weekend morning with kids under 8.
Skip if: it’s Sunday through Wednesday; it’s open Thursday to Saturday only.
Thu 1–5pm · Fri–Sat 10am–3pmSite ↗ for Connecticut Children’s Museum
Report a problemConnecticut Science Center
$$Hartford riverfront, 250 Columbus Blvd
More than 165 hands-on exhibits on the Hartford riverfront.
Good for: A rainy day in Hartford.
Skip if: you need a quiet visit; check the site for sensory-friendly days.
Report a problemFeatured partnerThis spot is open.Run a place in Hartford that belongs in this section? One featured spot here is set aside for a local partner, and it’s always labeled.About featured spots →
These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.
No ticket needed
Free things to do
Where a family can go in Hartford without paying for admission. For free days, free events and this week’s free outings, see every free thing to do in Hartford.
Downtown, 500 Main StreetHartford Public LibraryFree storytimes, including a sensory storytime for kids 5 and under.FreeIndoorIves Main Library, 133 Elm Street, and branchesNew Haven Free Public LibraryStorytimes and stay-and-play mornings at Ives and the branches.FreeIndoor
Downtown New Haven, 170 Whitney AvenueYale Peabody MuseumDinosaurs and natural history at Yale, with free admission and weekend story time.FreeLittlest explorers
Best for under 3s
Free or cheap for babies and toddlers, and easy with a stroller.
Downtown New Haven, 170 Whitney AvenueYale Peabody MuseumFree, and Toddler Time runs the first Saturday of the month.FreeIndoorDowntown New Haven, 22 Wall StreetConnecticut Children’s MuseumBuilt for young kids.$12 eachIndoorIves Main Library, 133 Elm Street, and branchesNew Haven Free Public LibraryStay and Play is for ages 0 to 4.FreeIndoorDowntown, 500 Main StreetHartford Public LibrarySensory storytime is for 5 and under.FreeIndoorEvery week
Library storytimes
Recurring and free. Times change by branch, so check the calendar. For every weekly storytime by day and branch, see library storytimes in Hartford.
See the events calendarNew Haven Free Public Library
Storytimes and Stay and Play for ages 0 to 4.
Schedule ↗See the events calendarHartford Public Library
Free storytimes, including sensory storytime.
Schedule ↗Saturdays and Sundays at 1pmYale Peabody Museum
Free story time and a craft for kids 8 and under.
Schedule ↗By season
Seasonal spots
Santa visits and Christmas lights only run part of the year, so they have their own pages with this season’s dates and prices. For holiday and indoor rinks with season dates, prices and skate aids, see ice skating with kids in Hartford.
This week
What’s on this week in Hartford
The guide is the evergreen list. Here’s what’s happening in Hartford and New Haven right now.
- Story Time at the Yale Peabody MuseumYale Peabody Museum · Free
- Halloween on the Hill at Hill-SteadHill-Stead Museum · See the event page
- Storytime Costume Parade in West HavenWest Haven Public Library, Main Library, Connie Sacco Room · Free
Good questions
Things to do with toddlers in Hartford and New Haven: the FAQ
Is Hartford and New Haven good for toddlers?
Yes. The Peabody Museum is free, and both cities have library storytimes most weeks.
What’s free for little kids around Hartford and New Haven?
The Peabody Museum, library storytimes, and free skating at Winterfest Hartford from late November.
What can we do in Hartford and New Haven on a rainy or cold day with a toddler?
Go indoors: Hartford Public Library and New Haven Free Public Library. They’re all under one roof, and most work for a short visit around nap time.
What can we do with a baby, 1-year-old or 2-year-old in Hartford and New Haven?
Yale Peabody Museum: Free, and Toddler Time runs the first Saturday of the month. Connecticut Children’s Museum: Built for young kids. New Haven Free Public Library and Hartford Public Library are also easy with a baby or toddler. See best for under 3s.
Where are the free storytimes in Hartford and New Haven?
New Haven Free Public Library: See the events calendar. Hartford Public Library: See the events calendar. Yale Peabody Museum: Saturdays and Sundays at 1pm. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See library storytimes, and this week’s dated sessions are on the Hartford weekly list.
How do you choose the places in the Hartford and New Haven guide?
Every one of the 6 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 2 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 28, 2026. How we choose and check.
How much is the Connecticut Children’s Museum for a toddler?
Kids: $12; adults: $12. We checked this on its official site on Oct 28, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.
Get the list every Thursday.
One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in Hartford.