Fall is officially here and it's a great time to make some lasting memories with your toddlers. You know..the pint-sized people in your house who eat one bite of apple and throw it away? The ones who are obsessed with dinosaurs (trains, ballerinas, kitties, puppies...)? This time of year preschoolers are extremely curious about the changing seasons and we have assembled an enjoyable list of great places you can take them to in the Hartford area.  Come on, let's go! (But don't forget you-know-who's favorite stuffed animal!)

Whether your child wants to be cute, funny, or scary this Halloween, there are plenty of shops in and around Philadelphia that will have the popular costumes for this season (expect to see plenty of Moanas, Lightning McQueens, and Wonder Women). We've rounded up some of the many costume shops in the area so you can find the perfect costumes for your little ones.

To get more than just one night's use out of the costume, check out these local Halloween-themed adventures.

Let's be honest, having kids can be expensive. Entertaining kids can be even more expensive. Museums, zoos, and amusement parks can be fun and even educational, but not always economical. Sometimes the best time to go is when the littlest ones can still get in with free admission. Maybe you can even check a few things off of your bucket list. To make it easy, we've created this list of which places offer free admission for what ages. We've even included some more obscure museums so you can broaden your horizons and try some place new! So hurry up and plan that outing while the kids are still little.

My 10-year-old daughter is a Harry Potter fanatic. She’s read the series six times, watched all the movies, and still sincerely hopes for an acceptance letter from Hogwarts when she turns 11. We’ve both taken online quizzes to figure out which Hogwarts house we’d belong to. (She got Gryffindor, and I got Ravenclaw.) When I heard about Puffs, a play that recounts the Harry Potter story from the perspective of the Hufflepuffs, who were mostly background characters in the Harry Potter saga, I knew we had to see it.

Puffs is charming, entertaining, and fast-paced. The premise is simple: No one really wants to be a Puff, not even the Hufflepuffs. When the characters receive their house assignments, the new Puffs feel a little bewildered. What is being a Puff really about?

Read on for our full review, or check out our NYC Theater Guide for more family shows playing now, and coming soon, such as Frozen and SpongeBob.

Ever use a four-foot slingshot to launch a pumpkin at a target? No? How about dive head first into a pit of corn? Well, let us point you in the direction of Benedict’s Home and Garden in Monroe. And, while we're talking Fairfield County pumpkins and corn pits, check out our fall fun guide and subscribe our newsletter so you won't miss corn maze, apple orchard, or harvest festival this season. 

The City Point complex, Brooklyn’s new shopping center downtown, has so much to offer families. Parents will appreciate the Target and Trader Joe’s, and the whole family will enjoy the sleek new movie theater and vast DeKalb Market Hall with delicious offerings from dozens of vendors. And this ain’t no ordinary food court—you won’t find stale bagels and bland Chinese food here. Instead, think fried chicken on a stick and make-your-own cake pops.

Find our favorite picks below and return often for updated offerings there and around the neighborhood. Before you know it, you'll be raising certified Brooklyn foodies.

It's My Little Pony turned real life at Spirit’s Promise Equine Rescue and Rehabilitation, a facility for abused, neglected or unwanted farm animals. It offers animals a renewed lease on life while providing a rewarding and educational destination for visitors. 

Want to get up close and personal with other animals? Peruse our list of animal farms and petting zoos on Long Island. Looking for more East End fun? Check out our guide to the Hamptons and North Fork.