Ready Go Dog Show will be at the Norwalk Oyster Festival for family fun in CT this September. Photo courtesy of JLS Communications
Best Things to Do in CT September 2024 with Kids
Apple picking in Connecticut is a great family activity, with wonderful photo ops, outdoor fun, and delicious treats. Photo courtesy of Holmberg Orchards & Winery
Apple Picking in Connecticut: Best Apple Orchards for Apple Picking with Kids
GUIDE
CT Fall Day Trips Guide: Orchards, Festivals, and Family Getaways 2024
Fall festivals are roaring your way this autumn in CT, with harvest fairs, pumpkin festivals, and more! Photo courtesy of the Seymour Pumpkin Festival
Best Harvest and Pumpkin Festivals in Connecticut for Fall Family Fun
Kids meet new friends as they jump, slide, and swing at the top indoor playgrounds and play spaces in Connecticut. Photo courtesy of Romp N Roll in Wethersfield
20 Top Indoor Playgrounds and Play Spaces in Connecticut
Grab some friends for some birthday laps around the track. Photo courtesy of RPM Raceway
Fun Birthday Party Places in Connecticut for Tweens and Teens
Our ultimate family bucket list has all the things to do in Connecticut before kids grow up. Photo courtesy of Lake Compounce
100 Things To Do in Connecticut Before Kids Grow Up
Find big fun in all shapes and sizes at free museums for kids in Connecticut! Photo courtesy of the Eli Whitney Museum
Free Museums in Connecticut To Visit with Kids
Don't sweat the weather, because the best indoor water parks in New England are waiting for year-round fun! Photo courtesy of Jay Peak Resort
Best Indoor Water Parks in New England for Easy Family Getaways
By land, by sea, by river—however!— families are coming to the best Museums in Connecticut! Connecticut River Museum photo by Ally Noel for Mommy Poppins
Best Museums for Kids in Connecticut: Children’s Museums and Family-Friendly Museums
Photo courtesy of Flamig Farm
Best Petting Zoos in Connecticut: Animals Up Close at Farms and Petting Zoos
New England Family Travel Guide
Kids classes like judo can help children build new skills and develop socially
GUIDE
Guide to Classes in Connecticut for Kids
Costumed interpreters share stories of colonial life along the historic Mystic seaport. Photo courtesy of the Mystic Seaport Museum
Mystic, Connecticut with Kids: Top Things to Do on a Weekend Getaway
Find a sweet treat for the whole family at the best places for breakfast in Connecticut with kids! Photo courtesy of Hotcakes
Best Breakfast Restaurants in Connecticut
As classic as the roller rink or modern as a VR experience, these fun indoor places are perfect spots for teens and tweens to hang out! Photo by Ally Noel
Fun Places in Connecticut Where Tweens and Teens Can Hang Out Indoors
Indoor spots offer plenty of adventure in Connecticut.
GUIDE
Connecticut Guide to Indoor Play Spaces & Fun Zones
Parents can enjoy some relaxation when their kids spend time at the
10 Family-Friendly Hotels and Spa Resorts in Connecticut
Bike the ground of Fort Trumbull. Photo courtesy Visit CT
GUIDE
Connecticut Day Trips & Weekend Getaways Guide
A double slide at Jonathan's Dream. Photo courtesy of O'Brien and Sons Landscape Structures
The Best Tot Lots and Toddler Playgrounds in Connecticut
Ball pit fun at Chelsea Piers.
Great Birthday Party Places in Connecticut for Preschoolers
Flat walking trails make Wharton Brook State Park a sure bet for kid hikers. Photo by Mommy Poppins
A Dozen Short Hikes in Connecticut for Preschoolers and Toddlers
Take a step back in time with a visit to Mystic Seaport. Photo courtesy of Ally Noel
Top Attractions in Connecticut: Best Things to See and Do with Kids
From rolling hills and lakes to scenic views and summits, there's great outdoor adventure for families at Connecticut state parks. Photo courtesy of Visit CT
25 Connecticut State Parks and Forests That Are Great to Visit with Kids
Bubbles are a classic free fun activity for Connecticut kids
GUIDE
Guide to Free Fun Things to Do for Connecticut Kids
Outdoor fun and healthy activity await at one of the top Connecticut playgrounds! Jonathan's Dream playground photo courtesy of O'Brien & Sons
Top Connecticut Playgrounds That Families Will Love
Run through the vineyards at Aquila's Nest. Photo courtesy of Aquila's Nest, Facebook
The Best Family-Friendly Vineyards and Wineries in Connecticut
Practice new skills at Calf's Pasture Beach, photo courtesy of Norwalk Skate Park, Facebook
Top Skate Parks in Connecticut
Create colorful storm clouds out of shaving cream and food coloring.
  VIDEO
25 Preschool Science Experiments: Simple Science for Toddlers through Kindergarten Kids
Revel in nature's majesty at Webb Mountain. Photo by Ally Noel
Best Nature Centers in Connecticut To Visit with Kids
We’ve rounded up the best escape rooms in Connecticut for a fun family outing!
Awesome Escape Rooms in CT: Kid-Friendly Parties and Family Adventures
The festivities get downright magical with Kids' Birthday Party Entertainers in CT! Photo courtesy of Dean Davids Magician
Kids' Birthday Party Entertainers in CT That Come To You
Find family fare and great deals at these Connecticut restaurants where kids eat free! Photo courtesy of Bigstock
Kids Eat Free: Connecticut Restaurants with Free Meal Deals for Families
These weekend events in Connecticut are packed with fall activities and festival fun! Photo courtesy of Canva.
Dino Day, Touch-A-Truck and More Things To Do in CT This Weekend

Top Pregnancy Classes and Parenting Classes in Connecticut

Parenting classes can help parents prepare and care for their precious bundles. Photo courtesy of Yale New Haven Health
Parenting classes can help parents prepare and care for their precious bundles. Photo courtesy of Yale New Haven Health
8/14/22 - By Jennifer Coe

Parenting classes provide tremendous benefits for anyone who is expecting. No one ever said parenting was going to be easy! Kids are cute and funny, but they can also be extremely challenging. That's why many Connecticut parents look around for a little help. Some kids also have very unique health and/or neurodiversity issues; it's helpful for parents to connect with other parents and learn to understand these needs better. Happily, help is available. Read on to discover the best parenting classes, pregnancy and birth classes, and parental support for children with special needs. 

For more parenting resources, including everything from hypnobirthing to Lamaze, check out our list of online resources for parents and parents-to-be.

 

OUR LATEST VIDEOS

Get insight into your bundle of joy. Photo courtesy of The Hospital of Central Connecticut
Get insight into your bundle of joy. Photo courtesy of The Hospital of Central Connecticut

Pregnancy Classes for Expecting Parents in Connecticut

Yale New Haven Health - Birth and Childcare

New Haven, Greenwich, Bridgeport
Offered at 6 locations as well as virtual, Yale New Haven Health gives parents education opportunities including birth, newborn care, breastfeeding, and infant & child safety. Clients can attend classes in-person or virtually. READ MORE

Childbirth and Parenting Education of Greater New Haven

East Haven, Hamden
Choose between parenting and child-rearing classes including birth, pregnancy, infant safety, breastfeeding, and 4th-trimester support. Instructors meet with clients in a group setting either in-person or online. Grandparents-to-be are included as well. There are two locations for in-person classes (East Haven and Hamden).  READ MORE

Middlesex Health Birth and Parenting Classes

Middletown
Middlesex Health offers classes for parents from conception to birth and beyond. Learn  about breastfeeding, childbirth, baby care, pediatric CPR, and more. Postpartum exercise classes for mom (and baby!) are also offered. READ MORE

The Hospital of Central Connecticut - Birth Classes

New Britain
With many options available, including both in-person and virtual classes, parents-to-be and current parents can get the support they need. Classes include birth, breastfeeding, fatherhood, infant safety, and more.  READ MORE

Connecticut Parenting Education Network

Online
The CTPEN is an organization for professionals who offer support services for families in Connecticut. The website has a searchable map where you can pinpoint Parenting Educators in your area, and find exactly the kind of help you need, when you need it. READ MORE
ASL classes can foster early communication with your baby. Photo courtesy of the American School for the Deaf
ASL classes can foster early communication with your baby. Photo courtesy of the American School for the Deaf

ASL Sign Language Classes for Babies and Kids in Connecticut

American School for the Deaf -ASL Classes

West Hartford
American School for the Deaf in West Hartford has been offering ASL classes to the public for 45 years. Classes can be found for babies to adults! Classes range in cost and length and can be taken virtually or in person.  READ MORE

Northwestern CT Community College ASL Classes

Winsted
NCCC offers a Deaf Studies degree, but this particular ASL course is for the community. This course is 6 weeks long and will cover deaf culture, letters, numbers, fingerspelling, and more. This is a virtual course.  READ MORE
Find the right classes to meet the needs of your special child. Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Parenting Center
Find the right classes to meet the needs of your special child. Photo courtesy of the St. Joseph Parenting Center

Parenting Classes for Special Needs Kids

Jewish Family Services

West Hartford
Jewish Family Services Parenting Education Program is specifically for families who are facing divorce. The program assists parents in supporting their children and meeting their emotional needs as the parents separate. It is a 6-hour program. READ MORE

St. Joseph Parenting Center

Danbury, Stamford
St. Joseph Parenting Center offers services for parents and children who have been affected by abuse and/or neglect. The General Parenting course offers assistance with discipline, self-esteem, budget and household management, and nutrition. There is a program where dads participate in a series of classes on topics such as child development, discipline, budgeting, employment, and more. There is also a Women's Support Circle for women who have experienced a crisis. Classes are offered in Danbury and Stamford.  READ MORE

Carolyn's Place

Waterbury
Carolyn's Place serves couples or individuals dealing with an unplanned pregnancy. Services include peer counseling and support, childbirth, first-time parents class, labor support, and more.  READ MORE

FAVOR

Wethersfield
FAVOR offers families a variety of services to support them with children that have mental, medical, or behavioral health programs . FAVOR offers a peer mentoring  program, classes on how to be your child's best advocate, understanding and working with data, telling your story, and more. READ MORE

Places featured in this article: