For those parents whose wallets are screaming for mercy after last month's holiday spending, our highlights for this week are all FREE to attend! A few top picks below include a live concert with PBS stars and preschooler favorites Monkey Monkey Music, more music from kindie mainstays Presley and Melody and a comedy writing class with the Story Pirates for the older kids. More free fun can be found during various free or pay-what-you-wish hours at NYC museums, zoos and gardens and these 20 indoor spots.

Pre-planners take notice: School is closed, Monday, January 18 for Martin Luther King, Jr., Day (and Lunar New Year isn't far behind). Our post on NYC mini-camps can help you find an enriching experience. Plus, mark your calendars now, preschool fave from across the pond, Peppa Pig, will be in NYC this spring!

As always, more family activities can be found in our Event Calendar.

If you are looking for some fun events to take the kids to this week we've got you covered.  Spend hours checking out the 500 Star Wars mini-figs at the Lego Exhibit. Disney On Ice and Cinderella are both in town and you can even take the kids to learn how to ice fish! For more fun things to do, check out our frequently updated Event Calendar for all sorts of fun. 

Before we know it, another school year will end, and children and parents alike will seek activities to fill their summer days. The Hartford area is home to many attractions, playgrounds, and museums, but sometimes, none of those will quench a child’s thirst like a gallop on a horse. Yes, a horse! Fortunately, just like in Fairfield County, there are plenty of Hartford County farms and stables that cater specifically to young riders, offering lessons for all skill levels and also summer riding camps.

The month of January can be grey and dull. But, it certainly doesn't have to be. Make it lively and exciting by filling your week with activities found in our Events Calendar.

This week, children can stay busy by learning about movement, taking in a theater production, or discovering interesting facts about owls. Or, take baby to a movie at Bryn Mawr Film Institute or bring the older kids to Bartram's Gardens for its Homeschooler Day.

To keep up with new events that are constantly added to our listing, be sure to like us on Facebook and follow us on Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram. Make it a great week!

Do your kids love animals? Are they fascinated by butterflies and don't mind the sound of crunching leaves under foot?  There are many opportunities for your little science buff to discover nature, investigate planets and anything science related. Check out these great science museums and nature centers in the Hartford area. Of course, don't forget to check out our Kid Friendly CT Museum Guide for lots of other great suggestions of places to go too.

My kids are lucky enough to not have any allergies themselves, but with nut allergies on the rise, friends in each of their classes since preschool have had allergies that could result in deadly reactions to certain nuts. While it's hard for families to ensure dishes are allergen-free in restaurants, we as parents can do our part at home to try and send our kids to school with nut-free lunches and snacks each day so that everyone stays safe.

For me, this starts in the grocery store when I'm purchasing ingredients for the week. Many of the processed foods available—including granola bars, cookies, crackers, and yogurts with toppings—are made in facilities that also process nuts. These items generally carry such a disclaimer on the package under the ingredients, but I've found it easiest to only purchase items for school made from whole foods and then pull together my own fun meals at home.

When the shorter days and longer nights of Winter have my family bouncing off the walls we frequently turn to the Mommy Poppins guide of Indoor Play Spaces.   Lucky for us in Fairfield County, there are quite a few to choose from. Having a fun, safe, clean, dependable indoor play area is crucial to surviving winter in Connecticut.  For my family, that magical place is called “Our Back Yard”.  You may not notice this expansive play space driving down the road in Fairfield. It’s tucked into a strip mall, above the Nutmeg Bowl Bowling Alley.  Our Back Yard is in the same building as the bowling alley, but if you follow the driveway along the side of the building, you will reach the separate parking lot and entrance for the play space.  Our Back Yard offers a “weather resistant” playscape. Even though we have been “bounced out” after about 60 minutes, I still feel like this is a tremendous bang for your buck.  

If you haven’t considered the family vacation potential of forward-thinking Amsterdam, it’s time to start. This walkable European city where nearly everyone speaks English, offers great things to do for the young and old alike.