If you’re looking for a fun extra-curricular activity for your budding artist there are many after school art class options in the Hartford County area. The arts are essential in stimulating creativity and developing innovative thinkers whether it’s through artistic expression of music or creating beautiful painted masterpieces. Check out one of these great programs in Hartford County to help inspire your little artist. For more fun ideas check out our After School Classes Guide.

Do, re, mi, fa…so your years spent singing the alphabet song and twinkle twinkle has instilled a love for music in your child? If they aspire to be the next Justin Bieber then signing your child up for singing or dancing classes might be a good idea. Lucky for you, there are many voice and dance instructors in the Hartford County area that can help  your talented performer progress.

There are certain hot summer days when the sprinkler or the splash pad at the park just isn't enough, and the beach is a little too much—when only a swimming pool will do. Luckily the Westside has almost as many public pools as public beaches; kids can cool off with a splash at a different pool each day of the week! Most of the outdoor pools listed below are seasonal, and hours change throughout the summer. It's always advisable to call for the day's schedule before heading out.

Chicago may be the Windy City, but it often seems like Boston could have earned that nickname, too. Ocean breezes are a near-constant presence and there’s no better way to harness them than by flying a kite. Despite Boston’s low elevation, there are plenty of hills and beaches in the area that provide the perfect places to get some air. We’ve rounded up 10 of them, some of which also have awesome playgrounds. Now go fly a kite!

With fantastic things to do from the Cape to Concord, as well as a plethora of highlights right in the center of town, we Bostonians consider ourselves lucky that there's so much in our midst. Although we have a list of 100 things to do with kids in Boston before they grow up, we understand you may not have time for everything on it during a visit. So, we've picked our very favorite things to do—not-to-miss sights, activities, and eats for families visiting Boston. You can certainly fill up a week with the itinerary below, or choose your favorites if you're in town for a shorter stay. Enjoy our fine city!

We've written about sensory activities before, and while there are plenty of things your kids can do at home, sometimes you want an expert to address certain issues. That's when you might need a sensory gym, one of those highly specialized (and fun) spaces where occupational and physical therapists help kids. Children work on gross and fine motor skills, core strength, neurodevelopmental delays, balance, coordination, and sensory integration, but the activities are usually so engaging they just think they're having a great time.

Finding a sensory gym that's a good fit for your child can be a challenge. Once you do, snagging a great therapist and a decent time slot usually involves multiple wait lists (and relentlessly checking in on those wait lists) and a willingness to remain flexible about scheduling. Fortunately for Brooklyn families, the borough has a number of well-equipped sensory gyms staffed by accomplished therapists.

Trying to navigate NYC's special education services and programs? Check out our Special Needs Guide for NYC families.

More and more studies are showing how important the role of play is in early childhood learning. Kids develop important social and cognitive skills from play, and become more self-confident and emotionally mature when allowed to learn by playing. Finding a daycare that goes beyond simply watching your kid, and fosters this independence and imporant early learning skill isn't always easy. We've rounded up a few great daycares (some of which also have preschools) where your child will love to learn while they play.