Jennifer Coe

Latest posts by Jennifer Coe

Updated: Coronavirus Closures Update: Schools, Museums, Libraries, Play Spaces in Connecticut

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Fri, 03/13/2020 - 8:33pm

Schools across Connecticut are emptied out as coronavirus spreads. Photo courtesy of Lisa Maruna/CC by 2.0

Normally, our job at Mommy Poppins is to clue parents in to where to have fun with kids around Connecticut. But as coronavirus spreads through our community, we're also here to tell you where not to go. Here are the schools, museums, zoos, indoor play spaces, libraries, and stages we know to be temporarily closed around Connecticut. Please visit and comment on our Facebook page to let us know what other closures we are missing and should know about.

Stuck at home? Look to our Mommy Poppins Coronavirus Guide for Parents for hundreds of ideas for games, crafts, and activities, as well insider tips and takes for keeping kids safe and healthy at home and beyond. All the best from our families to yours.

Indoor Swimming Pools around Hartford with Day Passes and Drop-in Family Swim Times

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Fri, 02/14/2020 - 5:19pm

Photo courtesy of Cornerstone Aquatic Center

It may be cold outside, but it's always swimming season at these Hartford-area indoor pools. Whether your child is clamoring to splash around or still learning to swim, these pools welcome families with day pass options and drop-in family swim hours.

After you go for a dip, make sure to check out our entire list of things to do indoors in Connecticut. After your swim, spend the day doing one or more of our 45 favorite things to do with kids in Hartford.

February GoList: The Best Things To Do With CT Kids This Month

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Sun, 01/26/2020 - 6:00pm

February is the month of love, so get out there and embrace it! Nutmeg kids can celebrate the Valentine's season with the Fire and Ice Festival in Putnam, crafting in Litchfield and Monroe, and chocolate tastings in both Willimantic and Wilton. Or, catch live productions of some of kid-favorite shows and events, including Pinkaliscious and Erth's Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure. For even more ways to enjoy your days, check out our Indoor Play Guide and Connecticut Winter Fun Guide. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to get a list of each week's highlighted events!

Best Hartford-Area Halloween Events: Trunk or Treat, Parades, and More

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Sun, 10/06/2019 - 11:17am

Take a train to the pumpkin patch! Photo courtesy of Connecticut Trolley Museum

Holy howling Halloween! The spookiest time of the year is quickly approaching and families are planning the best way for their little ghouls to enjoy the season. If you live near Hartford, there are tons of not-too-terrifying events to squeeze into your creepy calendar, from trunk or treat events to costume parades to pumpkin festivals.

Our Connecticut Halloween Guide has you covered with more ideas for spooky and sweet seasonal fun across the state, but don't forget to keep tabs on our event calendar: New Halloween-inspired events are being added daily.

Fun Fall Activities for Connecticut Preschoolers

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Sun, 09/08/2019 - 1:15pm

Preschoolers love to pick their own (and parents'!) apples. Photo by Kim Tyler Photography courtesy of Lyman Orchards

So many fall traditions in Connecticut seem tailor-made for preschoolers: Who better to upend a freshly raked leaf pile or run around a pumpkin patch long enough to find that perfect Jack-O-Lantern? From local events like apple festivals and pumpkin carnivals to perennial favorites like apple picking, pumpkin patch visits, and corn mazes, we've rounded up 18 of the best ways to have some big fall adventures with little companions this fall. And don't forget our fall fun guide has even more ideas for making the most of the season in Connecticut.

Connecticut Farms with Homemade Ice Cream and Fun Activities for Kids and Families

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Sun, 07/14/2019 - 12:00pm

Buttonwood Farm serves up ice cream and sunflowers. Photo courtesy of Visit CT

After a long, hot day at a Connecticut beach, pool, or summer camp, there's no better treat than creamy, cold ice cream. And best yet is homemade ice cream served at one of Connecticut's local farms. While some farms are best for picking berries, peaches, and other summer produce, others are even more famous for their delectable dairy products. Check out these family-friendly farms that offer delicious ice cream as well as rolling green hills, fields, and even animals to check out before or after your treat.

Connecticut Drive -In Movie Theaters to Enjoy Kids' and Family Flicks

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Sun, 07/07/2019 - 8:30pm

Pay by the carload at the Mansfield Drive-in. Photo courtesy of Visit CT

There are some family activities that seem to define summer: picking berries, spending a day at the beach, roasting marshmallows over a campfire, and, of course, watching a movie under the stars! While you could always catch an outdoor movie from a picnic blanket in a local park, taking in a drive-in movie from the comfort of the family truckster is a special treat. Here are our favorite drive-in movie spots in Connecticut; for more options, check out these outdoor theaters in nearby Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

25 Things to Do on a Rainy Day with Kids in Connecticut

Submitted by Jennifer Coe on Sun, 04/14/2019 - 8:56pm

Connecticut Science Center. Photo courtesy of Connecticut Office of Tourism

Just because the weather calls for rain, your day doesn't need to be dreary, too. From free museums to indoor playgrounds to tasty treat spots, here are 25 ways to keep kids active and entertained when showers put a damper on outdoor plans. For even more things to do, check out our indoor fun guide; and don't forget to keep tabs on our events calendar, which is packed with plenty of fun activities—inside and out—for every day of the week.