Michael Del Llano

Latest posts by Michael

Best of 2022 - Connecticut Kid Edition: Top Openings, Happenings, and Other Awesome Stuff We Loved

Submitted by Michael Del Llano on Sun, 12/25/2022 - 7:07pm

We wave goodbye to 2022 with a peek at the best of last year for Connecticut kids! Photo courtesy of Fairfield Museum

Before we put this year in our rear-view, we thought we'd take a moment to remember the best openings, happenings, and more with a Connecticut kid edition of he Best of 2022. From immersive art to dinosaur fun, there were new exhibits and attractions to delight Connecticut families in 2022. A family favorite added a new holiday experience, while the Beardsley Zoo's Centennial brought a host of events to town. These attractions brought some wonderful experiences and great memories for kids in Connecticut. And while we look forward to more family fun in 2023, we remember 2022 with the best of Connecticut and the top openings and happenings from around the country. We wish you a safe and happy new year!

To make sure that you don't miss any of the fun, subscribe to our weekly newsletters and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Check our frequently updated daily event calendar for even more ideas.

Not-So-Scary Halloween Events in Connecticut for Toddlers and Preschoolers

Submitted by Michael Del Llano on Sun, 10/16/2022 - 10:17pm

Raise your hand if you want some not-so-spooky Halloween fun in Connecticut this year! Photo courtesy of the Hill-Stead Museum

Are you in need of some not-so-scary Halloween events in Connecticut for toddlers and preschoolers? Frightful fun might work well for tweens, teens, and grown-ups. But families with younger kids would like to share in the festivities. And the littlest ones are eager to dress up, collect some candy, and have some Halloween fun in 2022! We've gathered up Connecticut activities that will entertain small kids without the scares. Read on for our guide to not-so-spooky Halloween events in Connecticut for toddlers and preschoolers.

Be sure to check out our Connecticut Halloween Guide for 2022. It's filled with our insider tips to a fun and safe Halloween. Our guide to the Best Places to Trick-or-Treat in Connecticut will help maximize fun—and your candy haul! And see our post on Easy Pumpkin Carving Ideas for some family craft time this Halloween.

Best Cooking Classes for Kids in Connecticut: Hartford, Fairfield, and New Haven

Submitted by Michael Del Llano on Sun, 09/11/2022 - 11:40pm

Connecticut cooking classes for kids get you child some hands-on enrichment with delicious results! Photo courtesy of Foodology Cooking School

The best cooking classes in Connecticut are a great activity for kids. Cooking classes provide healthy enrichment, giving kids hands-on experience in the kitchen. Cooking lessons are a great way to enage a fussy eater; whatever their skill level with cooking, kids are more likely to eat cuisine they have prepared themselves. There are skilled professsionals at these kid-friendly culinary schools in Fairfield County, Hartford, and New Haven Connecticut. These instructors reinforce the importance of practicing safe cooking techniques and trying new foods. For teens, younger kids, even toddlers, these cooking programs are sure to spark creativity and expand palates, inviting your child to try something new. Kids cooking classes might even inspire your junior chef to lend a hand in your own kitchen. So, get those aprons ready and sign your child up for a kids' cooking class! And read on for our guide to the best cooking classes for kids in Connecticut.

You can find more cooking classes for kids, and even book a class online, in our directory of classes and listings. Check our Connecticut Classes for Kids Guide for more kids’ activities and classes for kids of all ages and interests.

Best Swimming Lessons for Kids in Boston: Baby & Me Swimming Classes and More

Submitted by Michael Del Llano on Sun, 09/11/2022 - 10:25pm

Find the best swimming lessons for kids in Boston, including mommy & me swimming classes and more! Photo courtesy of the YMCA of Greater Boston

The best swimming lessons for kids in Boston are open for infants, toddlers, and kids of all ages. These Greater Boston swimming lesson locations cater to all skill levels as well. Swimming classes provide children with proper foundations for a life-saving skill. Swimming lessons are wonderful ways to provide a major confidence boost for a child; a child learning to swim sees success with every kick, stroke and splash! Besides being a great enrichment activity for exercise and physical development, swimming classes are downright fun at any age. And baby & me swimming classes let a parent and child take swimming lessons together, easing the child into the pool and creating precious memories. These classes can help adults learn to swim too. So read on for our guide to the best swimming lessons for kids in Boston.

You can find more swimming classes for kids, and even book a class online, in our directory of classes and listings. Check our Boston Classes for Kids Guide for more kids’ activities and classes for kids of all ages and interests.

Free in September: Best Things To Do in Boston with Kids

Submitted by Michael Del Llano on Fri, 09/02/2022 - 10:42pm

Free September activities will have your kids dancing in the streets of Boston. Photo courtesy of Riverfest

With so many activities free in September, families can keep an eye on their budgets and still find plenty of things to do in Boston with kids. This month, Museum Day lets visitors get free admission to participating locations all over Massachusetts. Curious kids can touch a truck or even explore a plane. And September in Boston has free fairs and festivals all month long, including Riverfest in Somerville, the South Boston Street Festival, and the Boston Local Food Festival. Given all these free things to do in Boston in September, there's every reason to get out and have fun with the family! So read on for our picks for the top things to do in Boston with kids that are free in September.

Labor Day Weekend in Boston: Festivals, Fairs and More Things To Do with Kids

Submitted by Michael Del Llano on Wed, 08/31/2022 - 11:50pm

Get up close and personal with beautiful ships from near and far. Gloucester Schooner Fest photo courtesy of the event

Looking for the best things to do this Labor Day Weekend in Boston? Here are some family-friendly events and activities to add to your list for this weekend.

Summer is winding down, but Labor Day Weekend in Boston sends it off in style. Festivals around New England offer families plenty of fun. King Richard's Faire kicks off the fall with medieval festivities. Providence lights up the night with its Fire Water display, and the Gloucester Schooner Festival has fun activities at full sail all weekend long! There are parades and festivals, so read on for the best things to do with kids this Labor Day Weekend in Boston.

For more fall fun for Boston families check out our guide to 15 fall day trips from Boston. Don't forget–it's also time to visit the best places to go apple picking near Boston. And be sure to explore our Fall Fun guide for more great ideas for activities!

Best of September: Top Things To Do in Boston with Kids

Submitted by Michael Del Llano on Sun, 08/28/2022 - 10:00pm

Dance, sing and celebrate with the best of September and the top things to do in Boston with kids! Cambridge Carnival International photo by paul@paulsportraits

The best of September is here, with the top things to do in Boston with kids! The month begins with Labor Day Weekend fun, including the Gloucester Schooner Festival. September ends with a fabulous display of carved pumpkins to stroll through. In between, Boston celebrates everything from marshmallow fluff to lederhosen, and there's a chance for your kids to climb onto trucks and planes at an airport touch-a-truck event. And the month wraps up with the Big E, the biggest fair in Massachusetts.

We're bursting with the best things to do in Boston in September with kids. Find the best places to go apple picking, visit farm animals, and where to take memorable fall day trips. Back-to-school is also the perfect time to add some classes to your schedule. Explore our Classes and Activities Guide for Boston kids to locate everything from dance to swim lessons.

Visiting Fenway Park with Kids: Touring the Home of the Boston Red Sox

Submitted by Michael Del Llano on Fri, 08/19/2022 - 12:47pm

Visit the oldest, and bestest, MLB stadium in the US. Photo by Kayak The Rockies, via Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Visiting Fenway Park with kids is a great activity for all families, not just the die-hard baseball fans. Fenway Park consistently ranks as the top tourist attraction in Boston, and it's no wonder. Visiting Fenway and enjoying the history of the Boston Red Sox doesn't have to mean scoring tickets to one of the 81 home games each season, which is good since most of those games end well after those little ones' bedtimes! Fenway Park Tours offers families a sneak-peek inside America's Most Beloved Ballpark, showing off parts of Fenway that many fans never see.

Read on to discover how Fenway Park Tours packs a lot of Boston history and Red Sox lore into one tidy, kid-sized hour. For more can't-miss Boston outings for kids, check out our list of 100 Things To Do in Boston with Kids Before They Grow Up.