For Toddlers/Kids: 

Got kids? You won’t find a better place to raise them than Tolland County. There are quality schools in safe neighborhoods plus a climate of intellectual and cultural stimulation created by the presence of the University of Connecticut’s main campus. As home to UCONN, which uses its vast resources to benefit all of Tolland County’s charming communities, the possibilities for your child’s creative and educational enrichment are boundless. UCONN is home to the Community School of the Arts where university instructors offer after-school, weekend and summer classes for children of all ages in every arts discipline, from painting, sculpture and pottery to drama, dance, voice and instrumental music instruction. UCONN also provides an Early College Experience program for high school students that allows them to take college level courses and earn college credits. There are fantastic opportunities for outdoor recreation in local parks and playgrounds set beside scenic rivers and lakes while municipal parks and recreation departments provide a full compliment of little league teams and sports programs. Surrounded by interesting museums and historic sites, fun attractions and amusement parks, even farms you can visit with barnyard animals that will delight the little ones, Tolland County was made for families.  

For Toddlers: 

Art, Music and Movement Mansfield Discovery Depot The Discovery Depot is Mansfield's municipal day care center where toddler classrooms are stimulating, language rich and ever-changing. Music and songs are a big part of the toddler experience, helping the children build self-esteem as they master words and tunes. Mansfield Parks and Recreation Department The Mansfield Parks and Rec. Department offers art, music and movement classes and programs for residents of all ages. "Munchkin Mornings" every Monday is an extremely popular offering for parents and their children ages 12 to 36 months old, which includes art activities, music, story-times and socializing. "Teeny Tiny Town" for children ages 3 to 5 is a once-a-week class that starts with a circle sharing time followed by games, singing, dancing and story-time. Focus is on a different fun theme each class with a related arts and crafts project or activity. Coventry Play Group Once a week classes for infants up to 5 year olds and their parents combine art, music and movement with monthly field trips. Meet and interact with your neighbors and their tikes in this Parks and Rec. sponsored play group that gathers at the Patriot's Park Community Center. Tolland Parks and Recreation Department Tolland Parks and Rec. offers several art, movement and music classes designed for toddlers including "Rhythm and Fun" which helps promote good listening skills, motor skills and coordination using movement, musical instruments, hoops, parachutes, tumbling and more. "Scamper Tots" is a child/parent class designed to develop and improve coordination in a noncompetitive play environment where children use tunnels, hoops, balls, a balance beam, bowling pins and other stations followed by parachute games and songs with puppets. Tolland County Music Together Music classes for infants through age 5 and the parent/caregivers who love them. Children and their parents or primary caregivers meet 45 minutes per week for 10 weeks to experience new songs, chants, movement activities and instrumental jam sessions. In class, you and your child experience the joy of actual music-making and the freedom to respond spontaneously to those experiences. UCONN Community School of the Arts The Community School of the Arts offers a wide range of visual arts classes for students of all ages. From mixed media classes for 3 year-olds to pottery for teens, there's even a Family Clay Workshop that you can all enjoy together. Professional art instructors from the university faculty will help bring out the artist in your child and you.

Books and Reading Mansfield Library Preschool Programs Mansfield Public Library offers 3 programs for children including Family Storytime every Saturday morning where all ages are welcome, Preschool Storytime for ages 3-5 every Wednesday morning and Toddler Time for children from birth to 36 months accompanied by their caregiver every Friday morning. Storytimes feature stories, songs, finger-plays and crafts for munchkins and their families to enjoy together Coventry Booth and Dimock Memorial Library Children's Room Coventry's well funded library maintains an excellent children's department that regularly schedules events including story-times and parties celebrating classic tales when children are encouraged to come in costume as their favorite characters. A recent very popular party celebrated the release of the latest Harry Potter tome. Tolland Public Library Children's Programs Tolland Public Library runs story-time sessions for preschool children throughout the year. The programs feature books and stories, songs, rhythm and rhymes, finger-plays and craft making. Don't miss the "Books & Babies" program that introduces babies and their parents to books in monthly sessions of out-loud reading. The library even provides infant packets to help new parents find the best books for their newborns. Tolland Puppet Pals "Puppet Pals" is great parent/child class offer by the Tolland Parks and Recreation Department designed to develop listening skills and to enhance early literacy skills. Children sing familiar songs and enjoy best-loved stories while being entertained by silly hand puppets and props.

Natural Science UCONN Animal Trail and Dairy Barn Take the family to experience the University of Connecticut's roots as an agricultural school. The College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Animal Science Department, welcome visitors to explore their barns and learn more about the animals cared for at the University. Cattle, horses, pigs and sheep can all be seen at the north end of campus. While you're there, be sure to stop at the Dairy Bar which serves 25 flavors of homemade ice cream and frozen yogurt. Children's Museum Of Southeastern Connecticut In nearby Niantic, the Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut is an interactive, hands-on, educational opportunity for children ages 1 to 12. CMOSC engages, encourages and challenges children's interest in the sciences through live critters, arts and crafts, a real 2-person research submarine and many exhibits that change regularly. Science Center of Connecticut The SCOC is located in West Hartford and offers several programs for preschool and kindergarten aged children designed to elevate their awareness and interest in the natural sciences. The Science Center Preschool provides a traditional daycare environment augmented by toys and games that are fun yet science-related. Other programs that toddlers find fascinating include the "Egg-citing Hatchlings" events where they can learn about baby critters and the "She Sell Sea Shells" events where they learn about the oceans and the undersea world. Mystic Aquarium The Mystic Aquarium and Institute for Exploration is so much more than an aquarium. It's a unique learning experience about living marine creatures and the latest undersea discoveries. In addition to a beautiful aquarium it has assembled one-of-a-kind exhibits in collaboration with famous scientist Robert Ballard and his deep-ocean exploration team which allows you to see their discoveries almost as soon as they are uncovered! Beardsley Zoo, Bridgeport At Beardsley Zoo you'll see more than 300 animals while learning about endangered and threatened species. Visit a recreated South American rainforest with free-flight aviary and take a walk through the prairie dog exhibit with "pop-up" viewing areas. Get to know familiar animals up close at the Farmyard where you can pet and feed goats, cows, pigs and sheep or take a walk along the "hoof-stock trail" featuring bison and deer. Don't forget to take a ride on the colorful carousel before you head home.

Parks and Playgrounds Mansfield Parks and Playgrounds Mansfield boasts ten parks and preserves scattered about the town for hiking, biking, picnicking and recreational pursuits of all sorts. Schoolhouse Brook Park next to Mansfield Middle School is especially nice offering every amenity for a day of fun including a playground, picnic tables and Bicentennial Pond for swimming, boating and fishing. Coventry Park and Playground Beautiful Coventry Community Park is set on 17 acres alongside Coventry Lake. There's a fun playscape for little ones plus a beach, pavilion, bandshell and picnic areas with grills. Tolland Parks and Playgrounds Tolland is graced by three parks including Crandall Park, River Park and Hern's Cove Park. Hern's Cove features sports courts and hiking trails, River Park is the site of two baseball fields while Crandall Park is Tolland's main park boasting play areas for children, multi-use sports fields, a pond for swimming and fishing, plus a pavilion and picnic area.

Sports and Fitness Mansfield Parks and Recreation Toddler Athletics Your little one will love the Mansfield Parks and Rec. "Teeny Tumblers" class for children age 2 to 4. This once-a-week, parent/child tumbling class helps children gain body awareness, balance and strength through fun exercises and activities. Coventry Parks and Recreation Toddler Athletics Enjoy plenty of chances to work out with your toddler when you make your home in Coventry. There are parent-tot swimming classes for children from 6 months old to under 3 years old and "goldfish" classes for children from 3 to 4 years of age designed for both parent and child participation. "Guppy" classes, which do not require parental participation, are for children 3 to 4 who have a high comfort level in and around the water. The Little Tykes Preschool Sports program is for kids from 4 to 5, with an emphasis on fundamental sports skills such as throwing, kicking and catching. Warm up and stretching is followed by skill development and scrimmages using safe, fun and age-appropriate equipment. Tolland Parks and Recreation Toddler Athletics Tolland Parks and Rec. offers a variety of opportunities for you and your toddler to enjoy physical activity together. At the parent/child Preschool Gym Class, the two of you can take part in lots of movement, cooperative activities, sports and games. Smart Start Sports is designed to assist parents who want to support their child in developing basic motor skills such as throwing, catching and kicking in a safe noncompetitive atmosphere with an emphasis on fun. There are beginning parent/child tumbling classes where kids stretch, roll, balance and cartwheel and multi-sport classes where little ones get there first chance to learn the fundamental skills of baseball and soccer through fun games and interactive group activities.

For Kids: 

When you have children, choosing the place where you’re going to live is almost as important as choosing the house itself. Family friendly appeal is one of the highlights, no matter which one of Tolland County’s cozy communities you all home. So come enjoy the healthy lifestyle, clean environment, safe streets and world-class educational, cultural and entertainment opportunities that compliment the perfect home you’re sure to find in Tolland County, Connecticut’s family haven.