Let's be real here: keeping our kids busy often costs a small fortune. So, when this mother of two hears the word “free” her heart skips a beat or two. Here’s a round up of some of our favorite free indoor activities to checkout across the Greater New Haven area.
Got a bookworm? Barnes & Noble hosts storytime on Saturday mornings at 11am with special events ranging from author visits and readings or book signings. Check their website for details.
Head to the Leitner Family Observatory and Planetarium in New Haven for the (mostly) free planetarium shows presented Tuesday nights at 7pm and 8pm. Entrance into the planetarium is on a first come basis and is free for kids age 13 and under 8.
On the first Saturday of the month, Home Depot offers free projects in both Stratford and Orange locations. Your kids will love earning a new badge each month for every project they complete.
The Yale Visitor Center offers a free Kids’ Architectural Treasure Hunt brochure for children ages 6-11 that encourages children to hunt for architectural details and designs while on the Yale campus tour.
Check out the free crafts for kids each Saturday at Hamden's Lakeshore Learning from 11am to 3pm. Children age three an older are invited to participate.
Learn all about the American Flyer trains designed by A.C. Gilbert at the Eli Whitney Museum in Hamden.
Visit New Haven’s indoor farmer’s market at the Metropolitan Business Academy.
The Yale Center for British Art houses the largest collection of British art outside the UK, in a landmark building by Louis Kahn. The free museum includes paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, and rare books. Check for tours, concerts, and regular family programs.
Your children will love to climb the spiral staircase to the lookout tower overlooking Long Island Sound at the Coastal Center at Milford Point. Immerse yourself in the area’s delicate ecosystem and observe Osprey nests through the center's telescopes.
Along with a warm, welcoming indoor visitor's center with nature exhibits (including some animals), there are miles of trails and an amazing wooden playground at the Ansonia Nature Center.
On any given day of the week, the Derby Neck Library offers some pretty spectacular children’s programs. From Art Partners to Music and Movement, to Anime and Video Games, your kiddos will love visiting the library.
Let's all face it. Ikea isn't just any store. If your kids are potty trained and meet height requirements, you can also let them play in the supervised—and absolutely free—Småland for 30 minutes during your visit.
Check out the free exhibits, nature activities, and workshops at the Kellogg Environmental Center in Osbornedale State Park in Derby. The center offers special programming and events throughout the year.
Enjoy free daily admission to the Yale University Art Gallery. We love going to the museum on the second Sunday of each month from September through May, the gallery hosts a family friendly "Stories and Art" program with plenty of hands-on art activities. Closed Mondays.
Step back in time within the walls of this 6,000 square foot farmhouse. The New Haven Museum and Pardee Morris House is only open seasonally so check the website for full details. Admission is free for 12 and under.
Often an overlooked museum in the Elm City, the Knights of Columbus Museum is dedicated to the history of Catholicism but additionally offers a rotating exhibit on its first floor. In January, it's Christmas in Europe.
The National Helicopter Museum features photographs, multiple models, a helicopter simulator, and a model of the first helicopter flight in Stratford 75 years ago. Open Wednesday through Sunday. Stratford
