The town of West Hartford is an affluent suburb of Hartford, Connecticut. In 2010, Kipling's Personal Finance Magazine listed West Hartford as one of the United States' "10 Great Cities for Raising Families." Across this town are numerous activities designed for infants, such as baby music classes and infant-specific story time, that will help your child grow and develop.
Outdoor Activities
West Hartford features a variety of activities that allow for you and your infant to spend time together outdoors in the fresh Connecticut air. There are five parks designed for people of all ages and featuring playground equipment, picnic tables, walking trails and public restrooms.
Indoor Activities
When the weather outside turns sour, there are still places to take your little one to stay entertained and active. The Children's Museum in West Hartford is filled with nature and science exhibits that will entertain children of all ages. This museum was designed to help children develop their imagination and curiosity. The Kids' Corner section on the lower level is designed with infants in mind. This exhibit features a variety of lights, sounds and things to touch, perfect for engaging your infant's senses.
Aquatics
One way to keep your infant active is by getting wet at the local swimming pool. In West Hartford, there are several outdoor swimming pools, an indoor aquatic center and spray pools. The spray pools, which are at Wolcott and Kennedy parks, are excellent for infants because there is no risk of submersion. At the Cornerstone Aquatics Center, swim lessons begin for children as young as 6 months old. The Water Babies classes are on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.
Story Time
It is never too early to start reading to your child. West Hartford has three libraries: the Noah Webster Library, the Bishops Corner Library and the Faxon Library. Both the Noah Webster and Faxon branches offer story groups geared toward infants. Babytime is offered for children up to 12 months old and includes toys, finger games and music. This program last for 45 minutes. The Bishops Corner Library's children's reading program begins at age 3. This program is called Preschool Storytime; it includes stories, music, crafts and puppets.
Educational Activities
According to the University of Hartford, nothing is more important for childhood development than stimulating and positive experiences. At West Hartford's Hartt School, children up to 5 years old can participate in the First Steps Program. Infant classes are for babies up to 12 months old. During the 45-minute class, babies participate in lullabies, tapping, dancing and bouncing. The class is filled with a range of musical instruments to help your infant develop sensory skills, language and hand-motor coordination.
