Tot Town Party & Play

PLEASE NOTE: This post was written in 2015, and while it should still give you a good overview of the experience, it is also possible that it may contain some outdated information. Please check their website for the most current information, especially about things like hours and pricing. If you notice something in this post that needs to be updated, please feel free to leave a comment with the updated information, or email us at outandaboutmom@gmail.com and we will be happy to make the updates. Hey, it takes a village, right? 🙂

2015 POST:

Thank you to Tot Town for providing me with complimentary access to the open play session. All opinions expressed here are 100% my own.

Cut to the chase. Take me to the Momsense.

There is a drop-in play destination located in Brookfield, Connecticut that is open Tuesday through Saturday each week (can you say convenient?) and offers little ones under the age of 8 a chance to burn off some energy and enjoy a variety of imaginative play options.

So when a good friend of mine recently had her 3rd little munchkin and another friend and I wanted an excuse to catch up with her (and get in a few baby snuggles), we decided to meet here — Tot Town Party & Play.

Tot Town Party & Play offers open play sessions on Tuesday & Wednesday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Thursday & Friday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, and Saturday 3:30 pm – 6:30 pm (the weekend morning hours are filled with birthday parties). Their play area is designed for children ages eight and under and the cost is $9 per child (with reduced rates for children under the age of one and siblings).

Several readers have recommended this destination to us, so I was excited to finally get a chance to check it out!

Parking for Tot Town was super easy, with plenty of spaces available right in front of the building.

Inside we found a space to store all our stuff and place our shoes (which needed to come off before going into the play area).

We also checked in at the front desk which was easy to spot. Sweetheart and I were lucky to be receiving complimentary admission that morning, but this is the spot where visitors would pay to play. They accept cash and credit cards for payment — I never have cash on me so being able to pay by credit card is always a helpful feature!

The space was large, but not too large that you couldn’t easily keep an eye on your little one (or multiple little ones if that is the case). The center of the play space was designated for more active play while the edges of the play area had a variety of creative spaces that the kids enjoyed discovering.

The first stop for Sweetheart was definitely the more active space. Our car ride from West Hartford to Brookfield took a little over an hour so she was ready to climb, jump, and slide. This space had slides, a ball pit, a small trampoline, climbers, play houses and other active play equipment.

And on the outskirts of the central play area, were little spaces where the kids could be more creative with their play.

Sweetheart’s first stop was at the hair salon and dress up area (this was a popular spot for her).

Then she moved on to the diner where she whipped up a delicious hot dog for me. Look how cute this space is. There is even a menu and a little waitress costume.

There were lots of other play areas similar to the spaces above, each with their own themes.

And spaced throughout the play areas were places where the adults could sit, relax, and catch up with each other while the kids played.

One of the spaces was specifically designed for crawlers and was great. The whole space was gated and the interior was filled with mirrors and a variety of toys perfect for their age. I was always on the hunt for a spot like this when my twins were in their crawling phase!

Restrooms for Tot Town were located right in the back of the play area. There were two restrooms, both with a baby changing table AND a child seat. Have you seen one of those before? The child seat? I first discovered them back when I visited the Buckland Hills Mall in Manchester. Such a handy thing to have when you are with a little one who can’t keep from touching everything in the restroom when you need to go!

They also have a spot right outside the restroom where they keep extra diaper supplies. If you need to use something from their supply, just leave a dollar.

Food and drink were also welcomed at Tot Town. Parents could enjoy their coffee or other beverage in a cup with a lid in the play area and they even offered coffee for sale. Food, however, needed to be eaten in their party room which was a great space accessed from the play area. Bring your own food or purchase a snack at the front desk.

The party room was a huge space with a connecting arts and craft area. I could see why they were busy with birthday parties on weekend mornings, what a nice space.

So there you have it, Tot Town Party & Play in Brookfield, Connecticut. I’m a bit jealous of the parents that live near this spot, it is such a great place for the kids to play!

Have you been to Tot Town? Share your experience on our Facebook page or in the comments section below!