Sensory-Friendly Playtime at KidsPlay Museum

KidsPlay Children’s Museum will host a sensory-friendly playtime session on Friday, May 22, offering families a quieter museum visit designed for children with sensory needs. The two-hour program is scheduled for 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the museum’s site at 61 Main Street in Torrington, according to KidsPlay’s event listing and the state tourism site CTvisit. The museum describes the session as a “judgement-free environment for play and learning” for children with disabilities, children on the autism spectrum and children with sensory-processing disorders. Admission is reduced for the event, and attendance is capped. ### Where is the event, and when does it start? Friday, May 22, is the date listed by both KidsPlay and CTvisit for the next sensory-friendly playtime session. The event is scheduled to run from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at KidsPlay Children’s Museum in Torrington, not Hartford, according to the museum’s website and CTvisit. KidsPlay lists the address as 61 Main Street, Torrington, Connecticut 06790. CTvisit carries the same location and contact information, including the museum’s main phone number and email for families seeking details before arrival. ### What makes this play session sensory-friendly? KidsPlay says the session is intended to provide a calmer, quieter setting than a typical museum day. The museum’s event page says attendance is limited, lights are lowered and sounds are reduced during sensory-friendly playtime. The museum’s broader description of the program says it is aimed at families living with disabilities, autism or sensory-processing challenges. KidsPlay also says the event is designed to be a judgment-free space for play and learning, language repeated on both its own site and CTvisit’s listing. ### How many people can attend, and do families need to register? KidsPlay says capacity for the May 22 session is limited to 50. The museum says preregistration is strongly encouraged, a sign that families should not assume space will be available at the door. The event page includes a ticket-purchase link through the museum’s site. CTvisit also offers a booking link tied to the same May 22 listing. ### What does it cost? CTvisit lists admission for the May 22 program at $5 for children and $5 for adults, with museum members admitted free. The tourism listing says the reduced price is supported by sponsorship from the Union Savings Bank Foundation. KidsPlay’s main event page highlights the reduced-rate session but does not spell out the sponsorship in the short listing shown on its calendar page. Families checking prices will find the clearest breakdown on CTvisit’s event entry. ### Is this a one-time event or part of a regular program? KidsPlay has run sensory-friendly playtime sessions before, according to older program pages on its website. Past listings describe the same format — reduced noise, lower lighting and limited attendance for children with disabilities, autism or sensory-processing disorders and their families. The museum’s current events calendar also shows regular public programming beyond the May 22 session, including member hours and other activities. That suggests the sensory-friendly playtime is part of an ongoing offering rather than a one-off event. ### What should families do next? May 22 is the next confirmed date now listed online, and KidsPlay says preregistration is strongly encouraged because attendance is capped at 50. Families can use the museum’s event page or the CTvisit listing to review admission, confirm timing and purchase tickets before Friday evening.