Looking for new ways to entertain your kids while we’re all practicing social distancing and self-quarantine? Here are some online activities, software, and events that we’ve found — feel free to add more in the comments!
Introduce your child to opera (or help bring their understanding of Bugs Bunny cartoons full circle) with the help of one of the best companies in the world — the Met. Beginning March 16th, the Metropolitan Opera will stream some of their legendary performances for free at metopera.org. Learn more here, via BroadwayWorld.
Tour 12 of the world’s best museums from your couch, including the Guggenheim, the British Museum, the Museé D’Orsay, and more.
The Seattle Symphony is making live recordings of concerts available to watch for free — find their schedule here.
Need someone else to read a story for once? Authors have that covered on Facebook:
- Author and former early childhood literacy specialist Tom Leveen will host interactive storytimes with Mr. Tom on FB Live
- Ben Clanton, author of the Narwhal and Jelly books, will do two live streams this week: March 18 and March 20.
- Mac Barnett (Extra Yarn, Billy Twitters, and His Blue Whale Problem, and more!) will do live readings on Instagram each day at 1 p.m. our time.
- Artist Oliver Jeffers, author & illustrator of Here We Are, The Fate of Fausto, Imaginary Fred, and many more books, will be reading one of his books every weekday, at 12 p.m. our time.
The Cincinnati Zoo will host a Home Safari Facebook Live each weekday at 3 p.m. Eastern/1 p.m. Mountain where they will highlight one of their amazing animals and include an activity you can do from home. Join them starting Monday, March 16 for our first Home Safari- featuring Fiona!
Own a ukelele? Learn how to play it with live lessons all week long:
Each day I’m going to dedicate the first half of an hour to teaching the basics of the ʻukulele and how to play some simple, hip songs (great for kids!). Each day we’ll build on and practice what we learned earlier in the week.
After each lesson, I’ll open the chat up to Q&As and we can talk story about uke stuff and address specific questions about playing technique for another half hour.
Here’s a list of Virtual Field Trips, from the San Diego Zoo to the Louvre!
Join Oceans Initiative for a virtual marine biology camp with an online Q&A about orcas and salmon on Monday, 3/15, with more camps to come!
Have a budding young author? NaNoWrimo has a ton of great resources and a Young Writers Program, too! Check out this outstanding novel-writing workbook geared to elementary-aged kids.
On Instagram? Artists have you covered:
@carsonellis is posting daily drawing prompts
@trishazemp is offering a free stop motion camp for kids
11pm @wendymac is teaching drawing for kids (I did this and it was really fun!)
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