Free At-Home Resources For Kids: The Ultimate List of Fun + Learning at Home
Hi friends.
I hope you are all hanging in there. Yesterday marked one week of our new normal and while it’s such a strange and unsettling time, we are making the most of it and doing our best to stay grateful and joyful.
I’ve been so inspired by all of the people, businesses and organizations who are rallying during this time. So many people are choosing to be joyful, are leading with love and generosity and are wanting to make this an especially happy time for our kids. I’ve been sharing everything I find over on my instagram and so many of you asked for a master blog post with all the resources in one place.
Before I share everything, I just want to say, you’re doing a great job. I spent more than ten years planning things down to the minute for huge, important events, days, sometimes weeks, and while I can certainly appreciate a great schedule, I personally don’t feel you need to put that kind of pressure on yourself right now. The most important thing is to to be with your kids. Spend time with them. Snuggle. Read. Make messes. Build forts. There is no denying this is a very unsettling time, but we have an opportunity to create memories that they may look back on with such fondness. I think kids are doing to remember how their home felt during this time more than any worksheet they do. Follow your heart and your family’s rhythm each day. Not every day has to be the same, and not all families need to do the same thing.
I am sharing this with only the intention of being helpful. If you are looking for new things to do together, or for activities your kids can do next to you while you get a bit of work done. This is certainly not a suggestion that you NEED to do any of this. Or all of this.
All that said, we are spending a majority of our day making art because it’s who we are and what we love. We are also sure to each say at least three things we are grateful for each day. Our school sent home a packet with ideas of things to do and the community of the school has been so encouraging and positive. We are really grateful.
So, without further ado, here is a list of all of the free resources I am aware of. We have not done all of them, but I wanted to include as much as I could and I will be sure to update this list as I hear of others.
Daily Doodles with Mo Willems. This is hands down a highlight of our day. Olivia wakes up excited to do this which makes me so happy. She can follow along as a Kindergartener, but much younger may be tough. Yesterday she started filming her own classes inspired by Mo and it’s everything :)
Riley Sheehey is one of my favorite illustrators. She has been sharing tons of art lesson ideas for kids landing from preschool-8th grade. She also recommended this book, which we may order for Olivia.
Story Time From Space. It’s exactly what it sounds like. Astronauts reading books in space!
The Cincinatti Zoo is doing Home Safari videos every day at 3pm ET.
The San Diego Zoo, Georgia Aquarium, and Monterey Bay Aquarium all have tons of web cams you can use to visit the animals while we're all at home.
San Diego Zoo
Georgia Aquarium
Monterey Bay AquariumKids can listen to books for free on Audible.
Scholastic created an entire free, learn at home website
You can download 113 free coloring books from museums
McHarper Manor is offering daily art classes (with supply lists)
12 museums around the world are offering virtual tours, including the Musee d’Orsay and the Guggenheim!
Enjoy your local parks (while practicing social distance!) if you are feeling well. Here is a great resource for Chicago.
OTHER IDEAS:
A mom in Olivia’s class started a daily drawing for all the kindergarteners. She posts a daily theme in our class FB group and then all of the kids can draw it and all the parents post their kiddos’ drawings so they can see their friends work and have their work be admired too. It’s been fun.
Scavenger Hunts: We have done a couple of these and they make our walks even more fun. Let your kid choose ten things they want to try to find and write them down. Take your checklist with you and enjoy! You could also try a neighborhood bingo.
Window Walks: Our neighborhood is also doing window walks. Kids are encouraged to draw the chosen theme and hang them in their windows facing out for other kids to try to find on their walks. (IE- March 20 is “Silly Faces”, March 23 is “Animals”)
For younger kids, teach them how to tie a shoe. You can always teach them how to red too, if this doesn’t feel too stressful.
For locals, Make to Celebrate is creating custom craft kids (pending her inventory) for local porch, no contact pick up. She surprised us with one on Tuesday and it’s just so darling and a nice change from all the online stuff.
It may sound obvious, but take advantage of technology and video call with friends and family. The other day my mom taught Olivia a painting lesson on FaceTime and it was SO FUN. We have also had dinner with my grandma, lunch with Chris’ parents. It’s a nice break from the routine and so fun to see loved ones we are missing. You can do this with your kid’ friends too. Olivia had a phone date with one of her school bestie yesterday and it was really sweet.
QUICK MOMENTS OF RELIEF— Have you seen these? :)
The penguins exploring The Chicago Shedd Aquarium
Sue on the Loose at The Field Museum
Take care of yourself. And each other.
More soon.
xoxo, Katie
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