You're Not Going Anywhere. 10 Kid-Friendly Ideas for Having Fun at Home
Drawing by visual artist and children's book author Oliver Jeffers.
Though it may seem like everyone on social media is spending their #isolationtime completing ambitious home projects or working out their abs … you are not the only one debating whether it’s worth it to put on pants today. If you have kids at home, being productive is even more of a challenge. We may never quite learn how to go easy on ourselves, but we may take an online drawing class with our teenager or watch a deep sea exploration video with our toddler and consider them to be excellent distractions, and therefore actual accomplishments. Below are some of our favorite finds from the web:
STORY TIME
Oliver Jeffers, one of our favorite visual artists and authors, reads from his vast collection of children story books — most of which are about adventure and exploration. Catch him on Instagram Live at 6 p.m. GMT / 2 p.m. EST / 11 a.m. PST or browse the archives.
DRAWING CLASS
Illustrator Wendy Macnaughton holds Instagram Live drawing classes Monday through Friday, 1 p.m. EST / 10 a.m. PST
SNEAKY SCHOOL
Coder Neal Agarwal has created a series of wonderfully endless scroll websites to explore The Deep Sea and Space.
Scholastic's Learn at Home program features projects and videos and divided by grades: Pre-K-Kindergarten, Grades 1 and 2, Grades 3-5, and Grades 6-9.
So this may be stretching the definition of "fun online," but it's a good resource to have in your back pocket: The New York Public Library is offering free online tutoring in partnership with Brainfuse every day from 2-11 p.m. in English and Spanish, for all grades and all core subjects. Videos and other resources are available at any time.
LIVE ANIMAL CAMS
A true source of happiness from the San Diego Zoo, the International Wolf Center, Happiness Village Baby Panda Park, and the Senior Dog Sanctuary. Cincinatti Zoo is live streaming a daily safari on their Facebook page at 3 p.m. EST. At Shedd in Chicago, staff let penguins roam the empty aquarium. (Penguins! They’re just like us.)
QUARANTINE ART CLUB
Prompts from artist Carson Ellis include making a butterfly, coloring a self-portrait, and drawing a treasure map.
CRAFT SESSION
IRL field trips from Creative Mornings move online. Take a piñata basics class or have a virtual coffee with an international peace-building trainer.
VIRTUAL STROLLS
Travel without moving. See a live cam of an empty Times Square, Red Rock Sedona, or Miami Beach.
LUNCH DOODLE
Hilarious children's book author and illustrator Mo Willems hosts silly YouTube animating sessions. A delight for kids of all ages.
FROM ANYWHERE BOOK FEST
Keep your eyes out for this online gathering of kid lit authors. The Everywhere Book Fest is opens its virtual doors May 1 + 2, unveiling two free full days of live and pre-recorded sessions with picture book, middle grade, and young adult authors.
HANDWASHING
The NYT asked Broadway songwriters to create hand-washing songs — and they’re pretty catchy. Hear these alternatives, then practice. #20secondhandwash
Special thanks to Fathom pal Becky Cheang for her crafty ideas.