We are home and bored just like the rest of the world. In the last few weeks we have seen a complete change to our normal routines, with school closures nearly nationwide, stay-at-home orders and disruptions to our lives due to the Pandemic caused by the Novel Coronavirus. We are happy you found this blog and hope to help even in the smallest way to keep those little ones who are missing their schools, friends and activities outside of their home. 

Keep reading for 20+ activities to keep kids entertained & educated at home. 

• Go to the zoo, virtually
• Get artistic from home
• Get movin, get groovin! 
• Go on vacation from your house
• STEM it up from home 

Cincinnati Zoo's daily live stream

After the Cincinnati Zoo announced its closure Thursday, it introduced a new Facebook Live "Home Safari" show, airing every weekday at 3 p.m. ET. Each episode will feature a different animal and an accompanying educational kids activity that can be done from home. 

 

Once each day's show is over, the video will be posted to the zoo's website. Of course, the first episode featured everyone's favorite famous hippo, Fiona. 

Monterey Bay Aquarium

In addition to regular live streams of jellyfish and sharks set to music, the staff members at the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California are narrating Facebook Live videos of fish, sea otters and other creatures from their own homes, answering viewers' questions and giving context to what's going on in the tanks. 

Explore.org Live Nature Cams 

Explore.org, the world's largest live nature cam network, provides a large array of live streams to choose from, including a penguin beach in California, a sea lion beach in British Columbia, an elephant park in South Africa and dozens more. They even offer live streams of newborn puppies and rescued kittens, providing hours of adorable entertainment.  

 

Elmwood Park Zoo 

Elmwood Park Zoo in Pennsylvania is offering "Zoo School" Facebook Live streams to educate kids stuck at home, weekdays at 11 a.m. Tuesday's show featured Pokey the porcupine, during which viewers learned about how he uses his quills for self-defense. 

 

The Smithsonian National Zoo

The Smithsonian National Zoo hosts a 24-hour live view of giant pandas Tian Tian and Mei Xiang.

Houston Zoo

In addition to ongoing live streams on its website, the Houston Zoo is offering daily live check-ins with different animals on its Facebook page. 

During Wednesday's check-in, zookeepers walked cheetahs with leashes around the park as a form of exercise and an opportunity for them to explore their surroundings. On Tuesday, zookeepers answered viewers' questions while surrounded by goats for "Goat social hour."

 

Wild Earth

Wild Earth hosts twice-daily safari live streams from South Africa during sunrise and sunset. 

 

During the live stream, experts guide viewers through the experience and answer questions from the comments section. The show follows a reality TV show format, using safari vehicles, guides on foot, drones, balloons, rovers and remote webcams to search for its stars. 

The Georgia Aquarium

The Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta also has a number of 24-hour live steams on its jellyfish, beluga whales, piranhas and more. 

 

The San Diego Zoo 

The San Diego Zoo live streams a number of animals on its site, including koalas, giraffes and polar bears. The zoo is also hosting special live streams on its Facebook page, most recently featuring "Breakfast with our Galápagos tortoises." 

 

The National Aquarium

The National Aquarium in Baltimore offers three live streams every day: Blacktip Reef, Pacific Coral Reef, and Jellies Invasion.

Paint with me & more

The Artful Parent Website & Blog

https://artfulparent.com/

On The Artful Parent, I share ideas, information, and inspiration to encourage you to enjoy and share art with the kids in your life (whether in your home or your classroom). I write about children’s art and creativity, seasonal crafts, and family fun. 

 

Get Movin' & Get Grooving! 

 

PE with Joe

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to limit and affect our daily lives, Hy-Vee KidsFit is here to help you stay healthy and happy with some fun at-home exercises and games that you can enjoy with the whole family.

To keep you busy and active at home, we are streaming free, online 15- to 20-minute videos every day, seven days a week starting at 9 a.m. Tune in at hy-veekidsfit.com or hstv.com every day to enjoy a fun and easy physical workout led by KidsFit Certified Personal Trainer and Youth Fitness Specialist, Daira Driftmier.

 

GoNoodle 

https://www.gonoodle.com/

GoNoodle® engages 14 million kids every month with movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts. Available for free at school, home, and everywhere kids are!

 

 

Cosmic Kids Yoga 

https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga

Yoga, mindfulness and relaxation designed specially for kids aged 3+, used in schools and homes all over the world.

 

 

Go on vacation from your couch! 

"Visit” Iconic Landmarks

You may have had to cancel a trip, but that doesn’t mean you can’t experience the world from your home. It can be as simple as using Google maps to “walk” around neighborhoods throughout the world. Trafalgar Square, anyone? Or maybe the Great Wall of China? Great Sphinx in Egypt? Yellowstone National Park and Colonial Williamsburg also offer virtual tours!

 

Take a Virtual Museum Tour

Several museums offer online tours, including the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.; The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York; The British Museum and The National History Museum in London; The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam; and The Louvre in Paris.

Visit the House of Mouse

https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/g31977949/virtual-disney-rides/

Good Housekeeping compiled several amazing videos of Disney rides so you can visit Disney and even ride the rides from the comfort of your home. 

https://www.space.com/disney-world-galaxys-edge-pandora-tomorrowland-aerial-images-coronavirus.html

 Space.com has made a way for you to explore Disney from the comfort and safety of your own home. Enjoy aerial images of the empty parks at Walt Disney World in Florida right now. 

 

STEM it up - from home. 

Don't let being home stop you from learning and growing. We have an amazing list of websites and fun out of the box ideas for STEM at home.

 

Stuck at home science

https://californiasciencecenter.org/stuck-at-home-science

Every weekday at 10 a.m. PDT, the California Science Center is livestreaming "Stuck at Home Science," a new video series of science activities you can do at home.

 

Frost Science at home  

http://www.frostscience.org/frost-sciencehome-learning-activities/

Miami's Frost Science Museum's Frost Science@Home will give curious kids plenty to do, providing science activities and DIY science experiments. 

 

Nova Labs 

https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/labs/

Teen science fans will nerd out over Nova Labs at PBS, where they'll discover multimedia experiences that combine video, animation and games to delve into fascinating scientific topics, such as polar ecosystems, solar storms and renewable energy.

 

Kennedy Space Center Live

 

https://www.facebook.com/pg/KennedySpaceCenterVisitorComplex/posts/?ref=page_internal

NASA's Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is another source of free online content. Educators share daily Facebook Live videos that pair with hands-on activities (instructions are available as free downloads) using materials that can be found at home. Topics include rocketry 101, tours of Space Shuttle Atlantis and the Astronaut Training Experience, and living in space and on Mars.

 

 

Ranger Rick 

 

https://rangerrick.org/stuck-indoors/

Ranger Rick, the children's magazine of the National Wildlife Federation, is making its website free to all visitors through the end of June. Free Ranger Rick Educator’s Guides and Ranger Rick Jr. Parent Reading Guides are also available to parents and educators.

 

 

Skype with a Scientist

 

https://www.skypeascientist.com/for-families.html

Want to have a family Q&A with a scientist? Sign up at Skype a Scientist and get matched with an expert, for a live Skype chat with your family about real scientific research. 

 

 

We know these activities are supplementary and not meant to replace human interaction. At this point in time we are just looking for ways to keep our minds & body moving, and have fun in the process. We hope this helps even just a little. Stay safe friends and keep having fun, exploring new ways to virtually entertain and educate while staying safe at home.