Coronavirus or no Cornovavirus, kids just wanna have fun! For many families practicing social distancing, and finding ways to be somewhat productive while WFH with children, while keeping them entertained can be exhausting. If you’re on the hunt for some fun things for kids that weren’t free before Coronavirus, to keep them busy – we’ve got you covered! Luckily, there’s no shortage of free activities for kids to enjoy amid the Coronavirus pandemic safely. Check out our helpful list of free activities for kids during the Coronavirus that’ll keep them engaged, without you going insane.
Virtual Storytime
Children of all ages love settling in for their regular storytime with Mom or Dad. But as you may have noticed, with Mom and Dad being home on the daily, due to quarantine, requests for storytime are frequent. Every parent can agree that they cherish these moments, but working from home can present some challenges.
Thankfully, many authors, artists, and celebrities are offering virtual storytime where they read-aloud from a novel or picture book for your little ones to build on their imaginations, listening skills and foster their love of reading. Have your children tune in to the following free storytimes throughout the day for a grand reading adventure!
- Stay at Home Storytime with Oliver Jeffers. Watch live on Oliver’s Instagram (@oliverjeffers) at 6 PM GMT/ 2 PM EST/ 11 AM PST
- Storytime with Penguin Kids. Every day at 11 AM EST via Instagram and Facebook.
- Storytime Saturdays at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Tune in every Saturday for a new story. Check out other days of the week for fun and exciting activities your child will love.
- Read along with Ms. Linda from Brightly Storytime. Tune in at Brightly Storytime on Youtube.
- Settle in for a new chapter of Alienated read by Jeff Norton every weekday on Youtube.
- Josh Gad (voice of Olaf from Frozen) helps kids settle down for sleep, by reading a bedtime story. Catch him on Twitter when you can!
- Storytime with astronauts from space on the International Space Station (ISS).
Virtual Tours
Children are likely experiencing a bit of cabin fever, with public spaces being closed around the globe due to COVID-19. Luckily, kids can still go on several thrilling adventures, while never setting foot outside their home. Allow your children to explore the world while forgetting they are self-isolating. All they need is a computer and an internet connection!
- Virtual tour of the Louvre museum in Paris, France
- Virtual tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York
- Virtual tour of the Boston Children’s Museum
- Virtual tour of the Great Wall of China
- Virtual tour of the deYoung Art Museum in San Francisco
- Virtual tour of American National Parks
- Virtual tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- Virtual tour of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
- Live Animal webcams at Smithsonian’s National Zoo
- Monterey Bay Aquarium live webcams
- Access Mars (3D Replica Of Martian Surface)
- Skip the ultimate Disney packing list and check out virtual Disney rides on YouTube.
- Virtual tour of the Dutch Hollow Dairy Farm
- Space Needle live webcam
Music And Movement Activities
Social distancing doesn’t mean that your children are stuck indoors, or that that are tied to the couch. Encourage your kids to keep their bodies moving, and hearts pumping with physical exercise that will keep them staying strong and healthy. Kids will love these movin’ and groovin’ activities that are playful and interactive!
- Enjoy short lessons taught by Excel Taekwondo on Korean martial arts.
- Enjoy 90-days free with the Peloton app. Use with any bike or tread, and check out the app’s offerings on floor workouts, yoga, and meditation classes.
- Tune in to P.E. with Joe on YouTube on weekdays, for fun and exciting workouts for kids with celebrity fitness body coach Joe Wicks.
- Have a blast with GoNoodle, a place for movement and mindfulness.
- Access a wealth of free daily and on-demand content from Union Square Play on movement and exercise, as well as music and entertainment for little ones to enjoy each and everyday.
- Children will gain an appreciation for classical music as they listen to the incredible sounds of the Seattle Symphony. All broadcasts are shared via Facebook and YouTube.
Art Activities
Providing your child with a soothing art activity is a wonderful way for parents to foster their child’s artistic abilities while promoting their child’s social and emotional growth. Not to mention, it’s also a lot of fun.
- If your child loves to color, let them choose from an array of free coloring sheets provided by various cultural institutions around the world participating in Color Our Collections.
- Children can enjoy Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems while exploring the wonderful world of art, every weekday at 1 PM EST.
- Do you have an astronaut in training and a 3D printer? Your space obsessed children can now download digital 3D models from NASA, and your kids can print miniature satellites, spacecraft, astronaut tools, and much more!
- Challenge your child to participate in their local Snapology (free daily LEGO building challenges) on Facebook. Many locations offer daily, weekly, and monthly prizes.
- Encourage your child’s creativity and have them, “Finish the Comic,” or make their own.
Fun Activities For Both Caregivers And Kids
There are numerous amounts of activities that your children can now enjoy for free that were not available before Coronavirus. People from across the globe have generously come together to provide children with a numerous amount of activities, from fun games, printables, rich video content to fill-a child’s day with everything and anything to help both parents and kids cope with being stuck at home.
The following are some free activities that can be give both parents and children a break from the idea of self-isolating.
- Harry Potter fans will go absolutely nuts for this virtual Harry Potter themed escape room!
- Have fun by joining Raddish Kid’s live cook-along classes. Check out their website for dates, times and delicious upcoming recipes.
- Snuggle up on the couch with your littles for some free Amazon Kids TV, even to non-subscribers.
