Kids need to keep to social distancing right now and can’t get together with friends or extended family so it makes it challenging for a parent/carer to keep the family kids occupied. Here are some ideas:
Featured Resource
Dave the Dog Worried about CoronaVirusThis is a free, kids, online book written by an NHS nurse which aims to address the worry kids may have about CoronaVirus and all the changes it has brought.
Fun Activity Resources
- David Walliams free audio book – David Walliams is offering a free audio book every day for 30 days (started Monday 23rd March). The link is released daily on David Walliams’ twitter feed.
- Dave the Dog is Worried about CoronaVirus by Nurse Dotty – an NHS nurse has written a kids book aimed at preschoolers who are worried about CoronaVirus. This is a free, online, downloadable book you can use and read with your primary-school aged children to explain the CoronaVirus and put their minds at ease.
- Captain Fantastic Kids – does free live streaming of interactive parties, fun games, educational stuff, etc for kids – all live and interactive. You can get them on their Livestream Captain Fantastic Link and the general Captain Fantastic Youtube channel.
- 125 things to do with kids during CoronaVirus by Parade Magazine – although this is American it still has some great ideas which can be applied here
- The Miami New Times has some ideas on how to keep the kids busy
- Author readings for kids of all ages – well-known authors will be doing online book readings for kids
- The Great Indoors by Bear Grylls – a list of indoor activities for all ages of kids put out by Bear Grylls and the Scouts.
- CNN 20 Activities to keep kids entertained and educated – CNN has a list of things to help keep kids busy and they are categorised into age groups from 3yrs – 17 yrs.
- Bible resources for kids – The GoodBook Company has some Bible resources at great discount and some free. From baking to Bible stories you can get resources that will help teach your kids Bible stories here. Also, DVD’s, CD’s with songs, Bible crafts and more.
- Rainbow Walks – put a rainbow in your window so that when kids are taken on a walk they can try to find as many rainbows as possible!
Educational Resources
Recently Added (on 26/4/2020)
- Twinkl – Instant access to inspirational lesson plans, schemes of work, assessment, interactive activities, resource packs, PowerPoints, teaching ideas at Twinkl!
- Phonics Play – A site packed with interactive phonics games, phonics planning, assessment ideas and many teaching ideas and resources to help children to learn to hear ..
- Zamzar – Free online video converter, audio converter, image converter, eBook converter. No download or account required.
- Website Planet Image Compressor – Free online image compressor for jpg and png files.
- EasyPeasy – Fun and games that are proven to help children’s development – from birth to 5 years-old.
- Explorify – Explorify is an exciting programme of free activities for primary school teachers. | Spark Curiosity | Develop Thinking Skills | Increase Your Impact.
- Beebot – Bee-Bot is a simple game for very young children to start to understand programming/coding.
- Scratch – teaches coding to children ages 8-16 so that kids can create their own computer games, animations, and interactive stories. They can share them with other children around the world and along the way learn the skills of problem solving and thinking systematically. There is a free junior app called ScratchJr which you can download.
- Live Science – a list of educational and entertaining activities to keep them occupied with links to other websites which also have a range of science-based activities.
- Education Companies offering free online subscriptions – Due to so many kids being home without schooling the education companies are offering free subscriptions now to kids of all ages. Check out this exhaustive list of companies offering free education subscriptions.
- Carol Vordeman offering free maths classes for ages 4 – 11 – online maths classes which usually have a subscription price connected to them are now free!
- Sky news suggests some educational resources – TV shows and online resources for all ages that can help parents with education during the coronavirus outbreak
Physical Exercise
- 9am daily workouts for kids – Joe Wicks, a PE teacher in schools, leads all in a half hour workout to start the day. Streams on Youtube everyday M – F at 9am for a half hour (go to youtube and search “Joe Wicks”. It’s called “P.E. with Joe”). The exercises are suitable for kids of all ages.
Mental Health and CoronaVirus
- Pray – if you believe in prayer then it is helpful to pray with your child about the anxieties and worries they may have. The Scripture reminds us “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.“(Philippians 4:6) Bedtime and/or dinnertime prayers/songs (see below) are a good routine to remind us of God’s care for His people no matter what is happening (Psalm 23).
- Dave the Dog is Worried about CoronaVirus by Nurse Dotty – an NHS nurse has written a kids book aimed at preschoolers who are worried about CoronaVirus. This is a free, online, downloadable book you can use and read with your primary-school aged child to explain the CoronaVirus and put their minds at ease.
- 9am daily workouts for kids – Joe Wicks, a PE teacher in schools, leads all in a half hour workout to start the day. Streams on Youtube everyday M – F at 9am for a half hour (go to youtube and search “Joe Wicks”. It’s called “P.E. with Joe”). The exercises are suitable to kids of all ages.
- A child psychologist offers some suggestions – A psychologist’s advice on how to help your children deal with the many emotions they may be experiencing now.
- The one we can turn to when afraid – “Jesus, Strong & Kind”: