24 Mar Keep Your Kids Entertained at Home

We all know that keeping our kids indoors can be a challenge. Well not so, if you have the right ideas and tools in place to keep them entertained.

So whilst COVID-19 may be preventing us from doing our usual activities (classes, outings, playgrounds etc), here is a list of what we can suggest by way of stopping your kids climbing the walls.

Netflix
Netflix is your friend whilst staying indoors. Perhaps relax your rules on screen time, and watch movies with your kids that maybe you watched yourself as a kid (E.T., Gremlins, Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, The Goonies, Back to the Future to name just a few). Or, if you are working form home, it makes for a bit of quiet time for you to get some work done. Netflix has a fabulous selection, and what’s better than snuggling in with your kids whilst watching a movie?

Learn New Skills with Skillshare*
This one is perhaps better for older kids. You can access thousands of free online tutorials covering all things creative – think making YouTube videos with an i-Phone, beginners embroidery, learn to play a musical instrument, paint with watercolors, enjoy creative writing, and so much more. This is also a great platform for adults who are looking to entertain themselves too, or do this alongside your child, and learn a new passion together. Skillshare are currently offering a two month FREE trial – you can sign up HERE to redeem this.

Access NYC Museums from Your Home
If your kids love to walk round our NYC museums, then fear not, they can do it virtually, or look at online exhibits, with these museums – American Museum of Natural History, Guggenheim, Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Jewish Museum, Children’s Museum of the Arts, and Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum (this list will be updated with more as and when we hear of them).

Get Out the Board Games
We have a joke in our house that they should be called bored games, but they are coming into their own just now. In this digital age, it can be a challenge to engage kids in something off-line, and board games are definitely the way forward. They can be great fun, get families playing together, can while away quite a bit of time (bonus), and the kids may just learn something educational whilst playing.

Online Classes for Kids
Many businesses who offer classes for kids are switching to online, this covers all topics from chess, dance, STEM, art, music and so much more. Here are some that we already know about – Chess NYC, Hopealong Andrew, Union Square Play, Freshmade NYC, YMCA of Greater New York, Karma Kids Yoga, 92Y Shababa, Brooklyn Game Lab LIVE, Apple Seeds, New Victory, Kidville Playground, (this list will be updated with more as and when we hear of them).

Online Storytelling Sessions
Now, you can get a vast array of storytelling videos on YouTube, but wouldn’t it be great to enjoy storytime sessions from places that we would normally go, like the Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public Library, Drag Queen Story Hour (this list will be updated with more as and when we hear of them).

Get Creative with Mil’s Trills
Mil’s Trills is doing virtual Tele-Musical Playdates with kids stuck at home, and it could just be a lifesaver if you have a musical kid wanting to express their musical talent.

Join Children’s Musician Laurie Berkneron Most Mornings Live on Facebook
Legendary children’s musician Laurie Berkner is here to help kids and parents find a routine, get up and move, and learn and play together. And, it’s all free of charge. Families can join Laurie, direct from her house, for LIVE “Berkner Break” concerts, streamed most weekday mornings at 10am on her Facebook page.

Learning on YouTube with NORY
With schools closed, and families everywhere attempting to manage children’s education from the confines of homes, NORY have put together this fun and enriching NORY activity video.

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