We’re all figuring out what to do while the coronavirus has us practicing safe social distancing. For those of us with kids, family-time is most often divided between getting outside and using online learning resources for academics.
School closures have made a huge impact on day-to-day life simply by the sheer numbers affected. At least 124,000 U.S. public and private schools have closed due to the coronavirus, and at least 55.1 million students are learning remotely, according to Education Week.
Most of these students are now learning from virtual assignments and interacting with teachers and friends in a limited way online.
The bulk of the navigation through this virtual content has fallen on parents. It’s a challenge to keep track of everything, in addition to knowing what site is really worth visiting and what’s going to hold their child’s interest for more than a few minutes.
What’s good to remember is you’re not confined when it comes to online learning resources for kids. Give yours a break from those sites that feel too academic, but keep them learning while they’re having fun. These alternatives will help do the trick.
Hang with the animals
Give students a little lesson in biology with a virtual visit with their favorite animals.
1. San Diego Zoo offers animal stories, facts, videos and activities. You can even “meet” some of the zoo’s favorite animals on this great site.
2. With 95 different live cam streams, you can get a complete view of nature on Explore. Visit birds, bears and sea life from a variety of cameras.
3. While the Georgia Aquarium is closed to human visitors, the resident animals are still active. Check out the webcams to see what they’re up to each day.
Explore some science
Hands-on experiments and seeing science in action always makes a lasting impression.
4. Build your own atom and get a science lesson all in one.
5. Learn about aerospace with this virtual visit to the Johnson Space Center in Houston. They’re also hosting virtual field trips for Earth Day.
6. For some alternative science videos, visit The Happy Scientist, Robert Krampf.
7. The NASA Kids’ Club not only teaches kids about NASA but offers up a variety of games to keep them occupied.
Wander the world of art
Art is a great way to take a break from academics while still letting creativity flow. See how the greats did it.
8. An iconic museum everyone should see at some point, virtual tours of The Louvre let you and your kids walk through history.
9. While you’re virtually in Paris, swing in for an online tour at the Musee d’Orsay for some amazing sculptures and impressionist paintings, among more.
10. Get a little closer to home with a street-view tour the Getty Museum in Los Angeles. Check out art from the eighth century through today.
Have a little fun
Nothing like a little interactive education or a little bit of nonsense to give kids a break from worksheets and assignments.
11. Customize web-based mini games that kids can then share on social media with Koji.
12. A virtual tour of the Boston Children’s Museum helps remind kids that learning is really about having fun. They also offer daily activity emails.
13. Dr. Seuss is part of every child’s educational experience, so why not visit his online home, Seussville for videos and activities.
Travel the world — virtually
Even though you can’t leave home for spring break, virtual opportunities to travel the world can bring natural wonders into your living room and provide some great learning experiences.
14. Yellowstone National Park lets you explore the entire area virtually, including all the main attractions.
15. See what’s it like to walk along the Great Wall of China with their virtual tour.
Take an active interest in something new or something current
Finding the right way to teach kids about what’s going on in the world is so important. These educational resources inform and educate at the right level for your kids.
16. TED Talks are a great way to learn about almost any subject, and TEDEd curates content specifically for kids.
17. Focused on world news, science, technology and more, youngzine helps students learn more about what’s influencing their world today.
18. DOGO news is another site that digs into current events, as well as science, social studies and the environment with educational articles and videos, appropriate for kids.
There are plenty of online learning resources for kids
Between the educational resources teachers share with their students and options like these that take learning further, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed trying to do it all. The key is to do what works for you, finding comfort in the variety of resources to help keep your kids engaged.
Hang in there, parents … you’re doing great!
