At home resources for kids

A word regarding COVID-19:

Uncertainty and unpredictability breeds stress, fear and anxiety and can take a toll on our mental and physical health. As parents, we share the same concerns about the uncertainty surrounding the novel coronavirus, and the impact it will have on our families and our lives. We created this page to help everyone navigate their way, as best they can, through a rapidly evolving global health crisis. You probably have seen many places suggesting at home activities. Here are a few more we collated. Hope these are handy.

Recently added:

Science World at home with some Pre-K at home science activities

Books and stories

Maribyrnong Library has been hosting Story Time Online. Each Monday to Friday a new video is loaded at 11am. The library channel is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtbFC4HBWDw&list=PLcAt2myqrAAeX-H8ZF5ZXNTaS2z0mIHyH
- The library also has an online resources page available at https://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Residents/Emergency-Management/COVID-19/COVID-19-resources and Is offering a reservation delivery service that is free. Simply make a reservation on the library website, and a staff member will call you to arrange delivery.
- Pyjama Story Time with Christine. Live from Maribyrnong – Wednesdays from 6pm via Zoom. https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/maribyrnong-library-service-events-for-kids-and-teens-4166973049
Children’s books read by famous people: https://www.storylineonline.net/
State Library Victoria has story time online available at https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/stories/storytime
Listen to astronauts read stories from space: https://storytimefromspace.com/library/
Listen to MemFox stories at https://memfox.com/books/
The Little Bookroom has story time videos on YouTube as well at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOrff7Xl-I6lXg4BxA679QQ
Stay at home story time with Oliver Jeffers: https://www.oliverjeffers.com/abookaday

Arts and crafts

Lunch Lady Magazine has craft activities ideas at https://hellolunchlady.com.au/category/craft/
Kiwi Co’s at-home resources for kids (and their grownups), a resource hub for parents to help support learning at home, with loads of stay-at-home educational activities for every age, tips from teachers on effective remote learning, and kid-friendly content that connects science with their daily lives: https://www.kiwico.com/kids-at-home
Red Tent Art, step by step instructions on art projects including origami, 3D cards, clay pots, etc: https://www.youtube.com/user/redtedart
Mo Willems, the author of ‘Don’t let the Pigeon Stay up Late’ is uploading daily drawing lessons: https://youtu.be/MjaYnyCJDdU
Crafts and activities: https://www.allkidsnetwork.com/
Paper fold – Toy and Paper Crafts on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rEnGl4zh1Ws

Museums

Melbourne Museum curated some of its best online content to enjoy from the couch and offers some activities for kids: https://museumsvictoria.com.au/melbournemuseum/at-home
- The Museum at Home Play portal is all about fun; filled with how-to videos and DIY activities. Students will find guides to everything from magnet making and experimenting with static electricity at home to drawing dinosaurs, making fanooslanterns for Ramadan with a printable template, and designing cards to post to friends and family from isolation.`
A wonderful detailed way to get kids engaged in the world of art- https://www.metmuseum.org/art/online-features/metkids/
Google Arts and Culture partnered with over 2,500 museums and galleries around the world to offer virtual tours of their spaces. https://artsandculture.google.com/
The British Museum, located in the heart of London, allows virtual visitors to tour the Great Court and discover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies: https://britishmuseum.withgoogle.com/
Postal Museum activities: https://postalmuseum.si.edu/activities. Also check out their Story Time: The Rabbit Listened

Zoos

Melbourne Zoo has live webcams https://www.zoo.org.au/animal-house
Taronga Zoo live streams https://taronga.org.au/taronga-tv
The San Diego Zoo has a live webcam for animals: https://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/live-cams
Live video of the Smithsonian National Zoo and Smithsonian Learning Lab: https://www.si.edu/kids

General educational games and activities

Highpoint has some great and fun holiday activities for the kids here.
A large selection of fun songs to help teach preschool students- https://www.songsforteaching.com/preschoolkindergarten.htm
ABC, Educational resources: https://education.abc.net.au/home
ABC for Kids, games and videos for Preschoolers: https://www.abc.net.au/abckids/
The Kid Should See This, smart videos for curious minds of all ages: https://thekidshouldseethis.com
The live streams are on facebook on Tuesdays and Sundays but get posted later to this website where you can access the activity packs (with what pieces you need) and a video with the Legoland Master Builder, Kieran. Great fun for LEGO fans! https://melbourne.legolanddiscoverycentre.com.au/legoland-discovery-centre-live-streams-and-lego-fun/

Geography

Explore the surface of Mars on the Curiosity Rover- https://accessmars.withgoogle.com/
Geography with National Geographic: https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/
This NASA initiative covers a wide range of topics including weather, climate, atmosphere, water, energy, plants, and animals: https://climatekids.nasa.gov/
Google Earth: https://www.google.com/earth/

Maths

Maths as a fun part of your daily family routine: http://bedtimemath.org/
Maths games galore: https://gridclub.com/
Kids numbers: https://www.education.com/games/math/
Maths Frame (K-2): http://www.mathsframe.co.uk/

Coding

Scratch (Ages 8-16): https://scratch.mit.edu/
Kodable (Ages 4-10): https://www.kodable.com/ (subscription required after free trial)

Science

Lots of science experiments that you can do at home: https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/
For budding Marine Biologists, take a deep dive into ocean life (primary school age): https://ocean.si.edu/
Science podcasts to listen to with your kids: https://medium.com/kidslisten/19-great-science-podcasts-you-can-listen-to-with-kids-6fe46ac506b8
Science World at home with some Pre-K at home science activities