Due to COVID-19, your summer schedule may look different than that of previous years; you and your family may be spending more time indoors to stay safe. Instead of turning on the TV, try these free, educational virtual activities. You can take a tour through a famous museum, go to a summer camp, or explore a city – all from the comfort of your couch.
Go to a Virtual Museum
Many museums and galleries are offering free virtual tours for those staying home. The Google Arts & Culture’s collection showcases art from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, The Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the Palace of Versailles in Paris, and countless other museums. On this site, you can also learn about historical events and science concepts and discoveries or explore the streets of India or Russia with the street view option. Check out the home activities to transform your selfie into art or try guided meditation.
If you or your little ones want to explore space, you can take several tours on the NASA website . There are also NASA activities for kids to do at home: crafts, videos, and lab experiments. You could spend hours – or days – exploring NASA’s free resources .
Check out the Animals at Zoos
Several zoos are offering free online tours and live cams. The San Diego Zoo has live cams of their animals, so you can watch an elephant or ape in action. You’ll also find games and arts and craft activities on the San Diego Zoo website.
The National Aquarium has a 3-D tour on its website, where you can see dolphins or look at a tropical rain forest. And Monterey Bay Aquarium ’s Kelp Forest Cam shows live footage of leopard sharks. Your local zoo may post live cams online – check its Facebook page to see.
Attend a Virtual Summer Camp
If your kid misses summer camp, find a virtual camp to attend online. Camp Wonderpolis is a free learning destination full of STEAM – science, technology, engineering, art, and math – programs. Camps include Build Your Own Wonderocity, where kids explore construction and engineering, and Flex Your Wonder, where kids learn about nutrition, exercise, and the Olympics.
The PBS Kids site may not offer an official camp, but it has a treasure trove of resources to entertain and educate kids. You can explore the free activities by age and topic. The subjects include emotional and self-awareness, character, literacy, and more. Parents can find resources for talking to their kids about the coronavirus or anxiety. There are also resources for educating kids about race and diversity.
Help your kids grow and thrive with these virtual activities. While this summer may look different, your kids can still learn and explore.