The online world is filled with fun and educational activities for kids. It’s a great place for them to learn new things and enjoy themselves. However, it’s important for parents to look over the options below to make sure they’re suitable for your child’s age.
As you check out these resources, think about what fits best with your child’s interests and your family’s values. Our list is here to help you bring some of this online learning into your child’s day in a safe and enjoyable way.
Creative and Educational Online Classes:
- Free Streaming Classes:
- Explore art with “Lunch Doodles with Mo” at the Kennedy Center using simple materials like paper and pencils. Watch replays here.
- Dive into the animal kingdom with the Cincinnati Zoo’s “Home Safari Facebook Live” sessions. Join on Facebook.
- Discover science and history at the IMAG History & Science Center with lessons and experiments. Watch replays on Facebook.
- Learn to draw with “Pete the Cat” author James Dean on Instagram. Watch replays here.
- Explore automotive history and science through Petersen’s Automotive Museum’s educational courses for kids. Watch replays here.
10 best Online Physical Activities for Children
1. Cosmic Kids Yoga
- Offers yoga classes tailored for children, featuring fun themes and storytelling to engage kids in physical activity. Start practicing at Cosmic Kids Yoga.
2. GoNoodle
- Provides a variety of movement and mindfulness videos that prompt kids to dance, stretch, and manage their energy. Join the fun at GoNoodle.
3. The Body Coach TV
- Features “PE with Joe,” a series of kid-friendly workouts designed to be fun and energetic to keep children active at home. Sweat it out at The Body Coach TV.
4. Sworkit Kids
- Delivers customizable workouts for strength, agility, and flexibility specifically designed for kids, ensuring fitness can be fun and effective. Check out the workouts at Sworkit Kids.
5. Little Sports
- Offers animated workout videos that encourage young children to follow along and get their daily dose of exercise. Get active at Little Sports on YouTube.
6. Les Mills Born to Move
- Features music-driven workouts that are designed specifically for early childhood and young teens to inspire movement and positive attitudes towards exercise. Start moving at Les Mills Born to Move.
7. NFL Play 60
- Encourages kids to be active for 60 minutes a day with a series of online videos and activities, in partnership with the American Heart Association. Engage in activity at NFL Play 60.
8. Beachbody Kids Workouts
- Offers a selection of kid-friendly routines that are short, fun, and designed to get children moving at home. Access the workouts at Beachbody on Demand.
9. Yoga Ed.
- Provides online yoga classes for children that teach not only physical postures but also methods for relaxation and mindfulness. Begin yoga at Yoga Ed..
10. Kidz Bop Dance Along
- Features kid-friendly dance routines choreographed to the latest Kidz Bop hits, allowing children to dance along and have fun while exercising. Dance along at Kidz Bop YouTube Channel.
10 best audible book for children
“Charlotte’s Web” by E.B. White
- A heartwarming tale of friendship and adventure centered around a pig named Wilbur and his spider friend, Charlotte.
- Listen on Audible
2. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” by J.K. Rowling
- The first book in the beloved Harry Potter series, introducing Harry and his friends’ magical adventures at Hogwarts.
- Listen on Audible
3. “The Gruffalo” by Julia Donaldson
- A delightful tale of a mouse’s encounter with a mythical creature called the Gruffalo, featuring rhymes and clever tricks.
- Listen on Audible
4. “Matilda” by Roald Dahl
- Follows the story of a brilliant and sensitive girl named Matilda as she uses her talents to overcome difficulties with her family and school.
- Listen on Audible
5. “The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle
- This classic children’s book tells the story of a caterpillar eating its way through the days of the week and different foods, before transforming into a beautiful butterfly.
- Listen on Audible
6. “Where the Wild Things Are” by Maurice Sendak
- A narrative about young Max, who sails away to the land of the Wild Things, where he becomes their king.
- Listen on Audible
7. “Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan
- Percy discovers he is the son of a Greek god and sets out on an adventure across modern-day America to prevent a war among the gods.
- Listen on Audible
8. “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” by Beatrix Potter
- Chronicles the mischievous adventures of Peter Rabbit as he disobeys his mother and ventures into Mr. McGregor’s garden.
- Listen on Audible
9. “Anne of Green Gables” by L.M. Montgomery
- The story of Anne Shirley, an imaginative and talkative girl who is mistakenly sent to live with siblings Marilla and Matthew Cuthbert.
- Listen on Audible
10. “The Cat in the Hat” by Dr. Seuss
- An entertaining read that follows the misadventures of two children as they are visited by the mischievous Cat in the Hat on a rainy day.
- Listen on Audible
10 best apps to learn a new language
1. Duolingo
- Offers a gamified language learning approach, making it fun for kids to learn new languages through bite-sized lessons. Start learning at Duolingo.
2. Rosetta Stone for Kids
- Utilizes immersive methods to teach children new languages through interactive activities and stories. Explore languages at Rosetta Stone.
3. Little Pim
- Provides language learning DVDs, online videos, and books for young children, using a lovable panda character to make learning engaging. Learn more at Little Pim.
4. Gus on the Go
- Features interactive language lessons for kids, with engaging games that teach vocabulary across multiple languages. Start the adventure at Gus on the Go.
5. FunEasyLearn
- Teaches languages through fun games and activities, offering a wide range of vocabularies and phrases suited for children. Discover languages at FunEasyLearn.
6. Babbel for Kids
- Tailored specifically for young learners, this app introduces children to new languages through engaging, conversation-based lessons. Begin lessons at Babbel.
7. Muzzy BBC
- An early language learning program using animated videos featuring fun characters, designed to immerse children in new languages. Watch and learn at Muzzy BBC.
8. Kids’ Chinese Podcast
- Designed to teach children Mandarin Chinese through podcasts that cover useful phrases and vocabulary. Tune in at Kids’ Chinese Podcast.
9. HelloTalk
- Allows children to practice speaking new languages by connecting them with native speakers around the world, ideal for older kids. Connect and learn at HelloTalk.
10. Pili Pop
- Encourages children to practice their language skills through games and activities that improve listening and speaking abilities in English, Spanish, or French. Start practicing at Pili Pop.
Discovering Science and Nature Online:
- Virtual Zoo and Aquarium Visits:
- The Cincinnati Zoo offers “Home Safari Facebook Live” sessions to educate children about animals. You can participate through their Facebook page.
- Explore various zoos and aquariums globally from the comfort of your home via their social media platforms and websites.
Science and Technology Exploration:
- Interactive Science Lessons:
- The IMAG History & Science Center provides STEM lessons and fun experiments. Check their Facebook page for “STEM@Home” and “Meet the Keeper” replay sessions.
- Kennedy Space
Science and Technology Exploration Continued:
- Interactive Science Lessons:
- The IMAG History & Science Center provides STEM lessons and fun experiments. Check their Facebook page for “STEM@Home” and “Meet the Keeper” replay sessions.
- Kennedy Space Center offers educational videos on space exploration topics like life in space and rocketry, with replays available here.
Literacy and writing tools
1. ABCmouse
- Provides a full online curriculum for children ages 2-8 with activities that cover reading, writing, math, and art. Ideal for early learning. Visit ABCmouse.
2. Storybird
- Allows kids to create their own art-inspired stories which they can publish into professionally bound books. Explore creativity at Storybird.
3. Starfall
- Focuses on reading and language arts for younger children, offering interactive games and stories to make learning to read fun. Get started at Starfall.
4. Reading Eggs
- Designed to help children learn to read through interactive games, guided reading lessons, and over 2,000 digital storybooks. Check it out at Reading Eggs.
5. Epic!
- Provides access to thousands of books, videos, and quizzes for kids 12 and under to promote reading and discovery. Dive into books at Epic!.
6. Grammarly
- A tool that helps improve writing through spell checks, grammar advice, and style suggestions. Suitable for older children enhancing their writing skills. Learn more at Grammarly.
7. Quill
- Offers free writing and grammar activities for students, with lessons designed to help improve writing skills systematically. Start practicing at Quill.
8. ReadWriteThink
- Provides free educational resources, including interactive tools and games that help with reading and writing instruction for students of all ages. Explore resources at ReadWriteThink.
Arts and Crafts:
1. Art for Kids Hub
- Features step-by-step video tutorials on how to draw animals, characters, and much more, making it fun and easy for kids to learn to draw. Check out the tutorials at Art for Kids Hub.
2. DIY.org
- Offers a variety of creative courses and projects ranging from drawing and painting to science experiments and cooking for kids. Dive into creativity at DIY.org.
3. Crayola DIY Crafts
- Provides a wealth of free craft ideas and activities that involve drawing, coloring, and painting, suitable for kids of all ages. Explore the crafts at Crayola.
4. HelloKids
- Features free drawing tutorials, coloring pages, and other artistic projects specifically designed for children to express their creativity. Start drawing at HelloKids.
5. KiwiCo
- Delivers hands-on science and art projects that inspire kids to become creative problem solvers. Learn more about their project kits at KiwiCo.
6. Red Ted Art
- Offers easy and fun arts and crafts projects and tutorials that are perfect for young children and parents to do together. Discover new projects at Red Ted Art.
7. The Craft Train
- Features a range of creative art and craft ideas for kids, from simple activities to more involved projects, encouraging creativity and fine motor skills. Find ideas at The Craft Train.
8. Made by Joel
- A unique website that offers downloadable crafts and art projects that encourage creativity and imagination in children. Create something new at Made by Joel.
9. Tate Kids
- Offers children the opportunity to explore and create their own art online, learn about famous artists, and get involved in art-related activities and games. Engage in art exploration at Tate Kids.
10. Green Kid Crafts
- Provides eco-friendly craft kits that combine environmental awareness with fun arts and crafts activities. Each kit includes all the materials needed for creative projects, aiming to cultivate environmental stewardship through play. Explore sustainable crafts at Green Kid Crafts.
Engaging in STEM Activities:
1. Scratch
- Allows children to program their own interactive stories, games, and animations while learning the basics of coding. Explore more at Scratch.
2. Tynker
- Offers coding courses for children through engaging games and puzzles, helping them learn programming skills and build their own games. Check it out on Tynker.
3. Khan Academy
- Provides a comprehensive range of free courses in mathematics, science, and computer programming for all age groups. Learn more at Khan Academy.
4. LEGO Mindstorms
- Engages kids in building and programming robots using LEGO bricks, providing a fun introduction to mechanical and software engineering. Visit LEGO Mindstorms.
5. Code.org
- Dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing participation by young women and students from other underrepresented groups. Start coding at Code.org.
6. Blockly
- A library that adds value to your web applications by providing a visual code editor that teaches programming principles. Try it at Blockly.
7. Exploratorium
- Offers a variety of online activities and experiments in areas like physics, biology, and chemistry to help kids explore and understand scientific concepts. Dive into science at Exploratorium.
8. NASA Kids’ Club
- Helps children learn about NASA and its missions through interactive games that support STEM learning. Discover space at NASA Kids’ Club.
9. Curiosity Machine
- Challenges children to build engineering projects, thus improving problem-solving skills and understanding of engineering principles. Engage with innovative projects at Curiosity Machine.
Virtual Field Trips for Children
1. San Diego Zoo
- Explore various live camera feeds of animals, including pandas, tigers, and elephants, providing a close-up look at wildlife in real-time. Visit San Diego Zoo.
2. Yellowstone National Park
- Tour some of the main attractions around the park, such as Old Faithful, with virtual tours that bring the natural wonders of Yellowstone to your screen. Explore Yellowstone National Park.
3. The Louvre
- Navigate through the world-renowned museum’s exhibitions and view famous works like the Mona Lisa and Venus de Milo from home. Start your tour at The Louvre.
4. NASA
- Offers a variety of virtual tours of the Langley Research Center in Virginia, providing insights into space exploration, aircraft, and more. Discover more at NASA.
5. Great Wall of China
- Experience one of the world’s most famous structures with a virtual tour that showcases the Great Wall’s history and grandeur. Visit the Great Wall of China.
6. Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
- Dive into the past with virtual tours of current and past exhibits, including dinosaur fossils and ancient artifacts. Explore the museum at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
7. British Museum, London
- Offers a comprehensive virtual experience allowing visitors to explore thousands of objects in the museum’s collection, from ancient artifacts to contemporary pieces. Tour the British Museum.
8. Mars
- Explore the surface of Mars on the Curiosity Rover through 360-degree interactive simulations provided by NASA’s Mars exploration program. Start exploring Mars at Access Mars.
9. Monterey Bay Aquarium
- Provides various live cams where viewers can watch sea creatures, from playful sea otters to mesmerizing jellyfish, in their aquatic habitats. Check it out at Monterey Bay Aquarium.
10. African Wildlife Foundation
- Features live cams and virtual tours that showcase Africa’s wildlife and landscapes, offering a window into the habitats of elephants, lions, and other wildlife. Explore at African Wildlife Foundation.
Free Educational Resources: Worksheets and Coloring Activities
Creative Coloring and Craft Ideas:
- Crayola: Access a wide range of free coloring pages and DIY craft ideas suitable for all ages. Start exploring by searching different categories on their website.
Educational Support and Learning Tools:
- GreatSchools: This nonprofit organization provides numerous resources to empower parents in enhancing their child’s educational journey. Find articles, tips, free worksheets, and interactive tools for all age groups on their website.
- Lakeshore Learning: Discover a variety of free educational resources including printable flashcards, lessons, and activities for children of all ages. Explore more on their website.
Tailored Learning Materials:
- Twinkl: Offers a range of teacher-recommended resources to support home learning. Download free printable learning packets for preschool through 5th grade from their website.
- Education.com: Provides free Independent Study Packets tailored for elementary students, available here.
- WorksheetFun: Features a vast library of free PDF worksheets sorted by subject, perfect for enhancing learning at home. Access these resources here.