COVID-19 Family Resources

Activities to support your school-age children at home 

If you are a working parent who is looking for extra information, activities, programs, and social-emotional learning (SEL) resources, below is a list of programs and courses available from online sources. 

Reading, Learning and Engagement Activities

• Google Doodle Coding Logo: Thanks to this interactive Google Doodle, learners of all ages can set off on an adventure that introduces basic coding principles and problem solving.
• Apple's Swift Playgrounds: This free app for Mac and iPad devices helps to introduce and expand coding skills for learners interested in using technology to create new worlds, interactive games, and more!
• Coronavirus: A Book for Children: A free e-book for young readers written by Elizabeth Jenner, Kate Wilson and Nia Roberts and illustrated by Axel Scheffler (Kindle version available HERE).
• MIT Media Lab's Scratch: Designed to help develop the digital creativity of young students (ages 8 to 16), this free software program introduces the fun and exciting world of coding stories, animations and games on the computer.
• Creative Activities for Kids: Discover free online activities hosted by authors, illustrators, and publishers, including readings, art prompts, and a writing workshop (compiled by The Kennedy Center).
• Creative Activities for Kids: Discover free online activities hosted by authors, illustrators, and publishers, including readings, art prompts, and a writing workshop (compiled by The Kennedy Center).
• Edutopia's 20 Classic Books for High Schoolers: Use this time to catch up on a new reading list.
• Smithsonian Science and Education Center's Game Center: Free educational games and brain-tickling challenges for K-12 students.
• Space Station Explorers: Videos from astronauts aboard the International Space Station, offering fun and insightful space facts about living and working far from the Earth.
• NASA's Space Place: Take a trip to the moon and beyond by visiting NASA's online learning portal for science activities and space-related education.
• Energy Kids: Educational games and activities for younger learners from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
• NCES Kid's Zone: The Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics online activity space, where students can learn valuable skills, play games, and these their knowledge.
• Harper At Home: Free activities for young readers, parents filling in for teachers, and educators looking for learning-related programs (provided by HarperCollins Publishers).
• StorylineOnline: A collection of free videos, featuring your favorite celebrities reading stories for younger listeners (provided by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation).
• Little Brown Young Readers Activities for Kids: A free resource portal of books, interactive downloads and storytime videos for younger children (Use the arrow buttons to scroll through the available books and videos).
• Scholastic Learn At Home Program: An activity portal of free daily courses for children.
• Kids Out and About: The ultimate parent survival guide to 2020-2021
• Mommy Poppins: Stay-at-home Guide - 100s of activities and resources for families
• CHOC Children's: Activity ideas for kids during COVID-19

At Home Education and Support Programs

• The YMCA: School age child care
• Minnesota Department of Education: Food and Nutrition COVID-19 Resources
• Food Resources for Families
• GoPeer Online Tutoring: Offers a period of free web-based tutoring for grades K-12 by college-level student-instructors.
• Science Snacks from The Exploratorium: A collection of fun and easy tabletop explorations of natural phenomena that students can make using common, inexpensive and readily available materials.
• Khan Academy Lessons for K-12: Free lessons for students to work through at their own pace, including math, grammar, science, history, and more.
• Explore NASA STEM: Free science-related activities and unique educational programs for K-12 students.
• Library of Congress Presentations and Activities: Take your at-home learners on a journey through American history with these ready-made programs.
• Energy.Gov Online Learning: The Department of Energy's official site for STEM learning resources for K-12 students.
• Brainfuse Online Tutoring and More: Free learning support resources for K-12 learners (provided by the New York Public Library).
• Science News for Students: A free collection of science-focused resources and experiments to turn your home into a fun and educational laboratory space.
• Mystery Science: Free Science lessons for students in Kindergarten to 5th Grade.
• Hippocampus.org: 7,000 free videos across 13 subject areas.

Entertainment and Physical Activity Resources

•  Boy Scouts of America at Home: Resources for Scouts and families, including ideas for activities and projects to do at home.
• Girl Scouts at Home™: An online platform for all girls (including non-members) and their family to foster connectivity and learning through various activities organized by topic and grade level.
• Cosmic Kids Yoga YouTube Channel: Incorporate healthy screen time into the day with kids yoga (3+) that emphasizes mindfulness and relaxation techniques through story-telling.
• Fitness Blender Free Workout Videos: Great at-home physical education for teens with videos of varying levels, including kickboxing, strength training, and more.
• MyPlate Kids' Place: Various games, activities, videos, and songs to help kids learn about food groups and making healthy choices (provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture).
• Hogwarts Digital Escape Room: For fans of the Harry Potter book series, Peters Township Public Library has created a free, online escape room for an afternoon of magical adventure.
• Audible Audiobooks: A selection of streaming audiobooks for children of all ages (available in six languages).
• GoNoodle: Movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts.

Online Field Trips 

• Google Arts And Culture Online Experience: Visit 2,000 museums from 80 different countries in the safety and comfort of your own home.
• Tours of the Vatican: Travel all the way to Italy and experience the magnificent artwork of the Vatican, including the Sistine Chapel and Raphael's Rooms.
• National Park Tours with a Park Ranger: Explore national parks throughout the country with narrated videos and experience the wonders of volcanoes, glaciers, canyons, and more.
• Virtual Dives with the National Marine Sanctuaries: If you're interested in scuba diving, dive in to experience various marine sanctuaries, courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
• Self-Guided Tours of National Parks: Choose among 113 national parks and monuments to explore with Google street view.
• Live Cams at San Diego Zoo: Take a trip to the zoo and see live cams of elephants, tigers, koalas, and more.
• Live Cams at Monterey Bay Aquarium: With ten live cams, check out the animals in action, from sharks to penguins and even the calming view and sounds of the Bay.
• Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History Virtual Tours: Navigate some of the very best exhibits the museum has to offer without stepping outside with this impressive virtual experience.
• Smithsonian 3D: Free 3D exhibits and virtual collections of selected artifacts from throughout history and around the globe.
• Meet the Animals: Discover the wild world of animals, reptiles, birds, and fish featured by the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute.
• Online Museum Tours: Free virtual trips to famous artworks and artifacts from around the globe.
• Virtual Field Trips: Free videos and cams of animal habitats, famous locations, and unique areas.  

Online Field Trips

• Mindfulness Resources for Teens: Techniques for developing the skills to be present and aware every day.
• 15 Mindfulness and Relaxation Apps for Kids with Anxiety: Technological solutions that support addressing and overcoming stress and anxiety.
• Emotional ABCs: Social-emotional learning resources and programs.
• 30 Emotional Health Activities: A month-long calendar of daily activities that's free to download and use.