Kids at Home During (COVID-19) Pandemic - Things to Do

Understanding Pandemic, Diagram by BP, 2020

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has quickly changed our daily lives. It would be “irresponsible” to flock to outdoor spaces. While we are home, we are putting our energy towards finding new, creative, and smart ways to engage our kids.

Currently our kids have been receiving education by remote learning structures using multimedia or real-time instruction. The primary platforms for instruction are Google Classroom, Google Tools, Zoom or other.

Floral sketches by BP, 2020

Many new online programs have been created to keep our minds fresh! For example:

• Mind-Benders for the Quarantined! at mindbenders.momath.org
• Alaskan Wildlife cams http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=viewing.webcams
• Coding with Star Wars https://code.org/starwars
• Tons and tons and tons of games some learning some just fun     https://www.crazygames.com/
• Crafts, projects, science, recipes for young children https://www.funology.com/
• Amphibian unit studies https://premeditatedleftovers.com/naturally-frugal-mom/amphibians-unit-study-resources/
• Engineering challenges with things you have at home https://thehomeschoolscientist.com/paper-structures-engineering-challenge/
• Online photograph jigsaw puzzles (from 6-1000+ pieces) https://www.jigsawexplorer.com/
• Toddler and preschool age ideas https://preschoolinspirations.com/
• 100 free online educational program ideas https://savingdollarsandsense.com/free-educational-resources-for-kids/?fbclid=IwAR2UGmsPc7PImViwJ9mID1u7NKS9Vccq_CO1NAR0VqesLkj4Vog7HJbhZJ8
• Bible story resources early childhood - 6th grade https://www.life.church/kids/media/
• Art and its' history online https://smarthistory.org/

Drawings by BP, 2020

Virtual Museums: Experience the best museums from London to Seoul in the comfort of your own home. Take virtual tours of museums like

• National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.,
• Musée d’Orsay in Paris,
• Pergamon Museum in Berlin,
• Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museums in Amsterdam,
• The New Museumin New York,
• Uffizi Gallery in Florence,
• MASP in São Paulo,
• National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico City and more! 

East cake by BP, 2020

Online Learning Resources:

• There are over 1,000 online courses available on topics ranging from Archaeology to basic coding that you can click here to access through Open Culture.com. If you have trouble keeping focused at home, check out these amazing tips to keep you focused and productive while learning and working from home.
• You can also access free movies (click here) and over 800 free E-books via Open Culture. Remember, there is so much available to all of us, even in this time of limitation.

Books recommended by BP, 2020

"Anne of Green Gables" Series by L.M. Montgomery

New York Public Library looks for new, creative, and smart ways to continue serving the public. Information about it can be found on our website and in NYPL Connect e-newsletter.

Here are a few highlights:

• Online tutoring service, essentially giving all PreK–12 students in NYC access to private tutors via chat "after school."  The chat service are be available from 2 PM to 11 PM every day, including the weekends, in English and Spanish. The new service is part of a robust suite of resources, tips, and tools NYPL has available for kids, teens, and their families, which you can find on our website.
• Few days ago NYPL added EBSCO’s academic databases to our list ofresearch resources accessible from home.
• These services and many more are available for free with an NYPL library card. If you don’t have one and you live in New York State, you can get one today for digital borrowing via SimplyE and start exploring immediately.