A survival guide and resources for kids, parents, and adults, basically for everyone who is stuck at home during these trying times!
This post includes links to courses, education sites, entertainment, workouts, virtual conferences, etc.
This exhaustive list of 100+ resources, freebies, deals, discounts, etc for kids & adults cited here is information that I have scoured the internet for, found in various Facebook groups, stumbled upon on Instagram, found on various websites, and information friends, family, and readers have shared with me.
So thank you from the bottom of my heart if you have in any way, shape, or form contributed to this blog post. It is impossible to cite every source on here as I myself do not know where I have been collecting all the information from. Just know that I am merely trying to disseminate this invaluable and timely information to reach as many people as possible.
This blogpost will continuously be updated until this whole Coronavirus and its aftermath is behind us. So bookmark this page and come back frequently for the latest updates.
First published March 17th, last updated April 1st.
Note: There will be repeats in this post as getting this information out sooner than formatting it is currently more important.
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The novel Coronavirus has done a number on all of us, and this is most certainly a time filled with anxiety, stress, worry and overwhelm for one and all across the globe (to varying degrees based on our own personality and individual circumstances), and there is no denying that!
But that does not mean that we should/will give into fear and panic. We truly have the ability to turn this energy around and focus on the good and do whatever it takes to come out of this, stronger than ever! We are completely in control of what we focus on (except when you have a toddler screeching in the background for your attention, whelp).
So I am going to continue to do my part from this little corner of the internet and spread as much positivity as I can, and I am striving harder than ever to be the best resource possible for you all.
If you have any recommendations, suggestions, ideas, then PLEASE send them my way so I can include them in this blog post. DM me on Instagram or email me at sveeteskapes@gmail.com.
It would be your way of positively contributing to help during these unprecedented times. Share this blogpost on your channels, with your family, friends, and colleagues, because everyone could use more positivity and invaluable information right about now. We are all in this together! #makeanimpact
On that note, Breathe.Inhale.Exhale.
Take It One Day A Time!
Do what works best for you and your family…
P.S. Here is a note about Homeschooling During COVID Quarantine that I came across.
RELATED: HOW TO TRAVEL THE WORLD WHEN YOU CAN’T LEAVE HOME?
CORONAVIRUS PODCASTS
For the latest updates & information about COVID-19
- Understanding the Coronavirus
- Coronavirus Daily NPR
- Coronavirus Daily Briefing
- Coronavirus Facts Vs Fiction
- Coronavirus Global Update
WordCamp San Antonio, TX US 2020
For all the creators, bloggers, businesses, websites who use WordPress, this is the greatest news, ever!
#WCSATX Due to a certain pandemic, some things for WordCamp San Antonio 2020 will be different (and some will be the same) this year. The biggest change is that we have the pleasure [and challenge] to be the FIRST 100% virtual WordCamp! Not only that – we’re doing it LIVE and for FREE.
AUDIOBOOKS RESOURCES
Either free or at least offers a 30-day free trial
- Audible: Audible is now offering free audiobooks for kids stuck at home.
- Overdrive: Access to thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, and videos from your local library. You can enjoy your favorite audiobooks in the mobile app, or on your computer.
- Libby: It is an app by Overdrive and much like the parent app offers access to thousands of free resources.
- Getepic: Epic! is the Leading Digital Library for Kids 12 & Under. Instantly access 35,000 of the best books, learning videos, quizzes & more.
- LoyalBooks: Previously known as Books, shares public domain audiobooks for free.
- RAZ Kids: Provides comprehensive leveled reading resources for students. With hundreds of eBooks offered at 29 different levels of reading difficulty, it’s easy to put the right content in every student’s hands.
- LibriVox: Read, LibriVox audiobooks are read by volunteers from all over the world. Listen, LibriVox audiobooks are free for anyone to listen to, on their computers, iPods or other mobile devices.
- Bookshare: Bookshare® is an ebook library that makes reading easier. Members can access a huge collection of ebooks and read their way with the most customizable ebooks for people with reading barriers.
- Storynory: It offers a wide selection of children audiobooks, including classics, fairy tales, educationals, and other original stories.
- Scribd: Read without limits. Access to books, audiobooks, news, and magazines.
FOR CREATIVES, ARTISTS & ART LOVERS
Even if you are not an artist, some of these resources are fun for all to explore and see if something on this list is helpful to you.
- Gurl Museum Day – A platform from art lovers and artists.
- Resources For Artists & Creatives – Tips, virtual events, and special offers.
- Brit & Co – All Brit + Co online classes are FREE until end of March. Use the code SELFCARE at checkout.
- Resource for Artists by Booooooom – Helpful links for all creative people working from home and/or looking for work, grants, resources, and trying to stay healthy doing it.
- Booooooom Slack – A private Slack Community exclusive for paying members is now FREE for everyone. Ask for advice, share things that are inspiring, and get feedback on work.
- Pair-Up – A place for creatives to find and offer their time to others with the goal of sharing, learning, and problem solving with each other.
- Primer (by Google) – A free mobile app from Google that offers quick, easy-to-understand lessons for business owners and anyone looking to grow their business and digital marketing skills. Lessons take 5 minutes or less and cover a range of topics including email marketing, customer service, managing your finances.
- Affinity Apps – Serif, the publisher of the Affinity suite of design apps, is offering free three month trials, as well as 50% discounts to their slate apps for designers.
- Art Of Social Distancing – An account on Instagram dedicated to art exhibitions impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic #artofsocialdistancing
FUN, ENTERTAINMENT, OR LEARN
You can either use these resources to learn something new or unwind or virtually get together with your friends, etc.
- Curiosity Rover – Explore the surface of Mars on the Curiosity Rover.
- Cooking Classes with Lucien Zayan – Online cooking classes, easy recipes to make at home.
- Met Opera – Met is streaming an opera nightly from March 16th.
- Netflix Group Streaming – Chrome plug-in to stream Netflix with friends, chat and watch the movie at the same time.
- The Louvre – Travel to Paris, France to see amazing works of art at The Louvre with this virtual field trip.
- The Great Wall of China – This virtual tour of the Great Wall of China is beautiful and makes history come to life.
- MVY Radio Live Stream – Online stream of WMVY radio: great music broadcasting from Martha’s Vineyard.
- Online Puzzles – Online photograph jigsaw puzzles. You can set the pieces from 6-1000+
- Tula Plant Care Videos – As part of Tula’s commitment to community and education, they are bringing their plant sessions online. Christan Summers, Tula’s co-founder, and resident plant lover will guide you through sessions on Watering, Soil, Potting, Plant Care 101 and more.
- Stay Home Take Care by Girls’ Night In – A new site to make it easier for you to stay home, take care of your people, uplift your community, and stay connected to your loved ones.
- TED Connects: Community & Hope Daily Talks – A free, live, daily conversation series featuring experts whose ideas can help us reflect and work through this uncertain time with a sense of responsibility, compassion and wisdom.
- British Museum – This iconic museum located in the heart of London allows virtual visitors to tour the Great Court and discover the ancient Rosetta Stone and Egyptian mummies.
- Class Central – 450 Ivy League classes you can take online right now for FREE.
- Virtual Museum Tour – If you are a museum person (or not), virtually check out 12 free museum tours.
- Live Streams & Virtual Concerts – A whole range of Billboard’s lives streams to catch up.
- NPR’s Getting Bored? – A list of free things that weren’t free before Coronavirus.
- Free dance class by Debbie Allen
- 150+ Educational Shows on Netflix
- 100 Educational Shows on Amazon Prime
- 150+ Educational Youtube Channels
- Missing poker night? Play SLIPS and stay connected. Exclusively on the App Store 📲
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Not being able to leave home shouldn’t stop you from traveling from home.
HEALTH & WELLNESS – WORKOUTS, MEDITATION, ETC.
These health and wellness resources are either free or there is a free trial period.
- Yoga with Adriene – Free yoga for all levels.
- Tap In Meditation – Ten minutes guided (virtual) group meditation. Mon – Fri, at 3 pm ET.
- Down Dog App – Down Dog, Yoga for Beginners, HIIT, Barre, and 7 Minute Workout.
- Daily Burn At Home Workouts – All Levels, Daily Workouts.
- Aaptiv – Audio classes for sleep, meditation, and at-home workouts.
- Balance – Meditation that adapts to you.
- Les Mills Workouts – Les Mills workouts recorded for home use.
- Inner Workout – On-demand classes that blend movement, breathwork, journaling, and meditation.
- Spotebi – Free yoga flows, workouts, exercise challenges with cute infographics and real-time flow instructor. Adorable and fun.
- Live Well Pilates – Live mat pilates Tuesday, Thursdays, Saturdays, Sundays 12 pm PT
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Self-care is more than just a face mask or a spa appointment. And self-care is not a luxury but a necessity!!
LEARN, ACQUIRE NEW SKILLS & GROW
Use this time and these excellent resources to learn new skills and propel your career forward.
- Create & Cultivate Insider Access – A great resource for creatives, entrepreneurs, and bloggers. For only $10 instead of $95.
- Shaw Academy – Free Courses.
- Thrive Conference – The conference has now gone Virtual and the Saturday of the conference is FREE for everyone who wants to attend.
- Skillshare – Free for 2 months
- Adobe is supporting educators and students with free at-home access to its Creative Cloud applications online through May 31, 2020. It’s also offering free 90-day access to its web conferencing tool, Adobe Connect, for both current subscribers and non-customers, until July 1, 2020.
- Forbes8 is hosting a free digital summit on March 20, 2020.
- The Barbara Bush Foundation has created a toolkit of high-quality online resources
- Jamm, an audio-visual communication tool used by remote and distributed teams is offering it free of charge.
- 16 of LinkedIn’s online learning courses.
- Loom – Video recording and sharing service Loom has made its Pro plan free for educators and students forever. Through July 1, 2020, the service will also remove the recording limit for its free plan, cut the price of its Pro plan in half to $5 per month and extend pro trials from 14 to 30 days.
A WHOLE RANGE OF RESOURCES BELOW FOR ALL
Sorry, I still haven’t had the time to sort them all and categorize them but I am slowly making progress.
Khan Academy – our little one has always been obsessed with Khan Academy for kids. It’s mostly the only app he has access to on the phone. But things might change around here real soon, thanks to COVID-19
Make Your Own Schedule: An interactive schedule to plan your child’s day while their school is closed during the coronavirus outbreak.
Open Culture: 200 Free Kids Educational Resources including video lessons, apps, books and more
Common Sense Media: Free apps, games and educational websites
Zearn: Math Activities
Mobile Math: Problem Solving Puzzles
Prodigy Math: Interactive Common Core Math
Embarc.online: Print worksheets, common core maths, etc
Spelling City: Spelling games
Brainpop: Make any room a classroom
Sheppard Software: All kinds of learning games in many different areas of curriculum
Kiwi.com: At-home resources for both kids and their adults
ABCmouse learning academy
Scholastic Classroom Magazines
Learn a new language for free,
Get Epic: Think of it as like Netflix for Children’s Books.
Vooks: Similar to Get Epic, but Vooks trades the quizzes for engaging animations and narration, and includes downloadable lesson plans and resources for parents.
Arcademics: Arcade + Academics
150+ Educational Apps for Kids
Virtual field trips: Explore the world without leaving your home with the help of virtual field trips:
Houston Zoo live animal cameras
An exhaustive list of educational companies currently offering free subscriptions
Cosmic Kids Yoga is a YouTube channel that will encourage your little one to get up and get moving while teaching them mindfulness and relaxation.
IXL.com: Some of it is free, and this one is a bit pricey for a membership, depending on what subjects you want. But, it IS awesome, and very comprehensive in many subjects, and across many grade levels.
Purple Math: This is an awesome math website for older kids and teens.
Storyline Online: Stories are read out loud by all kinds of celebrities/actors/etc. It is awesome for kids to just sit and listen to/watch the stories. They show the pictures of the book, and read to kids. Link to two favorite stories – The House that Jane Built, Catching the Moon
The San Jose Mercury News has a printable and customizable schedule-maker for interested parents.
Virtual dance party to shake those coronavirus blues with Lady Gaga’s former backup dancer, Mark Kanemura.
Free worksheets and printables
Teach kids about diseases through this fun and educational website.
GoNoodle: great resource for getting kids up and moving with fun, colorful, musical games and activities.
CoolMath4Kids: Basic Math embedded in fun, creative games that let the kids play while they learn.
Scratch teaches kids the basics of learning a programming language, but delivering those lessons in fun, colorful ways.
Adventure Academy: Interactive and engaging website.
Great site for Social Studies and elementary age kids.
A list of 5 interactive websites for Social Studies
Social Studies: There are links to all kinds of interactive and interesting websites for Social Studies.
Code.org as the name suggests and similar to Scratch, teaches kids to code
Habitica: Motivate yourself every day
Simple Meals to Make with Pantry Staples
20 Pantry and Freezer Friendly Meals
Karmakidsyoga: Free yoga classes online
Othergoose: charter school-approved curriculum is 100% free for the next 3 weeks.
Spiderfitkids: Powerful playground online activity
Free story time event
Brit+Co: Offering free classes
Cook Along Class: Raddishkids
Learn Stop Motion: @Trishazemp
Free Online Resources For Families
Lunch Doodles with Mo Williams
Easy and fun activities to keep ‘em energizer bunnies busy: Makermint, BusyToddler
Easy, fun and healthy bites: Super Healthy Kids, Kids Eat In Color, Food Bites, Daryna Kossar, Jacobs Food Diaries
Planet Fitness has started streaming free roughly 20-minute, at-home workouts. The daily Facebook Live events will start at 7 p.m. ET on Planet Fitness’ Facebook page.
T-Mobile is upgrading customers to free unlimited smartphone data for the next 60 per an open letter.
U-Haul is offering 30 days of free self-storage to anyone with a college ID to aid college students who were forced to move out of dorms and head back to their hometown to start online classes.
Zoom Video Communications (ZM) lifted a 40-minute meeting limit for free accounts used by about 60,000 K-12 schools in the U.S. The company is offering similar accommodations to teachers that reach out in more than a dozen countries. It also announced integration for Clever, a widely used online K-12 teaching portal, so that teachers can access extra features through July 1 for no charge.
Learning and Exploring Through Play
Also, the below resources is an exhaustive list that I yet again found in one of the Facebook Groups. Bless these people!
Multiple Subjects
- Arcademic – https://www.arcademics.com/
Arcade-like games that teach a variety of subjects for grades 1-6. - BrainPOP – https://www.brainpop.com/
Highly recommended – K-8 and ELL online resource for learning almost every subject. Courses include videos, games, quizzes, vocab, and related reading. - Education.com – https://www.education.com/
Preschool through 5th grade activities and lessons. Skills based and syncs with standard school year calendar. - IXL – https://www.ixl.com/
Skills-based, adaptive, personalized learning for PreK-12 in math, language arts, science, social studies, and Spanish. - Khan Academy – https://www.khanacademy.org/
Highly recommended – Created by experts, Khan Academy’s library of trusted, standards-aligned practice and lessons covers math K-12 through early college, grammar, science, history, AP®, SAT®, and more. Students practice at their own pace, first filling in gaps in their understanding and then accelerating their learning. Free. - Mystery Doug – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPRCRM3JKm3sw55lB_427qg
Short (~5min) videos that investigate and explore questions asked by real students. - Outschool – https://outschool.com/
Highly recommended – Live Online Classes for Ages 3-18. Small group video chat classes—created and taught by inspiring teachers. Variable cost starting at $5/class. - PBS Learning Media – https://www.pbslearningmedia.org/
Standards-aligned videos, interactive lesson plans, and more for just about every subject. Early learning through high school. Free. - Teachers Pay Teachers – https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/
Over 3 million free and paid resources, created by educators, on the full spectrum of subjects and grade levels. Search for curriculum or activities to do at home. - The Great Courses – https://www.thegreatcourses.com/
An online repository of courses in almost every topic for all ages.
Art
- The Art Sherpa – https://www.youtube.com/user/HoneyBmama
Live streaming and previously recorded videos that teach a variety of painting techniques and projects. - Art with Everyone – https://www.patreon.com/AWEStudio
Drawing and painting tutorials for all ages and skill levels. - Smithsonian Art & Design – https://www.si.edu/explore/art
Civics
- iCivics – https://www.icivics.org/
Founded by Justice Sandra Day O’Connor – students learn how government works by experiencing it. They step into the role of a judge, a member of Congress, a community activist, even the President of the United States – and do the job they do. Students gain civic knowledge and skills through this fun and challenging online platform.
Coding & Computer Science
- Code.org – https://code.org/
Online learning platform to teach K-12 students coding and computer science. Used by schools and districts worldwide, with a focus on increasing participation by women and underrepresented youth. Makers of the Hour of Code: https://hourofcode.com/us - Scratch – https://scratch.mit.edu/
Free, online coding platform developed by MIT Media Lab for children using intuitive drag and drop visual interface that teaches coding basics. Kids can program their own interactive stories, games, and animations — and share their creations with others in the online community.
Early Learning
- PBS Kids – https://pbskids.org/
Great videos and games for preschool through grade 3 from one of the most trusted sources in early learning and fully accessible to all.
Economics
- The Stock Market Game – https://www.stockmarketgame.org/
An online simulation of the global capital markets that engages students grades 4-12 in the world of economics, investing and personal finance.
Language Arts
- Night Zoo Keeper – https://www.nightzookeeper.com/
Online writing tool and library of interactive lessons. Fun, engaging games that increase vocabulary and improve spelling. Puzzles and challenges that develop grammar and structure skills. Inspiring prompts and story creation lessons that spark imaginations. - Reading Eggs – https://readingeggs.com/
Learn to read with online games and activities. - Starfall – https://www.starfall.com/
K-3 reading and educational games platform. Stories, songs, and other activities. - Story Pirates – https://www.storypirates.com/
Podcast of stories by children and story writing inspiration. - Storyline Online – https://www.storylineonline.net/
Videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations. - Teach Your Monster to Read – https://www.teachyourmonstertoread.com/
Even if you know how to read – you should visit this site. Teach Your Monster to Read is a fun, adventure-based game that teaches phonics and reading along the way. Help your monster rescue a friend from the goblin king as you travel through the galaxy. So fun you will want to learn to read all over again!
Math
- Beast Academy – https://beastacademy.com/
Online math and problem solving for ages 8-13. Fun, comic-book style format. - Dragonbox – https://dragonbox.com/
Math apps developed by educational experts, dedicated teachers, game developers, designers, cognitive scientists, writers and artists who are passionate about creating innovative and engaging game based learning tools. - Dreambox – https://www.dreambox.com/
Adaptive, online K-8 math program that is personalized and standards aligned. - Global Math Project – http://www.jamestanton.com/
Join students from around the world on a global math project (Exploding Dots) that is mathematical story that starts at the very beginning of mathematics, assuming nothing, and swiftly takes you on a “wondrous journey” through grade school arithmetic, high-school polynomials algebra, infinite sums, and advanced mathematics and unsolved research problems baffling mathematicians still to this day. Ages 10+. Free. - Prodigy Math – https://www.prodigygame.com/
Engaging, curriculum-aligned math platform for grades 1-8. Game-based, adaptive, and personalized. Free.
Music
- Metropolitan Opera – https://operawire.com/metropolitan-opera-to-offer-up-nightly-met-opera-streams
- Seattle Symphony Live Broadcasts – https://seattlesymphony.org/live
Physical Education
- Cosmic Kids Yoga – https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
- GoNoodle – https://www.gonoodle.com/
5 minute movement breaks with silly songs and dances.
Science & Technology
- General & Multi-Discipline Science
- The Science Guys – https://www.youtube.com/user/TheSciGuys
Educational science videos that can be done at home and for all ages. We explain all concepts and experiments using fun animations. - Science Max – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbprhISv-0ReKPPyhf7-Dtw
YouTube series that explores common science experiments kids do at home and “turbocharges” them. - Smithsonian Science & Nature – https://www.si.edu/explore/science
- Astronomy – http://www.cosmos4kids.com/
Universe, galaxy, stars, systems, solar system, and exploration. - Biology – http://www.biology4kids.com/
Cell structure and function, microorganisms, plants, animals and animal systems. - Chemistry 4 Kids – http://www.chem4kids.com/
Matter, atoms, periodic table, elements, reactions, biochemistry. - Minecraft Chemistry – https://education.minecraft.net/chemistry/
Discover the building blocks of matter, combine elements into useful compounds and Minecraft items, and conduct amazing experiments with new lessons and a downloadable world. - Tyler DeWitt – https://www.tdwscience.com/
Research scientist and educator who creates chemistry and micro-biology videos shared on his personal site and YouTube. - Engineering – Teach Engineering – https://www.teachengineering.org/
Digital library comprised of standards-aligned engineering curricula for K-12 educators to make applied science and math come alive through engineering design. - Geography – http://www.geography4kids.com/
Earth energy and structure, atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, climates, and more. - Physics 4 Kids – http://www.physics4kids.com/
Motion, heat & thermodynamics, electricity & magnetism, light, modern physics.
Social & Ethnic Studies
- Native History & Culture
- Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State
https://www.k12.wa.us/student-success/resources-subject-area/time-immemorial-tribal-sovereignty-washington-state - The Duwamish Tribe
https://www.duwamishtribe.org/history - The Tulalip People
https://www.hibulbculturalcenter.org/Explore/About-Tulalip-People/ - US History
- Smithsonian History & Culture Collection – https://www.si.edu/explore/history
- The 1619 Project – https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/1619-america-slavery.html
An ongoing initiative from The New York Times Magazine that began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery. It aims to reframe the country’s history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the very center of our national narrative. - Zinn Education Project – https://www.zinnedproject.org/
Middle and high school – For more than ten years, the Zinn Education Project has introduced students to a more accurate, complex, and engaging understanding of history than is found in traditional textbooks and curricula. - World History
- Big History Project – https://school.bighistoryproject.com/bhplive
A free, online social studies course that encourages students to have a big-picture view of the world and emphasizes skill development as students draw “mind-blowing connections” between past, present and future.
Typing
- Dancing Mat from BBC – https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/topics/zf2f9j6/articles/z3c6tfr
There are four levels to play, each divided into three stages. You start by learning the home row keys. Each stage builds on previous lessons, introducing new letters as you progress. Kids love it!
World Language
- Duolingo – https://www.duolingo.com/
Learn close to 25 different languages using a fun and intuitive app that incentivizes learning through points and levels.
Virtual Field Trips
Many organizations – from museums to zoos to farms to famous landmarks – are creating ways for folks to have a virtual “field trips” to visit them. Here are a few to “visit” while you are home.
- 30 Virtual Field Trips
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SvIdgTx9djKO6SjyvPDsoGlkgE3iExmi3qh2KRRku_w/preview
Including farms, zoos, museums, space, national parks and even The Great Wall - 12 Museums Around the World with Virtual Tours
https://www.travelandleisure.com/attractions/museums-galleries/museums-with-virtual-tours
“It takes grace to remain kind in cruel situations.”
xoxo,
Kusum
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