Inside: Virtual learning is a wonderful way to provide children with enriching experiences, even when you are stuck indoors. Check out these fabulous resources!
Virtual Learning Made Easy (and Enriching)!
With the news and information changing hourly, I know it feels extremely important to us parents and caregivers to stay plugged in. Yet, it is even more important than ever to find time to unplug, relax, and maintain connection with our children at home.
One of the best ways to unplug and connect with kids is to read – and read frequently! Reading together creates connection, security, and mindful moments.
If you have a tablet, smart phone or computer at home, there are many incredible resources you can access virtually. Here are some of our favorites.
Virtual Literacy Resources
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Many of our country’s public libraries have fabulous digital libraries! With your library card, you are able to access a whole host of awesome resources, including picture books, beginning readers, and chapter books for tweens. You can also find audio books which are amazing to listen to as a family! Be sure to check out your county library’s website to see how you can get set up online.
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Vooks is a fantastic site that brings your favorite picture books to life. Stories such as Giraffes Can’t Dance, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and A Sick Day for Amos McGee are not only read aloud, but animated, too. It’s free for teachers for one year, and it also gives parents a 1-month free trial.
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Storyline Online is a fun site that features celebrities reading picture books. You can find actors such as Kristen Bell, Sarah Silverman and James Earl Jones reading your favorite stories!
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The Indianapolis Public Library has compiled a list of more than 100 read-alouds, many of which are read aloud by their actual creators. I bet your kids love The Book With No Pictures. They will love watching author BJ Novak read it aloud himself!l
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Harper Kids has a link to their youtube read alouds here, which includes, among other titles, Shel Silverstein poetry.
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Epic! is another digital library with read-aloud books that is offering a free month for parents.
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KidLit TV is a fabulous site for kids of all ages that offers read alouds, book related crafts, author interviews, drawing activities, and more. You can explore the world of children’s literature in so many different formats, all in one place!
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Growing Book by Book has phenomenal book related activities, printables and learning ideas to complement your favorite stories.
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Parenting Not Perfection has fabulous ideas for bookish play, and I love the way she brings children’s books to life through fun activities — even cooking ideas!
Virtual Learning Brought to You by Authors and Illustrators!
Authors and Illustrators are also making phenomenal resources available to children and families right now. Whether you want to see your favorite authors reading their own books, learn to draw from some of your favorite illustrators, or even find story prompts for your kids to create their own books, check out these sources:
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Kate Messner, a brilliant children’s author, has created a website compiling authors and illustrators sharing their works. Not only are there picture book read alouds, but there are also videos of novelists like Jason Reynolds (many of our older students adore his Track series) reading aloud from their books. This site has been put together as a direct result of the coronavirus outbreak, and in addition to read alouds (that have been shared with permission from publishers), it also contains drawing lessons and other learning activities.
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Mac Barnett, a beloved author and illustrator, is doing a read-aloud of his books (one book a day) on Instagram Live every day around 3 pm. Check him out @macbarnett.
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Oliver Jeffers is another beloved author and will also be reading his books aloud on instagram every day at 2PM EST. He is @oliverjeffers on Instagram.
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Emily Arrow is is an author and musician, and she’s written many songs to complement wonderful picture books. She will be doing live singalongs on Instagram at 1PM EST Monday-Friday. You can follow her @helloemilyarrow.
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At 2PM EST for the next few weeks, Jarrett Krosoczka will be hosting webcasts and drawing tutorials for your kids.
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Follow the hashtags #kidlitquarantine and #operationstorytime on Twitter and Instagram for children’s literature fun by your favorite authors and illustrators!
In addition to the above, there are many other online resources your families will find valuable during this time.
Websites with virtual learning and enrichment activities, audio stories and podcasts for kids
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Pinna: This is a great site offering podcasts, audiobooks and music compilations for kids. It is currently offering 60 days free!
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Scholastic has a fantastic learn at home program going on right now as a result of school closures. They are currently offering a weeks worth of learning experiences leveled by grade, including read alouds, videos, and engaging activities. It’s a phenomenal resource!
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National Geographic Kids has great resources for children of all ages. From games to videos to articles, this is a phenomenal site to make learning fun.
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Highlights Kids is a popular website that offers great crafts and activities, educational videos, kid friendly games and jokes, and more.
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But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids is an awesome podcast for children that answers questions from everything to inquiries about the corona virus to how we fall asleep to how a president gets impeached. Common Sense Media also has a fabulous list of 25 of the best Podcasts for children.
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Wow in the World is an NPR podcast that guides curious kids (and adults!) into the wondrous world we live in. From science to tech to our brains and more, this one is just delightful!
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Travel and Leisure has a fantastic list of virtual tours you can take at some of the world’s most famous museums! From the Guggenheim in New York to the Musee d’Orsay in Paris, your kids (and you!) will find it mesmerizing!
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If you have a young dancer in your home, The Cleveland Inner City Ballet will be launching a series of virtual ballet instruction to keep your kids moving while home from school.
Wonderful bloggers with creative activities you can do right at home!
If you are looking for great activities to keep your kids busy during this time, here are some of our very favorite sites:
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Days With Grey has a great blog that encourages the use of daily “Breakfast Invitations” you can set up for your little ones (toddlers through kindergarteners) each night so they have simple educational activities ready for them when they wake up each morning.
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Busy Toddler has educational and easy activities for young children with objects and toys you have in your own homes.
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Left Brain Craft Brain is a fabulous blog for those of you with kids interested in STEAM activities.
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The Workspace for Children is the most fantastic resource for helping parents help their kids learn to play creatively and — more importantly — independently!
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Little Pine Learners is my go to blog for awesome enrichment activities you can do outside.
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Make it Your Own shares great video tutorials for the most creative craft projects you can imagine!
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Happy Tot Shelf creates fabulous “learning shelves” that will engage your kids and keep them curious, excited and eager to continue learning.
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Toy Ideas is the best resource when you are looking for new toys and games for your kids. If you are looking to refresh your toy bins and invest in some new board games during this long stretch at home, this site is fabulous.
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Mama Papa Bubba has it all, from cooking to playing to learning. Love this site so much!
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Hello, Wonderful has great crafts and activities — and it’s sister site Hello, Yummy shares fun ideas for cooking at home!
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Fun With Mama has terrific printable learning packs and activity ideas.
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Kristen Hewitt has more great and free resources during school closures.
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For those of you with young kids, @7daysofplay, @Mothercould and @Littleoneslearn are Instagram accounts that continually provide easy and fun activities to do at home.
Our Goal at Happily Ever Elephants During this Unprecedented Challenge
I will continue to publish book lists and recommendations as fast as I can right here on the blog. I regularly share new children’s book lists on various topics and for different age groups, and you can find more than 50 book lists right here. Many of the books on these lists can be found on the sites referenced above.
If you aren’t already, feel free to follow me on my instagram account, @happily.ever.elephants, where I’ll be sharing as often as I am able. I hope to share great books that you will be able to find virtually, and I am in the process of creating a fun reading challenge to help connect children with literature during this time.
Additionally, some of our booklists you might find valuable right now include:
Please feel free to reach out with any questions, concerns or recommendations. I will respond as quickly as I am able, and I will continue to keep you updated with valuable resources during this unprecedented time.
Be safe, keep healthy, and we will be in touch!
Warmly,
Lauren