Indoor Play – Page 4

CityDance introduces virtual to in-person classes this fall

August 27, 2020

CityDance is offering many options for in-person as well as virtual dance classes this fall for all ages.

Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center: Bringing the wonders of the Smithsonian to your living room

August 24, 2020

This post comes to you from the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center. We’ve had the opportunity to visit their space and participate in various workshops they offered prior to the pandemic and can’t recommend their family programing enough. We look forward to being able to go back one day and hope you will too!

When Covid closed our museums and our city, the Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (SEEC) had to develop a new plan for its weekend family workshops. It was imperative to keep the essence of programs the same: forming relationships, connecting with Smithsonian objects, and learning through play.

Fostering relationships is at the core of our work at SEEC. Young children learn better in a social context with trusted adults and peers. Moving to a digital platform makes this challenging, but not impossible. SEEC’s family workshops are limited to six families so that everyone has a chance to get to know each other and participate fully. Families will sign up for a four-week session on a topic, which allows for the deepening of relationships over time. In addition to the virtual classes, families will receive a video with activities in between each session to help continue discoveries.

While families are unable to physically visit the objects and artwork of the Smithsonian, SEEC’s virtual classes allow children to experience these objects in closer detail and at their own pace while at home. SEEC believes objects are powerful learning tools as they often bridge the gap between the familiar and the unfamiliar, opening up windows to new worlds. The virtual weekend classes will use objects to share stories and help children practice critical thinking skills.

Learning happens through action and SEEC’s virtual classes will be action packed and fun! The classes will encourage all types of active learning including dramatic play, movement games, singing, storytelling, sensory experiences, and more. Children will be laughing, playing, and exploring as they learn about all the Smithsonian has to offer.

SEEC has missed its family workshop participants over the last six months and are so excited to reconnect in this fashion! To learn more, please visit our website.

PJ Library podcasts for children

August 14, 2020

Since being in quarantine, podcasts have been a popular way for children to get their fill of information and entertainment while being in the car headed someplace for an extended stay or in the comfort of their homes. The good part about podcasts is that they are easily accessed through a smart phone, tablet, or computer. Prepare for hours of entertainment and even some learning opportunities.

This month PJ Library has two new episodes of the PJ Library Have I Got a Story for You podcast. You can find them here. Every episode of Have I Got a Story For You takes a classic Jewish folk tale and gives it a modern twist. You can explore episodes here and if you find one you really like, be sure to click on the episode page to find activities, book lists, and keep the fun going.

The podcast is just one element of the always-free and open PJ Library Listen hub where you will find all things audio from stories, songs, Spotify playlists and the podcast.

Keep an eye out for PJ Library’s downloadable “fall guide,” coming next month.

Indoor and outdoor Amazon finds that your kids will love

July 6, 2020

In an attempt to plan for a long summer with virtual or no camps, I started finding some fun and new distractions to pull out this summer. I’ve heard from a few of you who have asked for ideas on making indoor exercise fun yet feasible and also some asking for new outdoor games. Below are some of our favorite summer finds or items we already had that are favorites as well as ones that look very entertaining. You can definitely use a lot of these ideas for both indoor and outdoor use as well. Scroll to the bottom to see MY favorite purchases during quarantine.

Outdoor fun:
8 foot trampoline with enclosure
Fishing net and Kids fishing rod
Kids lantern and Kids tent (indoor and outdoor fun)
Kids gardening kit
Outdoor chalk
Outdoor/indoor obstacle course for younger ages
Obstacle course for older kids
Spikeball (great for the beach also)
Agility ladder (nice to have on hand as your kids get older and more involved in sports)
Family inflatable pool (#1 seller)
Splash pad
Small inflatable pool
Slip n slide
Water balloons (the best!)

Indoor fun:
Fold n go indoor trampoline (could move outdoors too)
Karaoke machine
Bounce house (outdoor fun also)
Pop-up tunnel with tent (another thing you can bring outside)
Magna tiles
Hopper ball

Educational resources and games:
Kumon Workbooks
Kumon Workbooks
Scavenger Hunt for Kids ages 6+
Flash Cards
Brain Boosters choose an age
Guess in 10 Game ages 6+
Treasure Hunt Game ages 3+
Brain Quest Cards comes in each grade level
Boredom Busters ages 3-6
Educational Placemats
Mind Challenge ages 6+
Tabletop Magnetic Whiteboard

Crafts:
Fashion Plates and Action Plates
Magnetic Mini Tile Art
Water Bottle Creation
Klutz Jr Sewing Kit
Comic Book Kit
Build & Paint a Wooden Car
Magnetic Drawing Board
Bath paints or crayons and bath bombs Slime kit
A craft starter box that has plenty of supplies for any art & craft project!

I get these workbooks at the end of each school year for my kids to use throughout the summer. I’d recommend choosing the grade your child will be entering in the Fall unless they are struggling currently in their grade in which you could purchase the grade below.
Summer Bridge grades PreK-K
Summer Bridge grades K-1
Summer Bridge grades 1-2
Summer Bridge grades 2-3
Summer Bridge grades 3-4
Summer Bridge grades 4-5
Summer Bridge grades 5-6
Summer Bridge grades 6-7
Summer Bridge grades 7-8

Mama’s favorite purchases in quarantine:
Citrus Squeezer
Steam Mop
Laptop Desk

Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.

Indoor games to cure cabin fever

April 30, 2020

Simon Says– You can even do this virtually with friends from afar

Go Noodle– movement and mindfulness videos that will get your kids moving!

Don’t let the balloon (or ball) touch the ground– An old favorite that will surely bring laughter. You can also do penguin walks with the balloon in between your legs & balloon hockey.

Saran wrap ball– If you can spare saran wrap, wrap a toy, pack of gum, pencils etc into layers of saran wrap. You can make it more difficult by having your kids wear mittens to unwrap the ball.

Musical Chairs, Hula Hoop and Hot Potato are classic stand-by’s!

Bowling– Using plastic bottles or cups set them up to replicate pins and use a small ball to knock them down

ABC Hunt- Have your kids go around the house with a basket, collecting items that start with each letter of the alphabet (A for apple, B for basketball, C for crayon, etc) – give them a checklist to mark off each one as they go.

Scavenger hunt– There are tons of resources if you just google the type of scavenger hunt you’re looking for. These can be done inside as well as outside.

Hopscotch– Using painters tape down the hallway

Potato sack races– Use pillowcases and kids can hold them at their waists.

3 legged race– Use an ace bandage or a long sock to tie together a leg of two people. See if they can make it to a certain point.

Create tracks throughout the house with painters tape for race cars. This is cute race car tape we had when our son was younger.

Obstacle course– Each course can be made so differently than the first. Use hula hoops, a small indoor trampoline, balance on a line of painters tape or stepping stones, let them hop on couch cushions, run around plastic cups, hurdle over Tupperware, climb under tables….

Hide n Seek– Let siblings go independently with this while you get some work done or participate in the fun. Get them moving even more by having the first one found do jumping jacks or pushups.

Cosmic Kids Yoga– This channel includes a huge collection of videos that focus on yoga and mindfulness wrapped in fun, interactive adventures – building kids’ strength, balance and confidence.

Mission Impossible Obstacle Maze– Using crepe paper held up with painter’s tape create an intricate maze in a hallway for your kids to navigate their bodies through. Put the tape up high and down low, forcing them to step over and crawl under at various points. (Idea from Brassy Apple)

Dance party– Grab some holiday lights or glow sticks, create a playlist or use an Amazon device, dress up and boogie down!

We’re Going On A Bear Hunt– Hide a bear somewhere in your house and have your child find it (use “hot” or “cold” for younger kids who may need a bit of direction). Read the book first!

Basketball– If you don’t have an indoor hoop, use laundry baskets and various sized balls.

Just Dance Kids- Search for “Just Dance Kids” on YouTube and it will pull up a whole selection of video routines pulled from the Wii U games. They feature great music that will make you want to jump in there and try to perform all the moves alongside your kids!

Make a tunnel using cardboard boxes.

Make a cozy reading fort using sheets, cushions, pillows, sheets, lanterns/flashlights.

Puzzles and board games are always a hit on rainy days- as are movies!

Fun games and activities to do with friends and family virtually

March 28, 2020

Now that we are all {well, most of us} keeping our distance from those we usually interact with so often, more and more are connecting by way of computer and phone. Here are some ways you and your Bambinos can connect virtually. The easiest ways to connect are via Skype, FaceTime, Zoom and Google Hangouts with family and friends. We have been doing virtual happy hours on FaceTime with adult friends and recently downloaded the Houseparty app which lets you play a few fun games while on FaceTime together- just like a game night but virtually! Another one to check out is Jackbox Games for the more advanced.

Play a Game: Depending on the age of your children you can play a board game by facing the camera toward the game. You can also play a game virtually such as Go Fish or War where each player uses cards. Check out this virtual dice roller which works best for simple games where you roll a die or draw cards to move around the board, like in CandyLand, Monopoly, Yahtzee, cards, and Sorry! We haven’t looked into Pogo but hear you can play games together on that also. A lower-tech game, Let’s Play Uno allows kids to play this timeless card game with friends for free.

Book Clubs: Simple– read a book separately, meet online or call a group on the phone to talk about it. Adults can do this virtually with their favorite beverage alongside as if they were having a real book club in person.

Pokemon Go: The game allows kids to interact with friends and even track their activity in the game. Pokemon Go creators have also adjusted the game a bit and made Pokemon closer to your home to allow for more involvement.

Netflix Party: A new way to watch Netflix with your friends online. Netflix Party synchronizes video playback and adds group chat to your favorite Netflix shows.

Read Aloud: Our Nana is infamous for bringing a book to FaceTime and reading to our kids! Your kids could read to their caller or vice versa. A great way to practice reading and sharing the pictures. This can be made fun by getting cozy with blankets too. Reading aloud via video chat is a great way to enlist family members who live far away and allow kids to stay connected with them as well as to give you a small break maybe while you make dinner.

Charades: Players take turns thinking of a word/phrase. Then they have to act it out for the other players to guess but are not able to talk. You could use a timer to set a time limit for each round, and try to guess before the time runs out. You can choose a theme for the game also; actions, sports or animals are a few.

Cooking: Our kids love watching Top Chef Junior and fun baking shows. Perhaps they connect with a family member or friend and cook together. They can cook the same recipe or use the same ingredient and see what they choose to create. These are some good places for kids to find kid-friendly recipes, Food Network, Delish who also does an Instagram Live cooking for kids weekdays, and Weelicious.

I Spy: This can be a traveling around the house game with a device. Take your friend who is on the call into various rooms in your home, face the camera toward the room and have them “spy” different items!

Game Systems: Perhaps you have an X-Box or Play Station. If so your kids can connect with their friends and meet in a game by sharing their user names. Some of these games allow you to put on headphones and chat with your friend you are playing.

Twenty Questions: This can be played with many people or just two. One player thinks of a person, place or a thing {nice opportunity to practice what a noun is}. They tell the other players the category their word falls into. For example, if their word is “pool” they could say “place.” The other player can ask only 20 questions to try to guess and they can only be yes and no answers.

Phone Calls & Walkie Talkies: Now is the time to work on communication skills. Our kids have used walkie talkies with neighbors and I have been writing out some prompts to help get them started as it’s a bit unusual for them to be initiating conversations without looking at them.

Craft Together: Our five year old has FaceTimed with a friend and they sat and drew pictures for each other, showed them and talked about the masterpiece. You can also visit sites offering DIY crafts such as KiwiCo.

Show & Tell: Just like your child is in school- they can share their favorite toy or artwork with friends and family members. They can show it and talk about why they like it, any facts they know about it and even take questions!

Friday freebies

March 27, 2020

Audible is hosting a free selection of stores for all ages while school is out. All free, no sign-ups and no commitments.

Time for Kids is providing a free digital library for all grades for the rest of the school year.

KidStir
Whether you’re exploring kitchen chemistry through baking or diving into the history of different cuisines, cooking offers countless ways to learn and grow. Kidstir is donating 15,000 FREE cooking kits to families affected by Coronavirus. $4 shipping and handling is all you pay.

GoNoodle
Movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts. Available for free everywhere kids are!

Chatbooks are allowing you to create and send free digital postcards since you can’t visit in person.

KiwiCo has a parent toolkit page with videos and downloadable DIY projects.

Amazon is making a portion of Prime Video kids and family programming free, including popular shows like Arthur, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, and more.

Below are freebies mentioned in previous posts
Foublie
Foublie is helping out parents with kids 2-4 by providing free weekly activity guides released every Friday. Cook + play + learn activities are taking on covid-19 stay-ins with some food fun. Each week they send an email with food based play, learning and cooking ideas.

Arts on the Horizon is offering programming to our children and families through a new series of videos on our YouTube channel link here. They offer free 20-minute, interactive story time sessions three times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays). Each session will be led by one of their teaching artists and the content will be geared for children ages 2-6. The sessions will include stories, songs, warm-ups, movement, and more.

National Children’s Museum launched a daily, digital “STEAMwork” series on the Museum’s Facebook. Each day at 2:30pm, talented members of their team feature different STEAM projects, challenges, experiments and story times for children under twelve and their caregivers.

KID Museum Make It!
Stuck at home? Let’s make the most of it. Each week they’ll be sharing maker activities for you and your family. Try different challenges every day and share what you’ve made.

Badlands Play Virtual Camp

Tinkergarten
Offering fresh outdoor play ideas on Facebook on Tuesday’s at 11:30am, designed to inspire a week’s worth of play.

Delish Cooking Class
Every day at 1pm, check out the site so you verify you have the ingredients on hand

Michaels Crafty Kids
Prerecorded videos of easy how to make crafts. More projects can be found here.

MoCo Movement
On their Facebook page they have been streaming live workouts and classes.

13 kid-worthy podcasts

March 22, 2020

Podcasts have become an obsession for a lot of adults. Some listening while they’re traveling, commuting, working, cooking and sometimes even while in the shower. There are a plethora of options when it comes to choosing a podcast and that includes a variety for children also. Our family typically listens to podcasts in the car on the way to the beach but now that we are home, we are beginning to listen at home in exchange for a movie or screen time. We’ve listed a variety of quality podcasts {most are free}; science, storytelling, music and history. All of these are easily accessed through smart phone, tablet, or computer, so prepare for hours of entertainment and even some learning opportunities.

Pinna
Pinna is an on-demand audio streaming service that reimagines kids’ entertainment. Each podcast, audiobook and music compilation on Pinna is expertly developed and carefully curated for kids 3-12. From science and fantasy to interactive game shows and mysteries, Pinna has hundreds of hours of programming to pique the interest of every kid.
*They have extended the free trial period to 60 days with the promo code PINNA4KIDS

Wow in the World
Hosts Mindy Thomas and Guy Raz guide curious kids and their grown-ups on a journey into the wonders of the world around them. They go inside our brains, out into space and deep into the coolest new stories in science and technology.

But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids
But Why is a show led by you, kids! You ask the questions and they find the answers. It’s a big interesting world out there. On But Why, they tackle topics large and small, about nature, words, even the end of the world.

Story Pirates
The Story Pirates aren’t your typical swashbuckling sailors. They don’t steal gold, pillage villages, or claim land; they’re searching for a different kind of treasure: kids’ wildest, most imaginative stories. It all started in a Harlem school auditorium when a group of friends put on an absurdist sketch comedy show based on stories written by kids.

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls
A fairy tale podcast for kids about extraordinary women from all over the world. Based on the bestselling series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls, each episode delves further into the lives of women from the books, encouraging young listeners to ask questions and explore their interests. Narration by real-life women who are pioneers, creators, champions, leaders, and warriors!

Book Club for Kids
This biweekly podcast features middle schoolers talking about a popular middle-grade or YA book as well as sharing their favorite book recommendations. Public radio figure Kitty Felde runs the discussion, and each episode includes a passage of that week’s book read by a celebrity guest. This is best for tweens and teens.

Best Robot Ever
Best Robot Ever is the home of the most innovative kids and family audio programming, including original podcasts produced by Gen-Z Media and its friends, and distributed in partnership with PRX. Shows featured on Best Robot Ever have won nearly all of the major podcasting awards that stand for great quality programming, including the Peabody, Best Kids & Family Podcast from the Academy of Podcasters, and iTunes Best of the Year. From exciting adventures and addictive mysteries, to hilarious game shows and popular science programming, you’ll find the best content for your next long car ride or after-dinner family listening. Tumble-Science, Earth Rangers and Pants on Fire are a few to mention.

Brains On!
Brains On! is an award-winning audio show for kids and families. Each week, a different kid co-host joins Molly Bloom to find answers to fascinating questions about the world. The mission is to encourage kids’ natural curiosity and wonder using science and history…but there’s no age limit on curiosity, and episodes of Brains On can be enjoyed by anyone.You can listen to Brains On and their other podcasts — Smash Boom Best and Forever Ago — at home, on the go, or even as you’re nodding off to sleep!

Stuff You Missed in History Class
Join Holly and Tracy as they bring you the greatest and strangest Stuff You Missed In History Class in this podcast by iHeartRadio.

Little Stories for Tiny People
Little Stories for Tiny People is a children’s podcast featuring original audio stories that will delight the tiny people in your life. Perfect for bleary-eyed parents, innovative teachers, and at-wits’-end babysitters looking for an alternative and non-annoying way to engage the toddlers and young kids they love at bedtime or any time! Each story is lovingly written and performed with attention to the whimsical senses of humor children often possess.

Circle Round
Created and produced by parents of young children, WBUR’s Circle Round adapts carefully-selected folktales from around the world into sound- and music-rich radio plays for kids ages 4 to 10. Each 10- to 20-minute episode explores important issues like kindness, persistence and generosity. And each episode ends with an activity that inspires a deeper conversation between children and grown-ups.

Saturday Morning Cereal Bowl
The Saturday Morning Cereal bowl is a weekly, two-hour program of music for the entire family to enjoy. This isn’t simply kids music. It’s two hours of some of the best family music you’ve ever heard. So sit back with the kids and enjoy!

Peace Out
Short stories that help children calm down and relax by guiding kids through visualization and breathing exercises. Perfect for parents or teachers who want to teach mindfulness and self-regulation.