Why I love to hear my children say “I’m Bored!” ~ by Kassandra "Blaze" Wisey

As a mom of three, and a child educator for over 20 years, it’s been my instinct to fill every waking moment with activities for my children. Afterall, there is so much to learn and do, why waste any time? Our society tends to support this construct, with children that are over-scheduled with soccer, and dance, and music, and tutoring, and, and and…. As parents, we start to fear the words “I’m Bored,” striving to fill every waking moment with ways to keep our children entertained. Well, I’m here to put a stop to the parental guilt that I know I have felt, mentally calling myself a “lazy” or “uninvolved” parent when I send my children off to “go play” without concrete activities to occupy them. Of course, time with adults, parents or otherwise, is important as well; It’s all about balance. So read on to allow yourself a break, and to ultimately help your children learn important life skills through unstructured play time. 

Unstructured play is essential for children's physical, emotional, and cognitive development. Play is much more than just simple fun – it allows them to explore, create, and learn in a way that is self-directed and open-ended. Unstructured play time is so important because it promotes:

1. Creativity and Imagination: When children are given the freedom to play without adult direction, they are able to tap into their own creativity and come up with their own ideas. This helps them develop their imagination and unlock their creative potential, which will serve them well into the future and help them grow into a successful and fulfilling adult life. 

1. Important Social Skills: Interactive, unstructured play with other children allows them to practice problem-solving, decision-making, and negotiation skills. They learn how to work with others, resolve conflicts, and learn crucial lessons in teamwork and cooperation. 

1. Physical Skills: Unstructured play provides constructive physical challenges which help them develop their proprioception, gross, and fine motor skills. This is especially important for young children, who are still learning to control their bodies and develop coordination.

1. Environmental Awareness: When children are given the freedom to explore their environment, they are able to learn about the world around them in a natural and organic way. They may discover new things, ask questions, and develop a sense of curiosity and wonder.

1. Their Sense of Self: Through unstructured play, children are able to discover their own interests and passions. By nurturing their sense of independence, free play helps children develop a stronger sense of self-identity and self-confidence.

Of course the unsaid, added benefit is that unstructured play time gives parents and educators some much needed self care time, to catch up on things, or simply enjoy a cup of coffee alone! 

Simply put, unstructured play time is an essential part of childhood. It allows children to explore, create, and learn in a way that is self-directed and open-ended. It helps them to develop important social skills, physical skills, and a sense of self. For all these reasons and more, providing children with plenty of opportunities for unstructured play is an important feature of effective parenting and caregiving techniques that will benefit your child for years into the future. Remember that if your children are not used to unstructured play time, it might take a moment for them to push through the “i’m bored” feeling, and start to tap into their inner entertainer. 

Creative Gifts this Holiday Season ~ by Kassandra "Blaze" Wilsey

Blaze with her daughter “Baby” Rose after Cali Camp’s Color Run

Kassandra “Blaze” Wilsey is the Co-Director of Cali Camp, and mom of three.

Like so many of you, I gained many unexpected nuggets of wisdom during the covid lockdown.  For one, I was previously convinced that if I just had two weeks to myself with nothing to do in my house I would have all the time I needed. The time to completely organize, declutter, and finally achieve having “a place for everything, and everything in its place.” Well… two months in I realized that time wasn't the issue. Self motivation and determination were the culprits of my lack of unorganization, something I am now actively working on improving. Additionally, I realized just how much my family had been over scheduled, our house was over stuffed with toys and “junk”, and we were all stressed on a daily basis. 

The time to slow down, enjoy an out breath, and reconnect was actually priceless. We re-established family game night, family movie night, family bike rides, family….everything. That was truly at the heart of it all. Family. Even in a global pandemic, we had our families, our loved ones, and that was all that truly mattered. Was it difficult? Undoubtedly. I don’t care if you chose them, married them or birthed them, no one is supposed to spend THAT much time with the same few people. We fought, but we also made up. We learned each other's needs, learned boundaries and self restraint. We learned about each other in a more intimate way; in a way that would have never been possible without the pandemic. 

That new knowledge has led to more empathy between siblings, greater understanding between partners, and deeper connections all around. What a gift! Instead of focusing on all that was lost this past year and half, let's try to refocus on all that was gained. Of course, I know that many lost much more than others, the lives of loved ones, jobs, etc….. Let us honor those who lost so much by looking at the gifts that this forced, found time together has taught us. 

As we enter into this Holiday Season, I have already felt the shift in society. We are slowly regressing back down the slippery slope that is jammed packed schedules, focus on material objects over quality time, and unneeded stress. Collectively, let's stop. Breath. Remember that it was time together that was so precious, not the amount of wrapped gifts in the house. 

As you start to tick off the rest of your holiday gift list, consider the idea of more experience based gifts than material ones. Some ideas to consider:

Blaze’s son Cole visiting the Los Angeles Zoo

• Family Cooking Classes together! Learn a new dish at a local cooking school, or search for a how-to guide on YouTube and cook together! You can even do this once a month with each member of the family picking a different recipe. 

Blaze’s daughter Rose at a Paint Night with her Grandmother, Charlotte.

• Tickets to a theme park. If your budget allows, a day or even season pass to a theme park can be an awesome way to spend time with the family!

• Family Paint Night! Find a schedule of local paint nights in your area with a quick google search of “paint nights near me.” At these events an artist walks you through a step by step process of creating your own masterpiece. This usually works well for children ages 6 and up. 

• Tickets to visit a local museum or interactive kids space. Here in LA we have tons of options for families such as Discovery Cube and the Natural History Museum. 

• Family Membership to your Local Zoo. Not only are these trips fun and educational for your little ones, usually most of the revenues from these memberships go back directly to the zoo, helping animals in need. A win-win!

Halloween Safety Tips ~ by Kassandra "Blaze" Wilsey

If you have seen any of Cali Camp’s pics on our social media, you’ll notice that dressing up is kinda a big deal for us… Maybe that’s why I love Halloween so much! For me, Cali Camp Dress Up Days aren’t like Halloween, but Halloween instead is like a day of Cali Camp! I love finding a theme and having the whole family join in the fun. As my kids grow older they are starting to have more opinions about their costumes, however I have still been able to persuade them to join in my shanagangans for Halloween dress up. 

While for most, Halloween means fun costumes, meeting the neighbors and eating way too much sugar, for others it can be a sobering reminder of the importance of safety. Planning ahead and talking with your family is one of the best ways to make sure you are all prepared and on the same page.

Here are some simple tips that can help keep your family safe this Halloween:

While out Trick-or-Treating:

• Place reflective materials on your child’s costume. This can be reflective tape, glow necklaces, blinking lights, etc. Carrying a flashlight is also helpful.

• Avoid the temptation to cross the street anywhere but at a crosswalk, preferably using a crosswalk with a traffic signal or stop sign if possible. 

• While supervising your kids, remain attentive to them with your eyes up, and not on your phone or distracted by others around you.

• Place a wrist band on younger children with your phone number in case they get separated from you. 

• Set age-appropriate boundaries with your older children. ie: “Go to the next 4 houses, and then wait for me.” 

While you are driving on Halloween:

• Slow down and be prepared for children to move erratically around you, especially between 5:30 - 9:30pm which is prime candy hunting time!

• Avoid distraction while driving while on Halloween such as talking on the phone or eating. 

• Don’t Drink and Drive! Over 50% of motor vehicle accidents on Halloween involve alcohol or drugs, but 48% don’t, so stay alert at all times. 

Put these tips into action and help keep Halloween the right kind of scary… silly, fun and safe!

Stay Safe everyone!

~ Kassandra “Blaze” Wilsey - Cali Camp Director - She/Her

Top 5 Craft Kit Companies for Kids

As winter begins to set in here in SoCal and as we approach our 1 year anniversary of Covid Lock Down, my go to solution of yelling (um... I mean encouraging...) my kids to simply go outside and play is becoming less of an option. The result of this, at least in my house, is a mix of continual proclamations of “There is nothing to do”, “I’m Bored,” “Can’t we just watch YouTube?” I’ve also noticed a hurricane of craft supplies littering my floors and counters. This motivated me to research solid in-home craft kit companies. I have enlisted the help of companies who are more organized than me to help keep my kids entertained, and also learn something at the same time! Here are my go-tos:

Top 5 In-Home Craft Kit Companies for Kids (and adults!) 

1. NatureWatch.com 

Nature-Watch provides educational nature products and craft activity kits designed to teach children about nature. Since 1987 Nature-Watch has provided environmental science curriculum and nature craft projects to thousands of schools, camps, museums, nature centers, park and recreation programs, zoos, libraries, after-school programs, scouts and many others. Our hands on educational materials and crafts engage, enlighten and enliven the learning experience for children while being a great resource of nature instructional materials for indoor and outdoor educators. Everything on our website is fully guaranteed. We wouldn't have it any other way! 

2. KiwiCo.com

KiwiCo craft kits introduce kids to new crafting materials and interesting techniques. every month. Their experts spend 1,000+ hours developing each kit to make it easy and convenient for kids to spend time building, exploring, and creating. The KiwiCo mission is to inspire kids to see themselves as scientists, artists, creators, and makers.

3. GreenKidsCrafts.com

Green Kid Crafts is empowering the next generation of environmental leaders using creative, nature-based STEAM activities. Founded by mother and environmental scientist Penny Bauder in 2010, Green Kid Crafts has sold over 1.5 million boxes specially designed to help children exercise creativity, develop a love of discovery, and learn about the world around them.

4. Creativebug.com

At Creative Bug we're a team of dreamers and makers who believe that everyone has a creative side - even you! We pride ourselves on bringing the latest in art and craft education to our members, and we work with renowned artists to do just that. By signing up for Creativebug you'll enjoy unlimited access to thousands of online art and craft classes. Watch our classes anytime, anywhere. Since our classes never expire, you can start and stop projects at your own pace. No pressure, just possibilities!

5. UnCommonGoods.com

If you are looking for an option for yourself, or other adults in your life has some amazing adult craft kits such as infusing your own alcohol,  and this tranquil adult paint by number kit . They also have great kids options too!

Stopping the Holiday Meltdowns

Ahhh the holiday season is here! It’s a time for family, connection, food, festivities and magic. At least that’s what I keep telling myself between the lists, crafts, meltdowns, meals, shopping, wrapping, elf moving, baking and crying…  Navigating the holidays with kiddos adds a whole other layer of stress that parents, and often moms, place on themselves. We want it to be “perfect.” We only get a few magical years where the kids are fully invested in the magical world of the holidays and we don’t want to screw it up! And although these tips might not save your sanity, it just may help cut down on some of those inevitable meltdowns during the holidays, and year-round!

1. Let them know the plan! 

Kids thrive on a schedule and with predictability. You can cut down on the meltdowns by being up front about what their day is going to look like. As silly as it sounds, add in as much detail as you can. “We are going to drive over to Nana’s house for dinner, but we need to stop at the grocery store on the way.” Letting them know what to expect helps them predict what their day will look like, and they can be better prepared for what inevitable changes might arise. 

2. Plan for Transitions!

Just like kids thrive on schedules, they also need more transitional time than adults. We all know to give 5 or 10 minute warnings about when we might be moving to another activity, but remember that kids have a different idea of time than we do as adults. Your time warnings might be better off in measurements of an activity rather than minutes. “Two more turns each on the slide, and then we are going to head home.” It’s also important to stick to that time frame as much as possible. We have all been in the situation where someone tells us “5 more minutes” and then 40 minutes later they yell at us that it's time to go, and we feel blindsided that we didn’t have a warning. Being honest with yourself about the timing is important, otherwise your kids will learn to not trust your warnings all together and the time warnings will have lost their effectiveness. 

3. Let them have some control.

Kids often lose a lot of what they perceive as control during the holidays. They aren’t with their friends, they often are not allowed to pick out the clothes they want to wear, or get a say over what family meal is served. Find small things that they can have a feeling of control over. When it comes to holiday dinners, this can look like letting them decide where people will sit at the dinner table (complete with name cards if you have a crafty kid) or let them choose a special side dish that they know they will love. Throughout the holidays let them have choice in as much as possible from daily activities, movies to watch, or foods to eat. 

4. Be wary of the obligation for hugs

Even during a global pandemic, Grandma might still be expecting a big bear hug from her grandkids! If your child hesitates to show physical connection remember that they are still navigating this new world where social distancing is a thing. Even without our new 6 foot rules, children often go through periods of not wanting to be physically close to people, especially people they may only see a few times a year. Allowing your child permission to say “no” teaches them about the power of their voice, as well as consent for physical touch.  You may need to have a preemptive conversation with relatives ahead of time, and it's important to support your child in the moment if they decide they don’t want to give hugs right now. Oftentimes, as the day goes on, your child will warm up and hugs might be easier by the end of your time together, rather than at the beginning.

5. Talk about what it looks like to be grateful. 

We have all been there as parents; your child opens a gift and the words out of their mouth sound less than grateful to put it kindly. “I already have one of these!” Or “This isn’t what I asked for!” Often in the moment we chastise our kids, telling them to simply “Say Thank You!” Or we snap “Don’t Be Rude.” But have we ever stopped to teach them what it looks or sounds like to “not be rude?” By discussing what gratitude looks like ahead of time will prepare your child for that feeling of disappointment they might feel, and how to handle it in a way that is socially acceptable, and kind. Kids love to learn by hearing stories, so tell about a time that you got a gift that you were less than thrilled about. Explain what an appropriate response looks and sounds like. Practice. By discussing disappointment that might happen ahead of time, they will be less caught off guard and be better prepared for when it happens. 

On that same note, my oldest child Blake once asked me if saying “Thank You” for a gift he didn’t like was lying. Being a fan of answering questions with more questions, I asked him “Are you thankful that they thought about you? Bought you a gift? Spent time thinking about you as they wrapped it and gave it to you? “ Of course his answer was “Yes.” I reminded him that you don’t have to love the gift to be thankful for the time, effort and love that went into the gift, after all it's not about the actual physical gift, but about the love behind the gift.

Games of Gratitude

We all know about the power of expressing our gratitude, how a moment of thankfulness can ward off stress and lower blood pressure. So why then do we not practice gratitude everyday? Every hour? The health benefits have been measured, and still we find ourselves unable to stop and take moments of thankfulness. It doesn’t always come naturally, and is something that we need to build into our everyday routines in order to make it a habit. Of course, if you're like me, (a busy mom of three who has suddenly found herself not only precariously balancing a career and homelife, but who has also become a homeschool teacher to a 6, 9 and 10 year old) like me you might have also become a self-anointed health expert and master researcher.

I don't care if you choose them, birthed them, married them, or married into them, no one is meant to spend THIS MUCH TIME around any one single group of people. The thought of trying to add moments of gratitude can seem daunting, especially when it feels like there might not be that much to be grateful for in these current times. However, it's vital! We need to take care of ourselves and our family, and practicing gratitude is such an easy way to help maintain a healthy mind - body connection. 

Here are a few “Gratitude Games” you can play with your kids or just by yourself when you've locked yourself in the bathroom to eat in a moment of peace. (I’m not the only one who does that right?!) This holiday season you can start your practice of gratitude and thankfulness.

All of these games can be played at the dinner table, while driving, before bedtime, just about anywhere. You'll be amazed how easy it is to add in moments of gratitude into your daily routine!

1. Rose, Root and Thorn

Share the parts of your day that symbolize your Rose, Root and Thorn. Just like the parts of a Rose Bush, there are parts of our days that are full of beauty, challenges and connections. The thorn of your day was something that was challenging, or made you sad, mad or frustrated. Your root is something that makes you feel connected, or grounded (this can be a hard one for younger kids, sometimes you can explain this as something that is always there for them that makes them happy or a connection they made to another person). The Rose was the BEST or most beautiful part of your day!

2. Sweet and Sour

This is similar to Rose, Root and Thorn, just a bit simpler. Your sweet was your favorite part of the day (or activity, past hour, game, movie, etc) and the sour was the most challenging or worst part. 

3. Gratitude Alphabet 

Start with the letter A, and go around the group stating something you are grateful for that starts with that letter. Continue through the entire alphabet! You can either choose to let words be repeated: “I’m also grateful for Apples” or make it more challenging by not allowing for repeat words. 

4. Nouns of Gratitude

Take turns around the circle or room stating a Person, Place and Thing that they feel grateful for. Play as many rounds as you would like! 

5. Gratitude Snaps

This can be a game on its own, or can be incorporated into any of the above games. Everyone will say one thing that they are grateful for. As each person says their word, when you hear something that you are also grateful for, snap your fingers as a way of symbolizing that you are also thankful for that thing. Snaps are a way of symbolizing we are also grateful for that, without interrupting the person whose turn it is. Play at least three rounds to maximize your gratitude!

Top 10 Cali Camp Circle Time Activities to get your kids talking!

If your kids are anything like mine, you struggle to get any insight or information out of them! I can’t tell you how many times my kids come home from school or even Cali Camp and when asked “What did you do at camp today?” I get a big fat “Nothing.” Now, being the director of Cali Camp, I have the advantage of knowing their schedules and say, “Oh, really?!? So Archery, Arts and Crafts, Swimming and Horseback Riding are nothing?” I usually get a little giggle, but still not much more information. Especially during what can be these scary times for our kids, we want to know what they are thinking!

Your Cali Campers are very familiar with the idea of Circle Time. This is a time in the mornings at camp where every voice in the circle gets a chance to speak, and be heard. Some groups use a “talking piece” that they pass around, and each person gets to share their answer to the prompt! With younger kids, it can be helpful for an adult or older sibling to go first to model what an answer may sound like. Once you get the idea, I’m sure you can come up with many more prompts. 

I have been using these “Circle Time Prompts” in order to get a bit more information out of my kids, without them even realizing that they are sharing! When we as parents make things a game, kids are more inclined to “play” than they are to “talk.” You can do these around the dinner table, driving in the car, sitting in a circle on the floor, or any other space that works for you. Try some of these “games” with your kids over the next few days and weeks and be amazed at how much they have to share. Let us know how it goes! 

Top 10 Cali Camp Circle Time Prompts 

1. Extreme Emotions

Everyone close their eyes, and think about a time today that you felt a strong emotion. Maybe you felt extremely happy, or maybe something made you feel sad, or even mad, frustrated or concerned. Think about that moment. By passing the talking piece, share what moment of extreme emotion you felt today. 

2. Birthday Memories

Share one of your favorite memories from one of your birthdays. 

3. Animal Prompt

If you could be any animal, what animal would you be? Why? What would be the best and worst part about becoming that animal?

4. Rose, Root and Thorn

Share the parts of your day that symbolize your Rose, Root and Thorn. Just like the parts of a Rose Bush, there are parts of our days that are full of beauty, challenges and connections. The thorn of your day was something that was challenging, or made you sad, mad or frustrated. Your root is something that makes you feel connected, or grounded (this can be a hard one for younger kids, sometimes you can explain this as something that is always there for them that makes them happy). The Rose was the BEST or most beautiful part of your day!

5. Sweet and Sour

This is similar to Rose, Root and Thorn, just a bit simpler. Your sweet was your favorite part of the day (or activity, past hour, game, movie, etc) and the sour was the most challenging or worst part. 

6. FOOD!

If you could only eat one more food for the rest of your life, what would it be? What would be the best part of eating that food everyday, and what would be the worst part?

7. Favorite Things

If you needed to pick only three toys to play with for the rest of the year, what would you choose and why?

8. Pass around…

Pass around a container of rocks, M & Ms, sticks, beads, whatever you have around. Tell each person to take between 2 - 5 of the things (or more depending on ages and number of people in the circle). Don’t tell them why yet!! After everyone has picked their number of items, tell them that for every item that they picked, they will share that many interesting facts about themselves! So, if they took out 3 beads, they share three facts. 

9. Hopes, Fears and Dreams

During this exercise, each person will share a hope, fear and a dream. The hope should be something that they are hoping for in the near future, something that is most likely to happen or is obtainable. A fear is something that they are cornered about or scared might happen. A dream can be anything that they dream of having, seeing, wanting. Their dreams can be extravagant or unrealistic as they would like. 

10. Two Truths, and a Lie

Every person will say three things that happened to them today (or in their life, the past week, etc). Two of the things they share should be true and one should be a lie. Then the group will decide together which they think is the lie, and which are the truths. 

We hope you are able to enjoy some time connecting with your family while you share these Circle Time Prompts with each other. Don’t let the fun stop here… make up your own prompts together, Kids are really good at coming up with fun questions to ponder for the whole family! Don’t forget to add your own prompts to the comments below so we can all learn from each other.

~ Kassandra “Blaze” Wilsey is a mother of 3 children Blake (9), Cole (8) and “Baby” Rose (5). She also is the Co-Director of Cali Camp and a professor at Cal State University Northridge. You can read more about her at calicamp.com.

The Ooiest, Gooiest, Fluffy Slime Recipe

Have you tried making fluffy slime yet? This is a must-try! The texture is so fun to play with. Kids will love stretching and squishing this fluffy slime. And we have to say, we think this is the best fluffy slime recipe you will try. Slime can be great not only because the feel and sound can have a calming effect on kids, but slime recipes are fairly easy to execute and can be individualized with color, texture, and glitter. Try making slime an interactive experience by inviting your kids to identify the ingredients in their slime while also expressing their feelings when they make a personal glob.

Fluffy Slime Ingredients

If you want a large batch – triple the below recipe. Or you can make 3 batches with 3 different colors and turn your slime into Unicorn Fluffy Slime!

Per Batch: 

– 2/3 cup of Elmer’s White Glue 

– 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda

– 1/4 Cup Water

– 2-3 cups Shaving Cream (do not use shave gel)

– 1.5 Tablespoons Contact Lens Solution (*Important: your brand of contact lens solution must have boric acid and sodium borate in the ingredient list. This is what interacts with the glue to form the slime. We recommend only using Renu fresh or Equate brand. Do not substitute with other brands.)

– Liquid Food Coloring (This set comes with all kinds of vibrant pinks, purples and blues.)

Safety Tips: Adults only should make the slime and handle all chemicals. Do not substitute any ingredients in the slime recipes. If you have sensitive skin, wear gloves while playing with the slime. Always wash hands before and after use. If you notice any skin irritation discontinue use immediately. Slime is a science experiment and should be made and played with in moderation. See the bottom of the post for more safety precautions before making the slime. 

How to Make Fluffy Slime

1. Add your white glue to a bowl.

2. Add you water and baking soda and then mix.

3. Add your shaving cream and mix.

4. Add your food coloring until you are satisfied with the color. Mix.

5. Now slowly add in your contact solution.

We like to add in 1 tablespoon, knead for 5 minutes and then add in the 1/2 tablespoon after kneading for some time. The slime will be very sticky when you’re kneading – and that’s normal! The first tablespoon you add will let you start to knead it. And the last 1/2 tablespoon will bring the stickiness down and it shouldn’t be sticking as much to your hands.

Note- fluffy slime is MESSY when you’re making it. It is normal that it will stick to your hands as you’re kneading.

If you find it still too sticky – add some baby oil or lotion to your hands.  You can also add more contact solution if it’s still too sticky, just a little bit at a time. If you add too much contact solution the slime may become too hard and won’t be as stretchy to play with.

Now repeat the above recipe for each color you’d like to make. Note: Once you mix the colors together they will eventually mix into one color like play dough does. So you can keep them separately or mix and see what happens! If you make all 3 colors it may turn to gray so if you want to end up with purple just mix the pink and purple together.

10 Best Improv Games for Kids, Ages 7+

Improvisational (or improv for short) games are a great tool for teaching children and helping them develop new skills. Through this form of play, children build friendships, strengthen language and communication skills, and learn about the world around them. That’s not all, they will also learn how to work together, problem-solve, and increase concentration.

1. One Word at a Time

Number of players: Children can play this game in pairs, small groups (2-5) or larger groups (5+)

Age group: 7+ years

Play time/length: Children can play this game for any length of time but between 1 and 10 minutes should suffice.

Skills developed: This game helps children expand on their creativity and storytelling skills while teaching them how to participate in a group setting.

In this game, children work together to tell a story. When playing in a group setting, children sit in a circle and in turn, they add a word to fit into the narrative after repeating the words that came before. When played quickly, this game is great for encouraging free-flow thinking. For example, Child 1 could say “Once…”, Child 2 could say “Once upon…”, Child 3 could say “Once upon a…”, and so on.

2. Prop Bag

Number of players: Children can play this game in pairs, but small groups work well too. One person acts with the prop and two or more people can guess.

Age group: 7+ years

Play time/length: 3-5 minutes per demonstration

Skills developed: This game encourages creativity and “out of the box” thinking in children.

In this game, one child chooses a prop and performs a short demonstration for an audience using the item for a purpose other than its intended use. The idea is to use the prop in an original or humorous way. An example would be using a shoe as a telephone. You can get creative in selecting which props are available, but sometimes the funniest results come from the most boring items.

3. Alien, Tiger, Cow

Number of players: This game is suitable for 3-5 children to play together

Age group: 7+ years

Play time/length: 10-20 minutes

Skills developed: This game encourages children to work together as a team and develop early observation skills.

The goal of this game is to get every player to be the same character: alien, tiger, or cow.

• Alien: Hold index fingers upright against head while saying “Bleeb Bleeb”

• Tiger: Hold one hand out like a claw and say “Roar!”

• Cow: Bend over and hold one hand on stomach while saying “moo”

Similar to “Rock, Paper, Scissors”, someone says “Alien, Tiger, Cow” and all players choose a character to imitate. With the end goal in mind, the game is played until everyone chooses the same character, rather  than trying to eliminate one another like you would in Rock, Paper, Scissors. It takes a similar concept, but turns it into a team game.

4. Heads Up

Number of players: This game works best with group sizes of 7+ children

Age group: 10+ years

Play time/length: 5-20 minutes, depending on how long it takes for players to be eliminated.

Skills developed: This game is beneficial for teaching children focus and developing non-verbal communication and personal connection.

To play Heads Up, children will need to stand in a circle. The leader announces, “Heads Down” and everyone brings their head down. When the leader says, “Heads Up”, everyone brings their head up. If any children look at each other after bringing their head up, they are eliminated from the circle. The game continues until there is one player left.

5. Cross the Circle

Number of players: This game works well with a larger group size, at least 6 children

Age group: 7+ years

Play time/length: 5-10 minutes

Skills developed: This game gets children moving, listening, and using their creativity to portray their role.

Children standing in a circle will be numbered 1, 2, or 3. The leader will ask one of the groups (1s, 2s, or 3s) at a time to cross the circle while acting out a role of the leader’s choice. A role could be a type of dance, pretending to be a particular animal, or something that affects movement in some way (quicksand, ice, etc.) The role could also be pretending to be an airplane, or swimming, or whatever else you can come up with for them to act out. There is also another improv game with the same name.

6. Popcorn

Number of players: A suitable group size for this game is between 5 and 10 children, depending on their age and development.

Age group: 5+ years

Play time/length: 5 minutes

Skills developed: This game is great for getting children energized and engaged while learning how to work together as a group.

This is a fun warm-up game that gets children engaged and moving. It begins with everyone laying down or squatting. The leader guides the children through the activity by telling them what is happening. Everyone starts as a kernel of popcorn and the floor is the pan.

When the pan gets hotter, the popcorn will start to pop. Children will be encouraged to move together as a group by jumping up and clapping their hands when the corn “pops”, gradually increasing as the pan heats up more and more.

7. Group Freeze

Number of players: This game works well with larger group sizes (10+ children) but keep in mind, the larger the group, the more challenging it might be.

Age group: 7+ years

Play time/length: 10-20 minutes

Skills developed: This game is great for teaching children concentration skills and awareness of their surroundings.

The goal of this game is to have the entire group “frozen”. Children will walk around the room and someone will stop moving. Once other players notice the frozen player, they will stop moving. This will continue until everyone has stopped moving. You can tap the first child to signal that it’s time for them to stop, point at them, wink at them, or some other relatively discreet way to alert them – or simply let one of the children stop on their own.

8. Same Circle

Number of players: A group size of around 10 children should work well with this game.

Age group: 7+ years

Play time/length: 5-20 minutes depending on the group size.

Skills developed: This game is great for teaching children to focus and pay attention to small details.

Everyone stands or sits in a circle. The leader will start the game by making a small gesture or sound. The person next to them will copy the gesture that the person immediately before them performed, going all the way around the circle. The goal is to keep the gesture exactly the same without any changes. The game will continue with a new leader and gesture/sound until everyone has had a turn.

9. Rumor Has It

Number of players: 5-10 children

Age group: 10 years +

Play time/length: 10-20 minutes

Skills Developed: This exercise is great for strengthening memory recollection in children and encouraging creativity.

This fun game is similar to the classic game of Telephone. With the group sitting in a circle or next to each other, someone starts the game by pointing out another individual and whispers a silly rumor to the person next to them. This person will add to the rumor and share it with the person next to them. This continues until it reaches the person sitting beside individual the rumors are about. This person will share the chain of rumors with the group.

10. Cross Differently

Number of players: This game is fun for groups of all sizes; 3 + children

Age group: 7 years +

Play time/length: 5-15 minutes

Skills developed: This game is great for working on gross motor skills and building on creativity.

This game is similar to Cross the Circle but instead of calling a numbered group of children, one child is asked to cross the circle any way that they would like – run, hop, skip, etc. When this child has made it across, they will tell another child to cross a different way. This continues until all of the children have crossed the circle.

20 Old-School Ways to Keep Busy Without Screen Time

If you want to cut down on screen time for your kids, but you also need to get stuff done—or just take a few minutes for yourself—it can be hard to think of fun ways to keep kids engaged and busy. This list of 20 tech-free ways to keep up the entertainment may take a bit more energy or advance planning, but encouraging your child to do something constructive is worth the extra effort. Here are 20 old-school and fun activities to keep kids of all ages busy.

1. Create a game box.

   Fill a box with things your child can play with alone—items like coloring books, playing cards, or easy puzzles. Or have your child help put together the box the day before so they have something to look forward to the next day!

2. Have them make their own cartoon.

   Instead of watching cartoons, have your children make their own. Give them a piece of paper and some crayons, and ask them to draw you a hero and a bad guy. When they're done, let them come back and tell you their hero's story.

3. Let them help you.

   If you're cooking or cleaning, let them assist you. Give them a job they can handle. For young kids, that might be setting the table or helping put away a bowl. For older kids, that might be slicing vegetables, sweeping the house or taking out the recycling. Whatever it is, do it together.

4. Give them an important task.

   Give your child a task, and make it a really big deal. For instance, tell them how a family member they haven’t seen in a while is looking to fill a space on their wall with some super special art and that when they are done drawing a picture, you’ll mail it for them! If they think it's an important job, they won't complain about working on it independently.

5. Create an idea box.

   Brainstorm ideas with your children about what they can do to overcome boredom. Write down their suggestions, and put them in an empty box. Then, the next time they're bored, have them pick out one of their own suggestions. Given that it was their idea, they'll be more willing to actually do it.

6. Offer creative toys.

   Any toy that lets a child create is sure to keep them distracted for a long time. Invest in Legos, puzzles, Kinetic Sand, and Play-Dough. Not only will your child be able to play with them for hours, but they'll build up their spatial reasoning, too.

7. Design a treasure hunt.

   Hide something like a coin or a sticker somewhere in the house. Give your kids a clue, and let them run wild trying to find it. If you make it a bit tricky to find, you'll build up their resilience—and their ability to find things without begging for your help.

8. Encourage outdoor play.

   Don't forget how your parents kept you busy! Just give your child a ball and a stick, and let them run wild. If you're worried about their safety, just keep them in sight. Other outdoor activities can include a bike ride, hike, building a rock collection, and more.

9. Host a play date.virtually.

   Find some time with one (or more) or your kid’s friends parents for a Zoom playdate. Granted this one involves some tech, it’s equally as important for your kids to feel connected with their peers during this trying time.

10. Build a fort.

    Give your child a few pillows and a blanket, and challenge them to turn the couch into a fort. No child will turn down the chance to make a secret base—and they'll be much more likely to play independently once they're inside.

11. Make a sculpture.

    Give your child a few pipe cleaners and a piece of Styrofoam—or really any child-friendly item you have on hand—and ask them to make a sculpture. Anything will do, but favorite heroes are a winning suggestion.

12. Listen to an audiobook.

    If your child's too young to read independently, pick up audio versions of their favorite books. Let them sit down and turn the pages while listening to a friendly voice read to them. Or, if you can't find a recording, use your phone to make one yourself.

13. Play with locks + bolts.

    Hand your child a lock and a key or a nut and bolt and let them play with it. Young kids, especially, will be mesmerized by the act of unlocking something—and they'll develop their motor skills while they're at it. Give them a mixed bag, and see if they can figure out which lock goes with which key.

14. Have messy mixing time.

    Set up a big tarp on the floor, and give your child some bowls and things from the kitchen they can mix together. Let them go wild. Your child will be so excited that they get to be messy indoors that they'll be willing to play without your constant attention.

15. Play verbal games.

    Take turns naming an animal for each letter of the alphabet, or play 20 Questions. You can cook, clean, and get ready while quizzing your child.

16. Create a scavenger hunt.

    You don't need to make a whole list—just say, “Find me something that starts with the letter B," and let them run around the house searching. To keep your kids motivated, you might reward them by letting them choose a dish for dinner once they've found 10 things. Another fun Scavenger Hunt involves more players (perhaps between parents and siblings or on a Zoom playdate) which can be found here.

17. Grow a garden.

    Give your child a small plant to care for. Maybe they can grow an herb garden or a few flowers on the windowsill. Have them water their plant each day and when you need a few moments, ask them to check on it.

18. Suggest a science experiment.

    Let your kids discover the world. Teach or show them something about an object or their surroundings and let them explore it. That might mean giving them a magnet and telling them to see what sticks, or giving them a bowl of water and prompting them to see what will float and what will sink.

19. Give new tools to explore.

    Handing a child a new tool can keep them occupied for a pretty long time. Give your kids a flashlight, a combination lock or a magnifying glass, and let them figure out how it works for themselves. You can also try giving your child a digital camera. They'll stay distracted making selfies and videos long enough for you to get something done. Afterward, you'll get to see what the world looks like through your child's eyes.

20. Give them chores.

    This isn't a popular option, but can be good for them. If you're going to clean the kitchen, have your children clean their rooms. Not only will you get time to actually do your job, but your kids will learn that they have a role in keeping the house clean, too.

Dolly Parton and Other Celebrities Stream Story Times for Kids

It’s always important to look for the silver lining in life, especially amid some scary and unknown times. One of those bright spots is watching so many artists, writers, musicians, and actors take to the Internet to offer comfort through their art and creativity to all of us.

Here are a few YouTube clips of some beloved celebrities reading their favorite stories to be shared with us all.

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"The Little Engine That Could" as read by Dolly Parton

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"Goodnight Moon" as read by LeVar Burton to Neil deGrasse Tyson

"Mom, is dad going to die?" ~ Kassandra "Blaze" Wilsey

“Mom, is dad going to die?” 

I wanted to shelter my kids, I wanted to hide them away from the very real fears that are concerning us all today. I wanted to shelter them from statistics, economics, death rates, politics, the list goes on and on. I wanted them to have just the right amount of information. I wanted them to understand why there is no school, no birthday parties, no play dates. But not too much information that they couldn’t sleep at night like I can't sleep. Not too much information that they worry about their older relatives, grocery trips, bills or work to keep the unbearable feelings of dread at bay like I do. 

I thought as a parent I was doing an ok job. I thought that I was sheltering my kids just enough. I thought I was keeping an eye on them and their emotions, while having my own behind closed doors, out of sight from their ever present eyes. I wasn’t.

My thoughts shifted when my 5 year old daughter asked “Mom, is dad going to die?” It was just after bedtime stories, right as I was about to shut off the light, close the door and bee line to the wine fridge. Looking at her tiny little eyes, so full of fear and worry I realized she was hearing everything. Seeing everything. Understanding way more than I could ever have thought possible. “Why do you ask that?” was my response. I wanted to gauge where she was at with this. “Well, I know the ‘coroowinus viwiuos’ is killing old people, and dad is you know... old.” I wanted to laugh it off, her pronunciation so cute and innocent, and remind her that dad is only 35, and that isn’t “old.” But I could tell this was a very real fear for her. It made me realize that this is scary for our children, just as it's scary for me. By continuing to shelter my kids, I wasn't giving them the space to ask questions, to understand and comprehend in their own way. It’s just going to get scarier. Very soon, more and more people we know will be infected, and it’s likely we will all know someone who knows someone very soon that has died from Covid-19. 

It was in that moment that I decided to open up to all three of my kids, right then and there. My two boys, ages 8 and 9, were also full of questions. I could see them decompress in front of my eyes as my husband and I answered their questions and concerns as thoroughly as we thought appropriate. It was clear that they had been holding these thoughts in for weeks, like the major elephant in the room. Some were deep questions, “What is a virus? What will happen if I get it, or if you get it, or grandma gets it?” “Is there a cure?” Some were adorable kids questions “When will we be able to order pizza again? What will happen if we run out of toilet paper?” and some were questions that we couldn't answer. We shared honestly that we didn’t know the answers to questions like “When will I go back to school? When can we go to grandma's house again? Am I still going to have a birthday party?” But by giving them space to ask questions and have many of them answered, I could tell they felt just a little more at ease. Getting all that out in the open was so cathartic for them… and for me. I finally felt a release of tension that I didn’t even realize was so prominent in me. The fear that I was attempting to hold at bay for my children was weighing on me more than I could have known.

Now, we have daily question asking time. I can allow myself to feel in front of them and no longer need to always have my guard up. We play a favorite Cali Camp Circle Time game of “Hopes, Fears and Dreams.* They see me cry and I say to them, “Sometimes I am scared too, and that's ok.” Now we can be role models for them in how to deal with challenging times, not by hiding from it, but talking about it, making a plan, and moving forward together. They feel empowered, I feel empowered and together we are stronger.

~ Kassandra “Blaze” Wilsey is a mother of 3 children Blake (9), Cole (8) and “Baby” Rose (5). She also is the Co-Director of Cali Camp and a professor at Cal State University Northridge. You can read more about her at calicamp.com.

*How to play Hopes, Fears and Dreams : During this exercise, each person will share a hope, fear and a dream. The hope should be something that they are hoping for in the near future, something that is most likely to happen or is obtainable. A fear is something that they are cornered about or scared might happen. A dream can be anything that they dream of having, seeing, wanting. Their dreams can be extravagant or unrealistic as they would like.  You can check out more of Cali Camp Circle Time games to play at home in our previous blog “Circle Time Games to Play at Home.”

Indoor Scavenger Hunt Challenge

Hi friends! We hope you are all hanging in there as best you can, during this nutty time. Like many of you, we’re trying to make the very best of our circumstances, which is why we came up with a way to bring camp to you, virtually, early! We hope you have fun…

THINGS YOU’LL NEED:

• A list of items that can be found in your home, at least 5 more items than possible points. Here are some suggestions:

  • A shoe

  • A matching pair of socks

  • A hat

  • A family picture

  • Something very soft

  • A stuffed animal

  • A piece of candy

  • A can of pop/soda/whatever they call it where you live

  • Something from camp

  • A piece of mail

  • A book with the first letter of your name in the title

  • Something that’s a circle

  • Something blue

  • A rubber band

  • A pet

  • A parent

  • A toy that fits in your hand

  • A pencil

  • A toothbrush

  • A pair of sunglasses

  • A TV remote

  • A spoon

  • A plate

  • A piece of fruit

  • A towel

• Something visual for the facilitator to use to keep score: You could write points on a white board, place marbles in a jar, or build a pyramid out of plastic cups.

• Some type of online random item picker thingy that you can type your items into – we used this one because it has the option to remove an item once it’s been picked.

HOW TO PLAY:

Once you have enough players — at least 2 people per team — split them up using whatever method you like the most. Before sending them to their team/breakout rooms, give the instruction that they have 2 minutes to come up with a fun team name before calling them back to begin the game.

The Rules:

• The game leader will spin the random picker and read out the item that the teams need to retrieve.

• Players will try to locate the item in their house and bring it back to show the rest of the group first – whoever comes back first wins a point for their team.

• In the event of a tie, both teams will score a point.

• The game leader will keep track of team points for everyone.

First team to 5 … or 10 … or whatever you set up in the beginning, wins!

Optional rules for fun, hilarity, and maybe extra safety:

• Give teams the option of choosing between scoring a point for themselves or taking a point away from another team (you should probably double your list of items if you allow this one)

• To add some extra incentive to the game, come up with some silly/gross things that teams can choose to make the team representative do (teams choose which 3 foods they have to mix and then eat a bite on camera, or something less gross but still fun) and send it to us so we can post it on Instagram and Facebook!

Camp for us is at its best when we connect with each other, especially through laughter, encouragement, and something that to an outsider may seem quite ludicrous and silly. This game completely satisfies all those requirements.

Y’know, even from far away and in our own homes, this can give us all a sense of being at camp!

How to Talk About Coronavirus with Your Kids

As told by Deborah Farmer Kris, a writer, teacher, parent educator, and school administrator, who works on parenting projects for PBS KIDS for Parents and writes about education for MindShift, an NPR learning blog.

Earlier this week, I overheard my kids engaged in a round of “I heard” and “Did you know?” while they were getting ready for bed.

“I heard that Margaret’s dad has it,” said my six-year-old.

“Did you know that it’s the worst sickness ever?” added my eight-year-old.

Neither statement is accurate, but they were revealing: I had thought my initial conversations with my kids about COVID-19 had been good enough. But with adults, kids at school and the news all hyper-focused on this coronavirus outbreak, my reassuring voice needed to be a little louder.

A favorite Mister Rogers’ quote ran through my mind: “Anything that's human is mentionable, and anything that is mentionable can be more manageable. When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting and less scary.”

So before lights out, we talked. I asked what they had heard about the coronavirus. We got it all out — their questions, their “I heards” and their fears. The rest of the conversation had three themes.

First, I shared age-appropriate facts and corrected misinformation. Because my kids are young, I kept it simple. “You know what it’s like to have a cold or the flu — how sometimes you get a cough or have a fever? This is kind of like that. Most people who catch this sickness stay home, rest and get all better. And we have wonderful doctors and nurses who can help people when they need it.”

Second, I reassured them that they are safe, which is the most important message my kids can hear from me. I know that they take their emotional cues from my tone. “You don’t need to worry. Right now, lots of amazing grown ups are working hard to keep people healthy. Luckily, we already know a lot about how to keep healthy!”

Third, I emphasized simple things our family can do to be “germ busters” — for all types of germs that are out there! As Harvard’s Dr. Richard Weissbourd once shared with me, kids and adults alike are “more distressed when we feel helpless and passive, and more comfortable when we are taking action.” The hygiene routines that slow the spread of the COVID-19 are the same habits that help keep us healthy all year round.

A few days after this conversation, my kids' schools closed indefinitely — and so did sports practices, playdates and a host of routine outings. Like most of the nation, my family is staying home for a while, and this brought up new questions and worries for my kids. The three themes above still apply to all our follow-up conversations, but I have added a new dimension to what our family can do to be “germ busters:” We can practice social distancing.

I explained it like this: “Germs like to travel from person to person. Have you ever noticed how kids in your class sometimes get sick at the same time? If lots of people stay home for a while, it will be hard for the Coronavirus germs to travel to new people — and that’s good news for doctors and nurses who are helping people who get sick." A few hours later, I heard my 8-year-old re-explain it this way to her kindergarten brother: “This sickness isn’t a big deal for you or for me, but we need to be germ-busters so we can protect other people — like grandma and grandpa! This is how we help.”

Of course, that doesn’t mean social distancing is going to be easy. We are planning creative ways to stay in touch with family and friends — such as “story time” with different relatives over video chat each day. I am hoping they eventually see this as a time when our community pulled together to help others, and had some fun along the way spending extra time with their family.

Here are four ways we can help young kids build germ-busting habits.

Wash Your Hands

Make it a family routine before every meal and snack to wash hands. If you do it together, you can model for them how to use soap, rub your hands together and rinse. For a timer, try slowly singing the ABCs together while you scrub. In Curious George, the Man with the Yellow Hat has a cold. He teaches George how germs can move from person to person and that’s important to wash your hands and avoid sharing utensils. Good hand washers, like Daniel Tiger, are germ busters!

Catch that Cough

When kids cough or sneeze, they tend to do it right into their hands — and then they use those hands to touch everything in sight! Instead, we can cough and sneeze into our elbow. Make it a game with kids. Can they catch the cough in their elbow? In the beginning, cheer when they do: “You caught it! That’s what germ busters do!” If they accidentally “catch it in their hands,” they can simply wash their hands with soap and water and start the game again.

"Rest is Best"

Daniel Tiger reminds us that “When you’re sick, rest is best!” This is a good episode to show kids and a great song to sing when they are feeling under the weather. Tell them: When we are sick, we can stay home and rest our bodies; we can be germ busters by not spreading germs or going to school sick. And as parents, we can keep ourselves and our kids home if we have a fever or other symptoms.

Practice Healthy Habits

Remind kids that sleep, exercise and eating healthy foods are good, everyday ways to strengthen our bodies. We will all get sick sometimes! They have probably already had at least one cold this season. But we can be responsible germ busters when we practice hand washing, cough-catching, resting and basic healthy living.

30,000 Free Guided Meditations

Perhaps now, more than ever, we are all living in a time where balance and self-care are important. With coronavirus keeping most of us indoors, taking part in guided meditations, even for 5 or 10 minutes a day, can do wonders for parents and kids alike. Insight Timer provides more than 30,000 free meditations for as long as you want without ever having to pay a cent.

Most meditation apps say they’re free but the reality is quite different; once the starter pack finishes they quickly lock you out. Insight Timer offers the largest free library of guided meditations on earth and the world’s most loved meditation Timer, for free. They believe everyone deserves access to free daily meditation practice.

Topics include meditations for kids (with more than 450 meditations, that’s more than a year’s worth of free self-care guides for your kiddo), stress management, coping with anxiety, improving sleep, music medication, and over 200 other topics. You can even track your progress with beautiful charts and milestones which sync between devices and discover guided meditations, talks, and courses in more than 30 different languages.

Is there any free self-care app that you use?
Share in the comments below what you find to be the most helpful in times like this.

18 Free, Educational Resources for Kids Stuck at Home

ACADEMIA

1. Worksheets, activities, and lesson plans 

If you're in need of some daily structure with an academic bent, Lakeshore has a huge selection of free, printable resources for kids of all ages. Lakeshore has more than 1,000 resources for you to do at home including lesson plans, worksheets, templates, craft ideas, and more.

2. All-around learning 

Scholastic's new Learn at Home website offers free daily courses for kids. Each daily lesson includes age-appropriate writing, reading, and enrichment activities, and they're even offering virtual field trips.

3. A total education online

Khan Academy offers an abundance of free educational resources for kids and parents. If you're struggling with how to structure everybody's days, you'll love the detailed daily schedules for kids ages 4 to 18. Khan Academy's platform includes loads of interactive exercises, videos and articles that cover a range of subjects. There's also a free companion app, Khan Academy Kids, for children ages 2 to 7.

4. Cool science 

Reading, writing, and arithmetic are important, but don't forget to add some science to your new homeschool curriculum. Mystery Science has put together a fantastic selection of science lessons and experiments that can be done at home. Covering such intriguing subjects as "who invented pizza" and "why do woodpeckers peck wood," kids are sure to find the subjects engaging.

5. Learn about the world 

Explore the world without leaving your couch. Visit the Encantos Learning Hub—ideal for kids up to age 6—and check out the selection of free educational content that's created by real teachers. Kids can take a virtual geography lesson via Tiny Travelers and learn about other cultures. Prefer bilingual learning instead? Canticos offers bilingual preschool resources so your little one can learn both English and Spanish.  

STORYTIME

6. PJ LIBRARY

If you're Jewish—or just curious about Judaism—PJ Library hosts a daily Jewish-themed story time every morning at 10 am EST. Kids can watch videos of authors reading their books, and learn about important concepts like mitzvahs (good deeds). The PJ Library Facebook page also offers loads of activity suggestions for projects to do with kids.

7. STORYLINE

Too tired for story time? Opt for Storyline instead! The site offers a selection of videos of famous actors reading children's books. Each month they highlight certain titles, but there's always a huge selection of books to choose from, including The Hula Hoopin' Queen, read by Oprah Winfrey.

ART CLASS

8. Drawing classes 

Can you think of any illustrator who is more fun than Mo Willems? Whether Knuffle Bunny is your favorite, or Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, your child can learn to draw with Mo Willems himself, thanks to Lunch Doodles with Mo. Each short episode features Willems in his studio, teaching kids how to draw characters, and talking about his personal artistic process. A new episode gets released every day, so your children won't ever run out of Mo-tastic content.

9. Digital art

Kids can create their own kaleidoscopes with the free Osmo / Bennett Day School app. If your kids already have an Osmo kit, they can take advantage of the free Kaleidoscope App. When combined with the Osmo and a tablet, it turns everyday objects into beautiful kaleidoscopes—a great idea for turning natural materials into artwork. 

10. Original art  

Use some of the time you have allotted for art class to take a virtual tour of the Musee d'Orsay in Paris. Explore the galleries and famous artworks by renowned artists, such as Van Gogh, Renoir, and Cézanne. If your kids are more into modern art, opt for a tour of New York's Guggenheim Museum, or check out the offerings from The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.  

MUSIC CLASS

11. Family-friendly playlists and DJ classes

Under normal circumstances, Hesta Prynn can usually be found DJing for fashion brands and celebrity shindigs—she created Alexandra Ocasio Cortez's official playlist—but these days she's stuck at home with her 6-year-old, just like the rest of us. To save us all from weeks of Kidzbop or Baby Shark, she's releasing family-friendly playlists every few days on Spotify. Have an older kid who dreams of becoming a DJ? Prynn is also giving virtual DJ lessons via her Instagram stories.

12. Music classes

Don't let the music stop just because school isn't in session. Kids can tune in for daily jam sessions with their favorite family-friendly groups, thanks to YouTube and Facebook. Tune in every afternoon at 1 p.m EST for The Hootenanny, a music class that's pure silly fun. The Lucky Band hosts a daily Facebook Live jam session every morning at 10 a.m. EST, where they sing songs and read stories, and just have a great time. Kids will love singing along and getting to know all of the performers. 

DANCE CLASS

13. Ballet classes

If your child has always wanted to take ballet class with a famous ballerina, now is their chance. Tiler Peck, principal dancer at New York City Ballet, is teaching daily ballet classes every day at 1 pm EST via Instagram Live. Throw on a pair of ballet slippers and join in as she takes dancers through basic stretching and ballet positions.

FIELD TRIP

14. Visit with wild animals 

The zoo may be closed, but your kids can still learn about their favorite animals without leaving the house. The Cincinnati Zoo is hosting "Home Safaris" each day at 3 pm EST on Facebook Live. Each day they'll highlight one of their resident animals—like Rico, the Brazilian porcupine—and they'll also include an activity that kids can do from home. If you miss the live videos, you can always catch it later on the zoo's YouTube channel.

TIME TO EAT

15. Get cooking

America's Test Kitchen Kids has made their entire site completely free for everyone. Kids will love the colorful site and its plentiful selection of recipes, projects, and cooking lessons. We're planning to whip up a batch of the Almost No-Knead Whole Wheat Bread. 

PHYSICAL EDUCATION (P.E.)

16. Kids yoga

The Cosmic Kids Yoga channel, offering free daily classes, has over 400,000 subscribers for a reason: It's a fun way to introduce children to yoga. Each 15-minute-long video features a cute theme and simple, beginning yoga moves that are great for toddlers and older kids alike. Start each homeschool morning with a Cosmic Kids session to help everyone get centered for the day. 

17. Outside education

Tinkergarten, the company that's known for their outdoor-based early childhood education programs, has launched Tinkergarten at Home, to get parents outside—and learning—with their kids. Sign-up (it's free) to get access to weekly Tinkergarten activities, parenting insights, and live online sessions with other parents.

LANGUAGE CLASS

18. Learn another language

Keep up their foreign language learning with the ever popular Duolingo app. The free program offers instruction in a myriad of different languages—including Arabic, Welsh, and Spanish—in a colorful and easy-to-follow program that feels more like a game than a class. 

What free resources have you discovered lately?
we'd love to know about them. Just leave us a comment below!