Online Learning & Craft Kits for Kids at Home
With school years winding down and many summer camps for kids canceled, creating opportunities for learning and creating are going to be helpful and important this summer. Below is a list of online classes and resources that you and your kids can enjoy while practicing social distancing and staying safer at home. Some are free or discounted, and some links are affiliate links. I hope this is helpful to you!
Revolution Math: This online math program includes a live tutor and 3-4 kids from around the country using storytelling to learn math. My third and fifth grader are both enrolled and they love it. Try it for one month for just $1 with the code JESSICA. Your child will also receive a FREE box of math education tools like graph paper, a protractor, special dice and more. It’s awesome!
ABC Mouse: If you have kids under 7, ABCMouse is wonderful. We have been subscribers for 6 years and all of our kids have used it to learn reading, writing, math, science, social studies and more. It makes learning fun through activities and games. Right now save 74% off by getting two months for just $5. After that it is $9.95 a month, or you can easily cancel. You can also get a year-long subscription for just $59.95, which is nearly 50% off. Try it today.
Adventure Academy: From the creators of ABCMouse, Adventure Academy offers learning games and videos for reading, math, science and more for kids ages 8-13. We just signed up for it and Adeline absolutely loves it. Try it FREE for one month today! You can also get one year for just $59.95, which saves you nearly 50% off (more than 5 months free).
Watercolor class with Emily Lex: This is the most popular online kids class I have ever shared on The Mom Creative. Hundreds of families have enjoyed Emily’s amazing Watercolor for Kids online class. Adeline has made countless paintings and I cannot say enough good things about it. The class is perfect for kids ages 6-12. Get 15% off with the code JESSICA15. This is also a great way to support a small business during this time. Parents: You’ll enjoy Emily’s Simplified Watercolor Class and Simplified Penmanship Class, too.
Kids Cook Real Food: This is an online cooking class for kids and it is so thorough. Adeline has been expressing a lot of interest in cooking lately, especially since I started my new recipe challenge. I am so excited for her to dive into this course. It’s only available to sign up for through March 16, so sign up right away if you think your kids will enjoy it. Thousands of families have taken these classes! If you don’t want to sign up for the full course, check out this $7 knife skills course, which I know my kids need!
Kiwi Co Crates: For a monthly activity your kids will LOVE check out the Kiwi Co. family of subscription boxes. We have been subscribers for nearly eight years. Their kits and activities are wonderful and perfect for kids of all ages. Currently, we subscribe to Kiwi Crate for Ezra and Doodle Crate for Adeline. We have also loved the Tinker Crate and Koala Crate over the years. They are all fabulous. Click here to get 30% off any subscription.
Bluprint: Make creativity easy with classes, project ideas, patterns and more! This is a site geared toward adults, but would be perfect for crafty tweens/teens. Right now they are offering a 14-day free trial. After the trial it is $9.99 a month, but you can sign up for an annual subscription for $39.99. I just signed up for myself and am giddy over all the incredible classes available.
Free Education Sites
Lots of education companies are offering 30-day+ free trials for parents looking for educational activities for their kids during this extended period at home.
Scholastic Learn at Home: From their site – Even when schools are closed, you can keep the learning going with these special cross-curricular journeys. Every day includes four separate learning experiences, each built around a thrilling, meaningful story or video. Kids can do them on their own, with their families, or with their teachers. Just find your grade level and let the learning begin! The site offers Pre-K through 6+.
Playful Learning: For the next 30-days, you can access hundreds of lessons and printables that can be enjoyed at home for children ages 2-6 FREE. Over the next week Playful Learning will be rolling out many more educational resources and online classes to keep playful learners engaged at home. I have been a long-time follower of Playful Learning and am so excited to check it out for Ezra.
At Home with Emily Arrow: Monday-Friday, Emily will host daily online learning, music and stories on YouTube at 1 pm EST/10 am PST.
Lunchtime doodles with Mo Williams: I LOVE this fun new daily doodle with Mo Williams, and so do my kids!
Florida Virtual School: From their site: Whether you live in Florida or beyond, you can access more than 190 courses with us, from Algebra to AP Art History and everything in between. Our courses are real—just like the certified teachers who teach them. Public, private, and homeschool students from Kindergarten through 12th grade use our courses to succeed on their own time and schedules.
Kiwi at Home: Kiwi Crate has created a special web page with tons of fun learning activities and crafts.
Workbooks
Buying some good old-fashioned workbooks is another way to keep kids busy. We love workbooks in our house and definitely have already pulled them out and ordered a few new ones. Supplies are limited already on Amazon, so I would order now and return if you decide you don’t need them. Many are in the $6-$10 range.
School Zone workbooks – they are THICK and really, really nice. We have several and I love them. You can also check out other great resources from School Zone here.
Brain Quest workbooks: These are another series of workbooks that we love! I ordered the summer “between grades 3&4” and “between grades 5&6” for Elias and Adeline. I figure what they don’t do while home during this outbreak, then can do over the summer.
Get Ready for School workbooks
Star Wars workbooks: Yep, Star Wars + Math/Writing/Language Arts! These have been a long-time favorite in our house and many are on sale for $4.49 – $6.49.
Schedules and Other Resources
This google doc lists TONS of educational sites and resources. Khan Academy has also outlined daily structured ideas for kids based on age-level, which I really like and plan to loosely follow. For more planning, check out this free google doc from Kristen Howerton. Teach Mama also has a free printable schedule you can customize and use.
For dozens more free sites, check out this massive list.
More Helpful Posts
I’ve written several other posts that might be helpful during this time.
How to Prepare for Coronavirus: The Best Delivery Services
Hand Sanitizer + Free Cleaning, Beauty or Baby Products: Check out this offer from Grove Collaborative to get $30 in free products with any order of $20 or more. With everything from paper towel to vitamins to hand sanitizer, you can get it all from Grove.
Free Kindle Unlimited: Amazon has extended its free offer for Kindle Unlimited. Especially perfect if you are homebound now, especially because they have so many books for kids and adults.
$35 off Home Chef: Get fresh ingredients to make amazing meals at home. Your first box is $35 off, making it as low as $14.80. We have used this service since November and it is awesome.
Read Your Books Challenge: With libraries across America closing or already closed, this is the perfect opportunity to join the #ReadYourBooks challenge and read more of the books you already own. Get the details + free printables here.
13 Ninja Crafts & Activities for Kids
21 Rainy Day Activities: This post has been getting lots of traffic and is full of fun ideas.
Activities to Do With Kids on School Break: Most of these are still applicable, even if you are staying home.
These are great resources for kids to engage in online learning and allow parents to still get things done!
I’ve been using Math Seeds and Reading Eggs for my 4-year-old, but interested in some of these other programs you mention. Revolution Math looks good, and I’ve looked into the Kiwi Co. crates as well!