Travel Weekly has compiled a list of useful resources for parents who are at home with children following the closure of schools across the country.
Download one of our travel-themed activity packs, created in association with education resource centre Twinkl, and print at home to keep inspiring your little ones to love the world around them. We will refresh the content regularly so be sure to return for updated activity packs in the coming weeks.
Send photos of you and your kids enjoying the activity packs to eleanor.kirk@travelweekly.co.uk and we will share the best ones!
Home learning resources
Many educational sites and activity centres are offering free content or free trials for parents. Here are a few to get you started.
If you would like to contribute ideas, links or more to this list of resources, please email natalie.marsh@travelweekly.co.uk
Twinkl – worksheets and activities for all ages. Sign up for an account and use code CVDTWINKLHELPS to access free content
CBeebies – fun, interactive games and ideas for activities to do at home
Oxford Owl – phonics, maths, games and eBooks. Click the links for Oxford Owl for Home to access free home learning resources
PE with Joe – daily PE lessons hosted on fitness guru Joe Wicks’ YouTube channel at 9am each day, suitable for children and adults
PhonicsPlay– games and resources for children learning phonics. No need to subscribe, log in with username march20 and password home to access content
The Maths Factor – online maths resource created by Carol Vorderman is suitable for ages 4-12 and is free throughout the UK school closure period
Topmarks – educational quizzes and interactive games covering maths, science, geography, history and more, with searches by age group or by subject
TV presenter Konnie Huq will be posting educational videos at 10am every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, aimed at 6-12 year olds, on her Youtube channel
Scenic has created a city quiz
Quiz: Guess the cities from these vintage photos
Virtual museum tours
Many museums and galleries around the world are opening their doors to the world with virtual access to their collections, offering children the opportunity to explore exhibitions they would never normally have access to. Here are some to get you started.
British Museum, London, UK – step inside the UK’s premier history museum with a virtual tour of its artefacts arranged in an easy-to-follow timeline format, or by subject. Look out for items from ancient Egypt, Roman Britain, Mughal India and modern-day African arts.
Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada – new microsite Be an Upstander offers fun drag-and-drop activities educating children about how to engage with human rights issues.
Louvre, Paris, France – tour world-famous collections including Egyptian antiquities and the remains of the museum’s medieval moat.
Maryland Science Center, Baltimore, US – ideas for science-related activities and crafts to try at home, from building a butterfly feeder to learning about bones
San Diego Zoo, San Diego, US – get up close with koalas, penguins, polar bears and more with a series of live cameras from world-famous San Diego Zoo. You’ll also find a host of activities and arts and crafts ideas aimed at younger children
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC, US – explore every room and follow every exhibit of the American natural history museum to learn about dinosaurs, geology, oceans, African wildlife and more
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands – art students won’t be the only ones to appreciate some of the Dutch artist’s best works with this Google-powered glimpse inside the Van Gogh Museum
Support and inspiration for parents
Yorkshire-based travel and lifestyle brand Girl About, has created a Facebook group, Happy Hour at Home, where activities are posted daily to keep children occupied.
“We’ve created a group where parents can come for inspiration and support to keep the kids entertained, and where they can share ideas and talk to other housebound families,” said Girl About founder Lyndsey Thomas.
South Africa shares educational tools
There’s an abundance of extraordinary wildlife and conservation initiatives to learn about in South Africa. A selection of game reserves are offering fantastic virtual educational classes, bringing the bush and safari closer to home for kids and adults alike.
Sabi Sands: “EleFun Escapes in the Wild”
Every Wednesday, Sabi Sabi is offering educational videos to inspire families, bringing the safari experience to them. You can watch the videos here.
Leeu Collection: Mindful colouring
For those looking for an activity to do alongside the kids, Luxury Leeu Estate has created some mindful colouring for kids and adults. Once coloured in, the faces can be cut out and used as faces masks.
Download the kids version here.
Download the adult version here.
Tswalu Kalahari: Conservation and wildlife classes
Tune into Tswalu’s Instagram and Facebook pages on Thursdays to see researchers post live videos and Q&As.
Samara Game Reserve: Bush lessons
Videos and activities are specifically designed for younger audiences. New videos are uploaded to Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube daily at around 5pm.
Costa Rica Tourism Board releases kids activity book
The Costa Rica Tourism Board has just launched a learn-and-play activity book for children, featuring an array of colouring activities, puzzles and games.
The activities will help children to learn about Costa Rica’s wildlife, including sloths, frogs and sea turtles.
The 12-page book can be downloaded for free here.
Day Out With The Kids activity sheets
If you’re stuck for ideas for what to do at home, take inspiration from the team at Day Out With The Kids, who have created a series of activity sheets with tips on arts and crafts, educational games and fun things to do in the garden – can you tick them all off?
Click on the images below to download the activity sheets.
16 educational activities for kids to do at home
Easy craft activities for kids you can do at home
Activities to do in the garden
More activities for kids to do at home
