Ideas to Keep Your Family Busy and Learning at Home

Over the next few weeks, everyone will be spending a lot more time at home due to the threat of the Coronavirus cancelling events, closing local schools, and requiring social distancing practices. To help keep your family active and entertained during this extended time at home, we have compiled a list of activities, educational websites, book lists, fitness options, and streaming recommendations that everyone will love.

Streaming Ideas:

• Click Here to see what’s new on Netflix.
• Click Here to see what’s new on Hulu.
• Click Here to see what’s new on Amazon Prime.
• Click Here for a list of ImOn employee’s favorite binge worthy shows.
• Click Here for a list of the 50 best kid’s movies for family movie night

Educational Ideas:

• Scholastic has launched a free “Learn at Home” website with daily courses for students pre-kindergarten to grade 6, so kids can keep learning while schools are closed.
  
  
• Keep learning from home resources:
  • https://pbskids.org/ (videos & games centered around PBS Kids)
  • https://play.prodigygame.com/ (math games)
  • starfall.com (reading games)
  • https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/ (games, videos, quizzes from National Geographic Kids)
  • typingclub.com (learn to type)
  • https://www.squigglepark.com/ (reading skills and comprehension ages 3-15+)
  • https://mysterydoug.com/ (5 minute science videos for kids)
  • https://www.sikids.com/ (sports news, articles, videos, and activities for kids)
  • https://www.highlightskids.com/ (Games, activities, and videos from Highlights Kids Magazine)

Kids’ Activity Ideas:

• 50+ indoor activities for kids https://busytoddler.com/2020/03/indoor-activities/
• 100+ activities and crafts for kids https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/
• Toy-Washing Bin – let your kids help wash their plastic toys to help eliminate germs.
• Augmented Reality Game Apps Suggestions
• The San Diego Zoo has a website featuring videos, activities, and games for kids to learn about animals at the zoo https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/
• Have your kids check out some of the live webcams from the Georgia Aquarium. https://www.georgiaaquarium.org/webcam/indo-pacific-barrier-reef/
• Every day at 2pm (CT) the Cincinnati Zoo will do a Facebook Live video that will feature a different creature at the zoo. They will provide educational information and links to fun activities for kids based on the live videos. https://www.facebook.com/cincinnatizoo/
• Free Virtual Hogwarts Escape Room

Fitness Ideas:

• FitOn App
• Freeletics App
• Simply Yoga App
• YouTube offers a wealth of kickboxing, yoga, HIIT, and other video-streamed workout routines.
• Ask your local gym if they are streaming any classes online
• Heat Yoga CR is offering daily yoga classes on their website www.Heatyogacr.com
• Talk a walk around the block, just remember to keep your distance from others.
  
  

Reading Ideas:

• You can get free ebooks with your Cedar Rapids, Marion, & Hiawatha Library Cards at https://mln.overdrive.com/
• The 100 Books to Read Before You Die
• Top Book Club Book Lists
• Must-Read Book Club Picks for 2020
• B&N Top 100 Book Bestsellers list
• 2019-2020 Iowa High School Book Award Nominee Book List (Ages 9-12)
• 2019-2020 Iowa Teen Award Nominee Book List (Ages 6-9)
• 2019-2020 Iowa Children’s Choice Award Nominee Book List (Ages 3-6)
• 2019-2020 Iowa Goldfinch Award Nominee Book List (Ages K-3)
  
  

Podcasts Ideas:

• The 50 Best Podcasts to Listen to Right Now
• Stitchers weekly ranking of the most popular podcasts.
• The Way I Heard It Podcast: Short stories with a twist about pop culture and political figures throughout history.
  
  

List of  local businesses that are open:

• https://loveyourlocaliowa.com/

Volunteering Ideas:

• List of virtual volunteer ideas and links
• United Way's Volunteer NOW