Some of the best ways to keep my kids engaged at home include听having them imagine a world unlike their own, whether that鈥檚 playing make believe in the backyard or reading a transporting book. Now that they鈥檙e staying put for the foreseeable future, it鈥檚 never been more important to create a routine that reinforces听learning and escapism. From taking a virtual safari with naturalists in Kenya听to practicing outdoor survival skills with what鈥檚 available in your green space, here are some ideas to bring that sense of adventure into your your little ones鈥櫶齦ives.
Take a Virtual Field Trip
Farms, zoos, and aquariums around the planet are releasing virtual field trips geared toward听children. , in Half Moon Bay, California, is offering private and school-group virtual tours that take viewers behind the scenes of the property and introduce them to its rescued animals. The听听hosts a home safari on Facebook Live each weekday, while 听产谤辞补诲肠补蝉迟蝉听live, interactive听online safaris for kids ages 4 to 18 with naturalists in South Africa听and Kenya. You can鈥檛 rip down the 60-foot-long natural waterslide at 听in North Carolina right now, but you can enjoy a听 of it, then don swimsuits and听听in the backyard.听
Make the Most of Your Outdoor Space听
Staying home doesn鈥檛 have to mean staying inside your house. If you have a backyard, a balcony, or just a window, recess can still be in session. For activities that can work in various types of spaces, check out this听 from around the world, which include听clapping games from Nigeria and a two-person hopping contest from Brazil called听luta de galo听that requires no more than a handkerchief. With or without outdoor space, pick up the book 听($17),听which outlines creative ways to turn your kids into clever outdoorspeople, from assembling a pocket first aid kit and identifying animal tracks to using rocks to make a sun-clock. Or sign up for the听, which has youngsters across the country logging and sharing听times for their fastest mile or 50-yard dash, as a way to replicate school sports.听
Receive the World in Your Mailbox
When it comes to travel, whether that鈥檚 to the park or somewhere more far-flung, the loss of anticipation can be just as impactful for kids as canceling the trip itself. Recreate it by signing up for one of the many subscription services that connect children听with cultures around the world. 鈥 World Edition (from $17 a month), geared toward kids ages three听to nine, sends a monthly package that鈥檚 focused on听a different country. Each includes pen-pal letters from the brand鈥檚 鈥渉osts,鈥澨齋am and Sofia, along with activity sheets, souvenirs, and online access to interactive activities. is similar听but sends bimonthly packages that are more centered around听arts and crafts. Or consider a听 subscription, a monthly box of global snack food, like Turkish spice crackers or Colombian lollipops.
Create a Photo Book of Your Trip
You can finally put together that photo journal or scrapbook from your last trip鈥攁nd your child can help select and arrange the design. For younger kids, Lonely Planet鈥檚 听($10) allows them to get creative with pictures and other souvenirs, including making a miniature park with collected leaves and a skyline with ticket stubs. For those a little older who want to start planning for future travel, this听 from Etsy ($28) includes more than 140 decorative and organizing elements, as well as craft听materials.
Buy a Book That Inspires Travel
You鈥檙e never too young to learn about the importance of preserving wild spaces. Two wonderfully illustrated books for young readers include 听($8), by Kate Coombs, and听听($19), by听国产吃瓜黑料 contributor Kate Siber. Each park featured in Siber鈥檚 book offers information about its wildlife and plants, and a page at the back tests readers鈥 knowledge. Another inspirational choice听is听听($15), by Elisha Cooper, a fictional story about a woman鈥檚 solo canoe trip down听the Hudson River that explores the diversity that exists among New York鈥檚 urban sprawl. And don鈥檛 forget 听($8), a classic by Barbara Cooney, where old Aunt Alice travels the world before figuring out a way to make it more beautiful.
Stream Activities from Hotels鈥 Kids鈥 Clubs听
Bring the joy of a hotel鈥檚 kids鈥 club听into your living room with the #AubergeatHome series from the听. You can听 from 听in Aspen, Colorado, whip up a听 with the help of the wellness crew at the听听resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, or听听under the direction of staff at the nearby . Also coming from Los Cabos is the series, which is streaming arts and crafts activities from the hotel鈥檚 kids鈥 club.听