The Best Online Activities For Kids In Lockdown

An app that reads aloud. This article was written while one child listened to Curious George seven times and the other to the Kitty and Dragon series using Epic! The digital reading platform hires voice actors to read many of its 40,000 books for kids 12 and under, highlighting the words as they’re spoken. $7.99 per month after free trial

Virtual summer camp. Enrollees in Camp Kinda get a daily email with three to four hours of activities built around a weekly theme such as “Circus at Home” or “Wild Weather.” The list of supplies necessary to take part is geared toward overwhelmed parents. (Translation: You won’t need to buy obscure crafting items or deal with 40-step instructions.) Free

Interactive encyclopedia. BrainPOP offers animations and videos on topics such as Mars, matter, and money, and a dozen ways to engage with each—quizzes, games, jokes, etc. $10 per month

Play with the pros. NBC Sports Camp is a new partnership between NBC Sports and the Chelsea Piers athletic hub in New York that provides a four-week online sports camp for age 7 to 12. Sessions include workouts, drills, talks on topics such as nutrition and safety, and chats with famous athletes. It’s all on demand, so your favorite little dribbler can dip in and out. Free

Next-level home schooling. Homeschool Co-op 2020 features online courses by volunteer parents, many of whom are professors, researchers, and other experts. Classes cover the major academic topics, plus fun stuff: chocolate chip cookies, cats, and Hamilton. Free

Coding for tykes. Scratch is a simple coding language designed by MIT that lets kids create animations, write stories, and play games while learning how to solve problems. Scratch Jr. is for age 5 to 7. Free

Reading with Grandma. Caribu is a videoconferencing app that lets far-flung family members choose a book or an activity for kids up to age 7 and engage in it in real time. Perfect for parents who need a break. Free during the pandemic

The “Pirate” life. Story Pirates, best known for a hilarious podcast that turns children’s stories into performances (often with A-list guests), has been growing: There are livestreamed classes; a daily radio show; albums on iTunes, Apple Music, and Spotify; and a “Creator Club” subscription service. Catch the last session of July’s “Story Pirates Creator Camps” (July 27-31), a partnership with Random House for kids age 5 to 12. The podcast and livestreamed classes are free, the subscription service is $5 a month, and the camps are $195.

Worthwhile websites

San Diego Zoo Kids: A mecca for little animal lovers, with cams, videos, activities, and other resources.

TED-Ed@Home: Just like adult TED, TED-Ed serves up short videos on topics such as night owls vs. early birds and systemic racism. Make sure to sign up for the daily newsletter with lesson plans for all ages.

Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls on YouTube: Empowering, funny content that will be a slam-dunk for brainy daughters—and more than a few sons.

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