Wendy Meyer
Editor’s Note: We will be updating this list throughout this Coronavirus crisis. If you have a virtual experience you would like to add, email wendy@playgroundmagazine.com
Music, Art & Culture:
Carve out some time in your day for these culture club activities together!
- MusikGarten Orlando at Bushel & Peck Studios is offering virtual classes for members! @musikgartenorlando
- Kindermusik House Party
Grow & Sing Studios is offering an online interactive experiences for members. Online access will include links to LIVE activities such as Kindermusik classes, story time, sing-a-longs, puppet shows, sign language activities, instrument demos, craft tutorials and bedtime lullabies. It’s a $68 one-time fee to access all online programming. Register here.
- All Kids Spanish
This amazing local program is taking its unique brand of language immersion online! Interested in enrolling? Contact them at admin@allkidspanish.com. allkidspanish.com
- Songbrids Music, Arts & Dance Center in Oviedo is offering virtual art and dance classes. This week these classes will be provided for free. Register here.
- Mr. Richard and the Pound Hounds Facebook Live Concert
Mr. Richard to the rescue with a little musical distraction and home dancing this Friday, March 27 at 11 a.m. Live from his den to ours!
https://www.facebook.com/Mr-Richard-and-the-Pound-Hounds-128873660253/
- 20 Virtual Field Trips to Take with Your Kids
This will be a handy-dandy resource when we all start school at home.
- Faces of Frida
A closer look at the many faces of Frida Kahlo through her life, art, and legacy. Online exhibits, videos, and articles exploring this famous artist.
https://artsandculture.google.com/project/frida-kahlo
- Social Distancing Festival Online Calendar
Check out this website that is creating an up-to-the-minute calendar of concerts being live-streamed.
https://socialdistancingfestival.com
- #TogetherAtHome
John Legend and other artists live streaming concerts from their homes on Instagram using the hashtag #togetherathome.
- Lunch Doodles with Mo Williams
Learners worldwide can draw, doodle and explore new ways of writing by visiting Mo’s studio virtually once a day for the next few weeks. Grab some paper and pencils, pens, or crayons and join Mo to explore ways of writing and making together. New episodes will be posted each weekday at 1 p.m. EST. https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems/
- Art for Kids Hub
Your kids can take this free, easy and fun art class on YouTube. Many of their lessons are perfect for any age, all you need is a few supplies. New videos are uploaded Monday through Friday.
https://www.youtube.com/user/ArtforKidsHub
Fitness & Wellness:
Self care right now is of utmost importance! Check out these awesome classes available right at your fingertips.
- YMCA Virtual Wellness Center
The YMCA of Central Florida is offering FREE live online classes for both YMCA members and the general public! Join them for strength training, HIIT, yoga and more in your living room. There’s even some recipes and opportunities to speak to a chef! This is a great option for the entire Central Florida community to stay connected, active and healthy. Read more details here.
https://ymcacentralflorida.com/virtualwellness/?fbclid=IwAR1MliAHV34QovJI6S_g2rgcnCpJ-2a7De3puhVHlEfPaCBOtyEwiddzF8o
- Smile Mile Goes Virtual!
Check out how Track Shack is turning this popular annual event into a virtual experience. Register and receive a child’s t-shirt, racing bib and medal then go outside on March 28 and do something for a mile: Run a mile, walk a mile, bike for a mile, or skateboard for a mile … you get the idea!
https://www.trackshack.com/event/29?fbclid=IwAR2hwUJ3bMNvD2EnWEBT-YaK3WRVmmyB2KN0ezkLiCytGIApTfEbcG1qglc
- Bar Method
The Orlando-Winter Park location is live-streaming classes on Instagram. The kids can join you … or not. @barmethodorlandolive
- Red Sun Yoga’s Good Vibe Tribe
Red Sun Yoga in Winter Springs is offering multiple, daily, live, virtual classes through their “RSY Good Vibe Tribe” Facebook group for members.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/RSYGVT
Science:
Some of our favorite local zoos, museums and attractions are providing content to keep you entertained and educated.
- Mad Science’s Jr. Scientist Letter Program
Scientists know that encouraging your kiddo to write can be hard. So, they’re requesting letters from your Junior Scientists! They can:
– Write about their favorite dinosaur
– Ask why the sky is blue
– Draw a picture of their favorite science experiment
– Ask about Mad Science’s favorite dinosaur
… or whatever else they would like to write!
Mad Science has promised to write back! Just have your kiddo use the special border paper below (but not necessary)! Then post the letter on Facebook with the hashtag #DearMadScientist, or email the letter to DearMadScientist@gmail.com. They can’t wait to hear from you!
- The Zoo Comes to You
Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens are live-streaming a zoo tour every day at 2 p.m. where you can see the animals up close and ask questions to the zookeepers.
https://www.facebook.com/CentralFloridaZoo/
- School of Crocs LIVE with Gatorland Orlando
Gatorland’s famous reptile friends give us their best faces for close-ups every day! The experts share information about their resident alligators and crocs for kids and adults. 10 a.m. daily
https://www.facebook.com/gatorland/
- Orlando Science Center’s favorite films for streaming:
– America’s Musical Journey by GoUSA TV
– Coral Reef Adventure, Dolphins, The Living Sea, Van Gogh: Brush with Genius on Amazon Prime Video. https://www.primevideo.com/
– Dream Big, Humpback Whales, National Parks Adventure on Vimeo on Demand! https://vimeo.com
- Kennedy Space Center
The education team at Kennedy Space Center will have daily Facebook Live videos that cover topics such as living in space, Mars and rocketry. Tours of Space Shuttle Atlantis and the Astronaut Training Experience will also be offered. The videos will pair with at-home activities kids can do using everyday items like paper towel tubes and rubber bands to build a rocket. These Facebook Live videos will take place Monday through Friday at 9:30 a.m. EST for young children. Older children, including those in high school, can tune in at 1 p.m. for programming geared toward them.
https://www.facebook.com/KennedySpaceCenterVisitorComplex/
Storytime:
Don’t worry parents, your beloved story time is alive and well with the help of the internet!
- Josh Gad reading stories on Twitter
The voice of Olaf and the actor who plays Le Fou, Josh Gad, reads bedtime stories each night to children, and it is adorable!
Twitter.com/joghgad
- Scholastic Books
Free online classes
https://www.scholastic.com/home/
- Check out @savewithstories on Instagram!
Where different celebrities host daily stories read by celebs for a cause. https://www.instagram.com/savewithstories
- The Orange County Library’s Virtual Story time
OCLS is live streaming virtual story time on their Facebook page with multiple sessions for different age groups. Movement activities combined with songs, finger puppet plays, picture books, and flannel board stories encourage active toddlers in developing verbal and listening skills.
https://www.facebook.com/oclslib
- Mayor Megan Reads and Educates
Oviedo’s Mayor, Megan Sladek, is taking the time to read daily to kids of all ages. Every day at 4:30! Also, join her LIVE and streaming from City Hall where she will be hosting an interactive lesson on government and how government operates! This is a cool opportunity for kids to ask a real mayor real questions.
https://www.facebook.com/MeganSladek
Supplies To-Go:
Support these local businesses and keep your sanity by purchasing toys/activities from local businesses to keep your kids happy and busy.
- Arty Party To-Go by local business Art in the Park Orlando
This art party in a box will keep 5 people creatively engaged in fun activities. It includes a custom project, a step-by-step digital tutorial, an 8×10 pre-sketched canvas, all supplies (paint, brushes, smocks, etc.). Locally delivery included or they can ship.
http://www.artintheparkorlando.com
- Busy Boxes by Tugboat & the Bird
Specially curated boxes of fun delivered to your door. Call for details: 407-647-5437. Prices vary.
- FREE shipping on all orders from YaYa + Lou
YaYa + Lou is a great place to order your stay-at-home survival supplies, such as toys, gifts, clothes, and dolls.
https://www.yayaandlou.com
- Curbside pickup at Good Crowd
Shop their Instagram posts, DM them your order and pick up your stuff … It’s just that easy!
@goodcrowdshop
Technology
Kids will love these programs to increase their tech skills.
- Nitro Type
Challenge your kiddos to a racing game… The fastest typer wins! One game that mom will probably hold the championship title on for many years to come.
https://www.nitrotype.com/race
- Build, Design and Develop a Wix Website
Tweens and teens can get creative building their own free website at Wix.com
- Full Sail Labs FREE Online Courses
It’s never too early for teens to start their creative journey and explore future career opportunities in media and technology. Full Sail Labs offers teens free online courses for personal enrichment so they can work toward their dream. Their free courses in Music & Recording or Game Design are centered around unlocking creativity, encouraging personalized learning, and making relevant connections to technology, entertainment and media-driven industries.
PLAYGROUND
Maddy Zollo