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Offline Activities and Learning for Young Children

Supporting your child's development through uncertainties

This year has been heavy. First, the coronavirus outbreak changed many things about our daily lives. And, then, as a society, we are waking up to the fact that our system is broken when it comes to the health, safety and well-being of Black, Brown, and Native people.

Through these uncertain times, our young children are still learning, growing, and developing every day. You can support your child’s healthy development by setting aside few minutes to learn some simple, free activities that can make a difference (and they may even help relieve your stress!).

Read more

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Helpful Resources for supporting development during this time

Books! Check out our online portal at bookshop.org.

• Also, hop over to 4 Booklists for Kids and Communities That Embrace Race

  1. ​Books that inspire resilience in kids of color​​

  2. Books that encourage kids of all colors to be inclusive and empathetic 

  3. Books that support kids to think critically about racial inequity

  4. Books that animate kids (and their adults!) to be racial justice advocates for all kids

Printables are a great way to keep your children engaged without a screen involved.

• A selection of crafts & coloring Sheets with diverse characters

• Lets Grow Kids activity Packet

Screen free fun from the museum of Oakland

Art Ideas. Art Bar has an amazing Kids in Quarantine series with week by week activities. Check out the creative series and pick and choose projects that work for your child (and you!).

Talk with family and friends via video chat or phone. This is a great way to connect children with other adults (and give you a short break!). Grandparents

If talking live isn’t an option, write emails or old-fashioned letters to friends and family. Encourage children to ask questions of their grandparents and other adults.

Make encouraging posters and signs and put them in your windows to support your neighbors. This can also be a fun craft project to do with children!

Go outside and say hello to neighbors, friends, people passing by. Just make sure to keep at least 6 feet away from anyone who doesn’t live with you.

• Article: Coronavirus (COVID-19): physical distancing and family wellbeing (Raising Children Network)

• Article: Keeping Classroom Connections Alive (Harvard Graduate School of Education)

• Article: Resources for Supporting Children’s Emotional Well-being during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Child Trends)

Anti-Racism Resources - Start Today

Every one of us has a role in the work of anti-racism. It’s our job, and our time, to not only be outraged, but to act. We each have an obligation to act against the racist violence intertwined with the fabric of society. This is the time to show up, do the work, internally & externally, listen, learn your power & use it to create justice.

As parents raising the next generation, this is crucial work.

Here’s the thing, parents of black and brown kids know that instilling their kids with a sense of racial identity and talking about how racism will inevitably affect their lives -- and possibly even their safety -- are essential life lessons.

Parents of white kids, on the other hand, often don't feel the same pressure. But as racist violence continues to erupt, discussing race, racism, and the history of racial oppression in the United States and the world is just as essential for white families.

These are not easy conversations to have. Start early. Stay consistent. And stand for anti-racism in every interaction to show your children, by example, how to move through the world as an ally.

Let’s start now. If you are outraged today, take action for a different tomorrow.

Here are some ways to start the work with your child:

Common Sense Media and The Children’s Community School share some of the tips below as you talk about race with your child. Research shows that children as young as 6 months old recognize differences. Start the conversations early and consistently.

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Teach your kid to be an ally

Learn about how white people can support people of color by being allies and then integrate these ideas into your conversations and actions with your kids. Talk through scenarios your kid might encounter online and discuss (and model) when it might be best to just listen, to call someone out, to amplify someone's voice, to share resources, etc.

Share mistakes you've made around talking about race and racism -- in person or online -- with your kids so they know it's OK to not be perfect or have all the answers.

Tips and Approaches

• 7 Things to Do When Your Kid Points Out Someone’s Differences, by Rachel Garlinghouse.

• Talking With Children About Racism, Police Brutality and Protests, by Laura Markham.

• 6 Things White Parents Can Do to Raise Racially Conscious Children, by Bree Ervin.

Diversify your bookshelf & activities

Choose books and toys that include persons of different races and ethnicities. Look for stories featuring and written by people of color. Here are some places to start:

• Let's Talk About Race by Julius Lester ( children's book)

• Coretta Scott King Book Award Winners

• Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You

• https://www.mothermag.com/diverse-kids-books

• Story Time with Mr. Limata

• Black Lives Matter Coloring book

What Can One Little Person Do?

Perhaps you heard the song “What Can One Little Person Do?” on the Children’s Community School album, and don’t know how to talk to your children about the historical figures mentioned. Here are one sentence answers you can use if your child asks, “Who is that?”, plus suggestions for children’s books about each of them.

• Rosa Parks is famous for refusing to obey a law that said people with dark skin could only sit at the back when they rode the bus, and for helping to change unfair laws like that one. More reading: Rosa, by Nikki Giovanni, illustrated by Bryan Collier.

• Fannie Lou Hamer worked to make sure black people would have the same right to vote as white people, even when people tried to scare her and hurt her. More reading: Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Ekua Holmes.

• For a long time, an unfair law said that children with different color skin couldn’t go to school together; Ruby Bridges was the first black child to go to a school with white children when the law changed. More reading: The Story of Ruby Bridges, by Robert Coles, Illustrated by George Ford; Ruby Bridges Goes to School, by Ruby Bridges.

• Martin Luther King, Jr. was a leader in the civil rights movement, who helped thousands of people come together to say that people should be treated fairly, no matter their skin color. More reading: Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King, Jr., by Jean Marzollo, illustrated by J. Brian Pinkney.

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In addition to conversations — movies, TV, and books as well as other media and tech -- can be powerful tools to help you get started. Media makes big impressions on kids. Discussions can, and should, be kept age-appropriate. But the messages you send -- from the media you choose, to the conversations you initiate -- are what kids will hold in their hearts and minds long after the final credits.

From Common Sense Media, here are some ideas for how to use media to start and continue conversations about race and racism with your kids. This list is not exhaustive, so if you have other ideas, please add them to the comments.

Point out racism in movies, TV, and games

It can be easy to let stereotypes fly by when watching the minstrel-show crows in Dumbo or exaggerated accents in The Goonies. But by pointing out when something is racist, you're helping your kid develop critical-thinking skills. These skills will allow conversations about race and stereotypes to deepen as kids get older.

Watch hard stuff

For parents of older children, you can begin to expose them to the harsh realities of racism throughout history and through the current day. That doesn't mean nonstop cable news replaying gruesome details of violence but carefully chosen films like The 13th or McFarland, USA. You can also watch footage of protests to kick off conversations about anger, fear, oppression, and power. Be explicit about racism and discrimination being hurtful, damaging, and wrong.

Seek out media created by people of color

As you choose your family movie night pick or browse online for books, specifically look for authors and directors of color. Aim for stories that include people of color in lead roles and as fully developed characters. With older kids, take an audit of how many movies or books you've recently watched or read that were created by people of color. Discuss the reasons for any imbalance and the importance of a variety of perspectives.

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Devote time to Learn, Participate and Act

Broaden your own perspectives

Follow and read Black and brown voices and media outlets. Use what you learn to inform conversations with your kids. Some places to start (and by no means a complete list):

• Ava DuVernay (Twitter)

• Blavity

• Brittany Packnett Cunningham

• Franchesca Ramsey

• The Grio

• Ibram X. Kendi

• Indian Country Today

• MadameNoire

• Mitú

• NextShark

• Ricefeed (Instagram)

• The Root

Discuss hate speech and harassment online

Ask your (older) children if they've seen racist language in YouTube videos or comments. For social media-using kids, talk about racist memes. Ask them to show you examples and aim to develop empathy without shaming them. Help them understand how following or sharing racist accounts helps spread hate. Brainstorm ways they can safely and responsibly speak out against racist imagery and messages online. Adapt this lesson on countering hate speech for your conversations.

Build news literacy

Besides sharing news articles from different perspectives with your kids, use opportunities like protests in Minneapolis to discuss how news is presented. What kinds of stories get the most attention? How are language and images used differently to depict people and incidents depending on the news outlet, the people involved, and the topic? Look at news coverage of incidents where White people commit acts of violence and compare to when people of color do.

Sign petitions:

• Justice for George Floyd petition

• Justice for Breonna Taylor petition

• Color of Change; text “floyd” to 55156 to sign the petition demanding that the officers involved in Floyd’s death are charged with murder, are blcoked from receiving their pensions, and cannot become police officers again

Contact Representatives:

• City of Minneapolis; write a letter to Mayor Frey demanding justice

• County Attorney Mike Freeman; call 612-348-5550 and demand the officers are charged with murder

Donate:

• Minnesota Freedom Fund; will bail out arrested protesters and provide supplies to those on the field

• Reclaim the Block; based in Minneapolis, uses funds to address community needs

• Black Lives Matter

• George Floyd Memorial Fund; started by George Floyd’s family

• Black Visions Collective

• Louisville Community Bail Fund; community bail out fund for arrested protesters in Louisville, Breonna Taylor’s hometown

• Campaign Zero; working for legislative reform and change by developing and fighting for policy solutions

• Black Voters Matter; advocating for policy reform and voter empowerment

Other things you can do:

• Research what protests you can be a part of this weekend (wear gloves and a mask) in honor of George Floyd & Black Lives Matter

• Take action and Fight for Breonna

• Join the I RUN WITH MAUD Facebook group for information on how to contact commissioners Brunson & Booker

• Read black books

• Learn black history

• Support black-owned businesses

• Support queer-owned businesses

• Listen to black folx

• Vote

Lastly, if you are white, read the interactive book "Me and White Supremacy" and any or all of these books recommended by Ibram X. Kendi.

This list is by no means exhaustive. If you have resources to contribute, please share them in the comments so we can add and share.

Online activities and learning for littles

The most important learning for young children takes happens through play and socialization.

Since peer play is on hold and parents need a break every so often to come up for air, we wanted to share some great websites and tech-based resources for younger children. We hope you find these resources helpful as you explore ways to occupy your child for part of the day.

Early learning activities, videos and games

PBS Kids newsletter, video and gaming apps

PBS Kids launched a new free weekday newsletter with activities and educational games for students ages 2 to 8 to do from home. The PBS Kids video app is also available on mobile, tablet and connected TV devices, and offers on-demand educational videos and a livestream of PBS Kids 24/7, with no subscription required. Plus, the PBS Kids Games app includes nearly 200 educational games that can be downloaded to play offline. 

MarcoPolo Learning

MarcoPolo Learning is a digital learning platform with a Steam-based curriculum for ages 3 to 7. You'll find more than 450 video lessons and 3,000 learning activities for young learners. The company is now offering a 30-day free trial. 

Thinkergarten at Home

Tinkergarten At Home - Free weekly activities and live online class designed for early learners in English and Spanish.

Kinedu

Kinedu - app with educational and fun activities you can do with your child at home for ages 0-4.

Kahn Kids

Khan Kids - free app with original content, interactive activities, and educational content

Fruit Punch Music

Fruit Punch Music - free kids music streaming app designed for toddlers and preschoolers 

Stories, learning to read and reading comprehension

Kids Listen

Kids Listen - audio stories and podcasts for kids grouped by age

Homer

HOMER - reading app with programs to teach children as young as two reading fundamentals

ABCmouse.com, Adventure Academy and Reading IQ

The company Age of Learning is providing closed schools free home access for students to ABCmouse.com, Adventure Academy and ReadingIQ. ABCmouse.com is a comprehensive curriculum for pre-K through grade 2. Adventure Academy is an educational massively multiplayer online game for elementary and middle school students, with thousands of learning activities covering reading, math and science. ReadingIQ is a digital library and literacy platform for children ages 12 and under, with thousands of books to choose from. 

Audible

Audiobook service Audible has a large collection of free streaming audiobooks for kids, including JK Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. 

Read more: Audible adds Harry Potter, Beedle the Bard starring Jude Law, Bonnie Wright

Storyline Online

A children's literacy website from the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, Storyline Online streams videos featuring award-winning actors reading children's books with illustrations. Each book includes a supplemental curriculum developed by an elementary school educator, which aims to improve comprehension and verbal and written skills, particularly for English-language learners. Celebrity readers include Viola Davis, Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, James Earl Jones, Betty White and dozens more.

Time for Kids

Time for Kids launched a free digital library to bring the school-based publication for elementary and middle school students into homes for the first time. The first issue will be a special report on COVID-19, and will include resources for teachers and families to facilitate conversations about the virus, and help young people better understand it. 

Epic

Epic is a digital library for kids age 12 and under, which is offering free remote access worldwide through June, based on teacher request. Students will be able to access Epic's digital library collection of 40,000 books, audiobooks and videos. Teachers and libraries can assign books and monitor progress. 

Rivet

Rivet is a free, AI-based kids' reading app and website created by Google's Area 120 experimental workshop that encourages reading practice with 3,500-plus free leveled books for kids. The books are designed for developing readers ages 5 to 10. It's available in the App Store, the Google Play Store and the Amazon app store, as well as on the web through Clever.

Marvel Hero Tales

Based on Marvel Comics, Marvel Hero Tales is a storytelling game app designed to help develop language and reading skills for kids age 7 to 11. Characters such as Spider-Man and Ms. Marvel help players improve their vocabulary and language by creating their own comic books. Developer Kuato Studios is offering a 30-day free trial of the app now. 

Achieve3000

Digital education company Achieve3000 is offering free, differentiated online learning resources for educators and students in grades PreK-12. Find all of the free remote learning resources on their website.