Are the kids bored yet? With at least a few weeks left yet of lockdown here in the UK you might feel that you’re near breaking point, but don’t despair as I’ve got 10 free things that you can do apart, or as a family, from the comfort of your living room.
1, 2, 3. M-Shed
We love visiting the M-Shed on Bristol’s harbourside when we can and on January 28 at 6pm there’s an online event that the family might enjoy called Murder on the Middle Passage: The trial of Captain Kimber which is a true story about the murder of a woman slave.
4. Arnolfini
Oh how we miss the Arnolfini! Bristol art duo, Let’s Make Art, have made a video recording that teaches children to make a cardboard portrait of themselves, with an interior scene, as well as an outward showing persona – in fact everything you need including the step-by-step tutorial is on the website for you to enjoy any time.
5. Henri Matisse Online: Painting with Scissors
I know lots of you have been enjoying this one already and there’s another online masterclass today(Saturday January 23) at 2pm. This class is suitable for all levels but due to its popularity you will need to book in advance.
6. The Free Lockdown Programme
I haven’t tried this one myself but it apparently provides online weekly activities aimed at children aged seven and under. These include dance, drama, cookery and Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) activities, with downloadable educational resources for parents.
7. Tate
This was my favourite place to visit when I lived in London and still is when we get the chance to take a trip to the big smoke again. So next week I’ll be popping along online with Little Miss Diva for a virtual lookaround! You can spend hours on the site as there’s loads to learn, things to make and quizzes that you can download.
8. National Geographic
Remember when we could travel – well this is probably the next best thing! You can still help kids learn about faraway places and geography, science and history by logging onto this website where there are lots of things for them to do.
9. The Natural History Museum
According to The Independent, children can’t still enjoy the benefits of the museum even though they can’t visit in person at the moment. David Attenborough makes the virtual tour interesting and there’s also a range of downloadable activities and lesson plans available.
10. BBC Bitesize
BBC Bitesize is proving a bit of a lifesaver for lots of parents at the moment and if you haven’t checked it out yet it’s great for primary school aged children. BBC Teach hosts over 30 recordings of interactive 30 to 40-minute programmes called Live Lessons, originally designed for use in the classroom, featuring leading experts and some of the BBC’s biggest brands and talent, including Doctor Who, Blue Planet Live and CBeebies.
Also check out this article in The Express for eight PE activities to do at home with the kids. More from Broke in Bristol (& beyond):
Save money on your 2021 summer holiday.
