Goodness how our lives have turned upside down in the last couple of weeks! I know a lot of you will be wondering how to entertain and educate your kids now that nurseries and schools are shutting. A lot of the amazing classes in and around Herne Hill, Dulwich, Forest Hill, Balham and Clapham are now going online so that you can carry on doing them in your own home. Here is my guide to online fun and education resources for your babies and children in London.
Local Online Classes
Use Happity to book virtual classes for babies and toddlers. They are helping all their class providers with the switch over to online. They also run Happity@Home online classes.
Beanstalk Arts – live stream every morning with a different musical story, followed by suggestions and resources for activities you can do with your kids based on the story (aimed at preschoolers but also up to KS1).
Birth Baby Bliss – online baby massage & yoga, hypnobirthing classes and sleep support. Natalie is also doing a free daily online meet up for pregnant and new mums – email her on natalie@birthbabybliss.co.uk.
Big Cheeks Thai Cooking – free online cookery lessons every Monday. Sally will be streaming live on FB and the menus and list of ingredients will be posted a couple of days in advance.
Little Theatre on the Hill – free live singalong on Instagram every Tuesday at 11am @littletheatreonthehill. Also online theatre classes for babies and toddlers Wed 11am, Thurs 1pm and Fri 11am.
Pitter Patter Arts – ballet & musical drama classes for 2-5 years online every day in the morning and afternoon for half an hour.
Beas Baby Bop – sessions are now online using Zoom – as interactive and as close to their in person bops as possible.
Lucy Sparkles – all the fun of music class from home.
Arty Crafty Party – will be sending out craft packs for £5 instead of running regular weekly classes.
Diddi Dance – funky preschool dance classes for girls and boys now online.
Ettie Betty Baby Signs – signing classes are now done via FB Lives.
Mini Music Makers – on FB live every weekday at 10am with a fantastic music class for young children.
Baby Ballet – online classes for babies 6m – 6 years, accessible to current and new customers.
BE Dance – online classes on their bedancers YouTube channel and existing students using zoom.
Activity Websites
Go Noodle – a free app with lots of movement and mindfulness videos created by child development experts – it has a range of fun dance routines to encourage movement and getting active.
Cosmic Yoga – yoga, mindfulness and relaxation for kids. Interactive adventures which build strength, balance and confidence.
PE With Joe – free home workout on You Tube aimed at kids.
Educational Websites
Twinkl – teacher-created resources. Twinkl are offering everyone Twinkl Ultimate free for a month, to help keep children learning at home – use the code PARENTSTWINKLHELPS.
Outschool – online classes for ages 3+ – small group video chat classes created and taught by inspiring teachers from $5/class. I know my 8 year old nephew would love the beginner coding for video games course!
Sparkle Box – free primary teaching resources to browse, download and print.
Bitesize – a great BBC resource with free videos, step-by-step guides, activities and quizzes for all age groups.
Nat Geo Kids – fun facts, activities and quizzes all about animals and the environment for younger kids.
The Kids Should See This – a wide range of cool educational videos – this one in particular explains social distancing to kids in a way they can understand.
And your kids can also spend the whole day being taught by celebrities!!
9.00am – PE with Joe Wicks
10.00am – Maths with Carol Vorderman
11.00am – English with David Walliams
1.00pm – Music with Myleene Klass
2.00pm – History with Dan Snow
4.00pm – Home Economics with Theo Michaels (Mon/Wed/Fri)
Other Resources
Brain Pop – make any room a classroom
Tynker – coding for ages 5+
Starfall – reading, maths and languages up to Year 3
ABCya – educational games for kids
Fun Brain – books, games and videos up to Year 8
Highlight Kids – activities, jokes and games
Cool Math 4 Kids – maths games for kids
Science Kids – fun science & technology for kids
Switch Zoo – facts, games and videos about animals
Turtle Diary – educational and online game up to Year 5
Apps – For older kids: Duolingo, Run Marco, Box Island, Code-a-Pillar, Rugged Rovers, Code Spark, Lightbot Hour, Transmission, DKFindout, Scratch, Tommy’s Trek, MathsBingo, Squeebles SP, Magic Piano. For younger kids: ABC Ride, Thinkrolls, TeachMonster, Robot Lab. For little ones: Shape Village, Animals Count, Little Fox
You Tube Channels – Crash Course Kids, Science Channel, SciShow Kids, Free School, Geography Focus, TheBrainScoop, SciShow, Kids Learning Tube, Geek Gurl Diaries, Mike Likes Science, Science Max, Soul Pancake
I hope you have enjoyed my guide to online resources for your babies and children in London. Please email sarajane@shutterbaby.co.uk if you want your website to be included or you have found any great resources you would like to share. And if you would like to know anymore about my child & family photography please ask!
And finally…..if you need something to help you relax in the evenings this fab company in Forest Hill Tiger Vines is now doing local wine deliveries should you want great craft wine delivered to your door.
For information and prices for a London newborn, baby, child, maternity or family photography session please visit my session pages. If you have any further questions or would like to make a booking please call Sara-Jane on 07958 734184, email sarajane@shutterbaby.co.uk or use the contact form. I look forward to hearing from you.
