15 virtual activities to keep you and the kids busy at home

Last week we asked y’all how you were keeping yourself and the kids occupied during these unprecedented times – that’re keeping most of us home more than we’re accustomed to being.

With the help of y’alls answers and a little internet digging we’ve created a list of 15 virtual activities put together by local businesses to keep you busy.

Arts

To-go craft kit | AR Workshop

○ Materials and instructions to make your own wooden painting at home.

○ Prices vary

Livestream Phenoms & Schumann | S.C. Philharmonic

○ A recorded concert from March 14 by the S.C. Philharmonic.

○ Free

Photo via @aperfectdayforbananafish

Pottery to-go | The Mad Platter

○ Choices of pre-made pottery to take home and paint.

○ Prices vary

Tours

Tours of historic sites | Historic Columbia

○ Nineteen virtual tours of historic sites in Columbia.

○ Free

Photo via @historiccolumbia

Virtual aquarium visits | South Carolina Aquarium

○ Online tours of the aquarium and family nature challenges each weekday at 10 a.m. + 1 p.m. on their Facebook page.

○ Free

For Kids

At Home Reading Program | Columbia Fireflies

○ Four week reading program that earns your child (ages 3-14) prizes, including a free ticket to a Fireflies game. Register here.

○ Free

Z-Learning | Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

○ Find the lessons on their Facebook page weekdays at 10 a.m.

○ Free

Photo via @travel_blogger_eli

Printable activity sheets | The COMET

○ Activities created by The COMET for both young ones + the young at heart.

○ Free

Educational TV programs | SCETV

○ Modified programming three days a week from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. with supplemental materials for pre-K to high school level.

○ Free

Storytime for small children | Mayor Steve Benjamin

○ A recorded reading of “Oh the Places You’ll Go” by Mayor Benjamin.

○ Free

Polyhedron Lesson Plan | Qubits Toy

○ Lesson and DIY activity for children of all ages created by a Carolina-based toy company.

○ Free

Other

Library Resources | Richland Library

○ Online resources including eBooks and eAudiobooks, music, movies and TV shows.

○ Free with library card

Photo via @richlandlibrary

Online yoga classes | Yoga Warehouse Columbia

○ Nonmembers are able to purchase drop-in classes

○ Prices vary

Virtual self-care events | The Well Collective

○ Discussions about healthy eating, astrology and more hosted through Zoom.

○ Free

Instructional yoga videos | Namaste Yoga

○ Relaxing yoga classes posted by a local yoga instructor.

○ Free