There’s no denying that our world has been turned upside down. Schools are closed, businesses have shut their doors, and we have been asked to stay home as much as possible for the safety of our families, as well as everyone around us.
Although no one truly knows how to navigate these uncharted waters, many of the places we know and love are trying to remain sources of entertainment, engagement and creativity.
Check out our list of local organizations, and the virtual experiences they’re offering to keep your family connected while at home.
Your preschooler’s favorite art program can still be a part of your routine, even though the Dayton Art Institute (DAI) is closed for now. PNC Tiny Thursdays continues to take place each week online.
Visit the DAI website to find a virtual story time, weekly featured artwork and a digital lesson plan, complete with project instructions for you to do at home with your little artists!
The Boonshoft at Home program is here to bring you a unique online museum experience each day until they re-open. Beginning at 9 a.m., join in on a science experiment with instructions for at-home discovery, a virtual tour of exhibits, an up-close and personal look at one of the animals that live on-site or a glimpse at a rare item from the vault!
Missed a day or two? Don’t worry! Visit their website to find links to each of the previous programs.
The pandemic won’t stop the zoo from sharing all of the animal residents with their biggest fans. Log in to Facebook each day at 3 p.m. for a Home Safari Live session and visit with one of the animals! There will also be a related activity accompanying each session that you can do at home. If you don’t have Facebook, recordings are posted to YouTube and the Zoo website after the live session has ended.
If your kiddo completes one of the activities or crafts, take a picture and share it on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtag #ZooHomeSafari — their artwork might be featured on the Zoo website!
There’s nothing quite like browsing the aisles at your local library to find the perfect book. And even though we aren’t able to go inside in the traditional sense right now, you can still access the amazing collection of e-books and audio books on the library website.
Additionally, in partnership with ThinkTV Network, Dayton Metro Library is presenting Mister C Live! The beloved local scientist will be making an appearance each weekday morning at 9 a.m. Your entire crew will love watching his fun-filled experiments and DIY science projects.
Our friends at the Little Gym want you to keep moving even though you might feel stuck inside, so they found a way to bring the Little Gym to you! Check out their YouTube library full of virtual movement classes the whole family can enjoy. Online classes are free and available to the public.
Pools are closed for now and that might mean no poolside swim lessons — but it doesn’t mean lessons have to stop altogether. Goldfish Swim Schools have incorporated Goldfish at Home into their teaching techniques. Head on over to their YouTube channel, and choose the level closest to your kiddo’s abilities to find a video series that’s perfect for them!
The best part? These programs are for anyone — you don’t have to have a prior membership with Goldfish to join the online fun. The goal is to engage current swimmers and reinforce safety skills, provide an introduction to kids interested in swim, as well as help beat boredom.
Music Together of South Dayton
Coming together to create music and express oneself through movement are the passions of Music Together. With the stay-at-home order in place, the Music Together organization has worked hard to give their members a virtual alternative to in-person classes.
Music Together Online is a new tool to introduce the “Maracas Collection” to families. Online tuition will include two Zoom sessions per week, a digital copy of the new songbook, bonus video content from Music Together Worldwide, and access to downloadable music, games and more!
OPEN* is an online platform committed to keeping families informed of the creative ways to support our local economy. It has also become an amazing resource for finding new virtual experiences like the ones mentioned in this article.
Visit the Things To Do, Restaurants or Retail/Services sections of the website. You’ll discover local businesses working hard to overcome the current challenges, in order to remain open and serving our community.
It will be a great day when we are able to visit our favorite spots in person again. For now, we are grateful that they have all stepped up to keep us connected during this unprecedented time.