During this time of social distancing, there are lots of options, shared on the daily, of ways to entertain, teach, and distract children. In fact, my friend Melisa Wells has a list that is over 200, and she updates it daily. She doesn’t have kids at, I do. So I decided to put together a list of our favorite (mostly) local businesses and performers hosting virtual activities.
Virtual Activities by Local Instructors
Most of the activities are local instructors, with a few big names thrown in that we think are worth your time. We will update when we can. These all occur weekly, one-off events can be found on our Facebook Events Page.
Monday Virtual Activities:
- 10:00 a.m. Storytime with Vernon Area Public Library on Facebook
- 10:00 a.m. (April 13 & 20) Baby Bounce with Fremont Public Library, live on Facebook.
- 10:00 a.m. Monday Morning crafts with Indian Trails Public Library (for preschool through grade 3) on their website.
- 11:00 a.m. Color and Sing-Along with Lisa Loeb and Crayola Facebook
- 11:00 a.m. Zoo to You with Brookfield Zoo live on Facebook
- 12:00 p.m. GiGi’s* Music at Home for ages 8 and up RSVP required, will be via GotoMeeting
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch Doodles with Mo Williams (live every day at noon) on YouTube
- 2:00 p.m. Destination Discovery with Gigi’s Playhouse* RSVP required will be via GoToMeeting
- 3:00 p.m. Cook Memorial Public Library District Read Aloud Storytime on Facebook
- 6:00 p.m. Stories, songs, and rhyming activities with the Fox Lake District Library on Facebook
* designates an event that is ideal for special needs families
Tuesday Virtual Activities
- 9:30 a.m. Music-in-the-Box Music Master Class (preschoolers and toddlers) Live on Facebook
- 10:00 a.m. Circle Time* with Ms. Jill from Pediatric Interactions live on Facebook
- 10:00 am. LMNOP* (Language Music and our Peeps) with Gigi’s Playhouse (ages 0-36 months) RSVP required held via GoToMeeting
- 10:00 a.m. Storytime with Vernon Area Public Library on Facebook
- 11:00 a.m. Zoo to You with Brookfield Zoo live on Facebook
- 11:00 a.m. Glencoe Public Library Storytime Live on Facebook
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch Doodles with Mo Williams (live every day at noon) on YouTube
- 2:00 p.m. LMNOP* (Language Music and our Peeps) with Gigi’s Playhouse (ages 0-36 months) RSVP required held via GoToMeeting
- 2:00 p.m. Taste Buds Kitchen Free Kids Cooking Club (video emailed to you)
* designates an event that is ideal for special needs families
Wednesday Virtual Activities:
- 10:00 a.m. Storytime with Vernon Area Public Library on Facebook
- 10:00 a.m. Storytime with the Indian Trails Public Library (best for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers) posted on their website.
- 11:00 a.m. Color and Sing-Along with Lisa Loeb and Crayola Facebook
- 11:00 a.m. Zoo to You with Brookfield Zoo live on Facebook
- 12:00 p.m. GiGi’s* Music at Home (ages 8 and under) RSVP required held via GoToMeeting
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch Doodles with Mo Williams (live every day at noon) on YouTube
- 3:00 p.m. Cook Memorial Public Library District Read Aloud Storytime on Facebook
- 7:30 p.m. Storytime with Gnat and Corky on XLC’s Facebook Page
* designates an event that is ideal for special needs families
Thursday Virtual Activities
- 9:30 a.m. Music-in-the-Box Music Master Class (preschoolers and toddlers) Live on Facebook
- 10:00 a.m. Stories, songs, and rhyming activities with the Fox Lake District Library on Facebook
- 10:00 a.m. Storytime with Vernon Area Public Library on Facebook
- 11:00 a.m. Zoo to You with Brookfield Zoo live on Facebook
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch Doodles with Mo Williams (live every day at noon) on YouTube
- 12:00 p.m. Dance Class with the Rockettes live on Instagram
- 12:00 p.m. Leaps and Bounds with Gigi’s* Playhouse RSVP required held via GoToMeeting (for ages 3-5)
- 2:00 p.m. LMNOP* (Language Music and our Peeps) with Gigi’s* Playhouse Deerfield on Facebook (ages 0-36 months)
- 2:00 p.m. Taste Buds Kitchen Free Kids Cooking Club (video emailed to you)
- 3:30 p.m. Gigi’s* Playhouse Kids Club (for ages 8-12) on Facebook
- 7:00 p.m. Goodnight with Dolly Storytime on Facebook
* designates an event that is ideal for special needs families
Friday Virtual Activities
- 10:00 a.m. Storytime with Vernon Area Public Library on Facebook
- 10:00 a.m. Storytime with the Indian Trails Public Library (best for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers) posted on their website.
- 10:30 a.m. Virtual Storytime Yoga and Art with Ms. Angie from Blue Sky Yoga $10 – private Zoom link, register
- 11:00 a.m. Color and Sing-Along with Lisa Loeb and Crayola Facebook
- 11:00 a.m. Zoo to You with Brookfield Zoo live on Facebook
- 11:00 a.m. Gigi’s Kitchen* (all ages) RSVP Required held via GoToMeeting
- 11:00 a.m. Glencoe Public Library Storytime Live on Facebook
- 12:00 p.m. Lunch Doodles with Mo Williams (live every day at noon) on YouTube
- 1:00 p.m. (and all weekend) Famous Musicals by Andrew Llyod Weber – Andrew Llyod Weber – The Show Must Go On YouTube
- 3:00 p.m. Cook Memorial Public Library District Read Aloud Storytime on Facebook
* designates an event that is ideal for special needs families
Saturday Virtual Events
- 10:30 a.m. Virtual Storytime with Ms. Arlene at Read Between the Lynes on Facebook
- 12:00 p.m. GiGi’s Music at Home* (ages 8 and under) on Facebook
* designates an event that is ideal for special needs families
Which local instructors have you and your children been keeping up with? Share it in the comments!
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