20 Lockdown- Friendly Activities
to help you Survive the Half Term
1. The National Trust
The National Trust have put together a ‘sounds of nature’ bingo, which families can play in your garden or local park and there is a downloadable scorecard to print off online.
2. The Royal Parks
Royal Parks are hosting a free Virtual Discovery Week offering a week of free spring-inspired virtual interactive activities that will have you and the family enjoying the fresh air. Includes everything from arts and crafts to storytelling sessions.
3. Pancake Day
The 16th February is Shrove Tuesday. Celebrate by making some of these recipes that we know your children will love. The fruit “sushi” pancakes are one of our favourites!
4. Russ Brown’s Magic Workshop
Award winning magician Russ Brown is providing a free online event to teach the basics of magic step by step showing you how to make things transport, vanish and even float on a card’s edge! Thursday 18th at 2pm.
5. Self-Guided Walks
Take one of the 20 self-guided walks London, including a Harry Potter themed walk, with GPSmyCity. This great app allows you to explore cities safely and at your own pace. There are also some great free virtual tours of some famous cities worldwide.
6. Tate Kids Colour Walk
Tate Kids are running a Colour Walk. Take a colourful treasure hunt walk through your neighbourhood or around your house with the Tate and try and find all the colours of the rainbow.
7. Arts Council Activities
The Arts Council has some great free activities throughout half term. From theatre performances to Junk Yard Orchestra’s. There is also the opportunity to join Westminster Abbeyfor a special Commonwealth-themed online tour for families exploring how Westminster Abbey celebrates communities all over the world.
8. Institute of Imagination
The Institute of Imagination has lots of free creative activities which can be made at home using everyday objects. It is a great resource for kids with big imaginations.
9. Harry Potter Studio Tours
Try your hand at filmmaking from your front room or create a costume design from the classroom. Test your Harry Potter knowledge and learn how the magic was brought to life on screen. There are all sorts of free Harry Potter activities available.
10. ZSL London Zoo
London zookeepers are hosting a week of virtual half term events including their ‘Tails from the Zoo’ at bedtime on Saturday 20th Feb and Sunday 21st February. Tune in to their Facebook page at 6.30pm to hear The Tiger Who Came to Tea being read to Sumatran tigers inside their enclosure, or similar. You can also download free educational resources on the ‘Zoo School learning resources’ page.
11. ZSL Vets In Action
Another brilliant free event hosted by ZSL is Vets In Action. Budding veterinarians will learn first-hand how to triage their teddy bears as well as watch first hand health checks on Whipsnade Zoo residents.
12. Southbank Centre
For anyone living within easy reach of Waterloo the Southbank Centre have bought together 15 artworks and installed them across their buildings and the waterfront. Their aim to light up the sky during winters darkest months.
13. The Science Museum
Explore their comprehensive collection of brain-teasing puzzles and learn about science with a range of free science games and apps
14. The Wander Art Walking Trail
London’s largest outdoor gallery, this is another good one if you are within reachable distance of the city. Spanning the neighbourhoods of Mayfair and Belgravia, Wander Art showcases some of the most exciting and innovative outdoor art installations from 12 world renowned artists.
15. The Barnes Children’s Literature Festival
For one year only this fantastic literary festival for children will be broadcast online from 10am on Saturday 20th February. With the theme of Pet’s Parade, a huge array of famous kids’ authors and illustrators will be online sharing their work, along with their furry friends.
16. Playball@Home
For the little ones (up to 7yrs) Playball@Home is offering free activities during the half term. This is a popular kid’s sports franchise. The activities are great for developing children’s core muscle strength as well as developing spatial awareness. Create an account below to receive free sessions.
17. The National Gallery
Story studio brings the family fun of the National Gallery storytelling sessions to your home. Listen as storyteller Fiona Alderton tells the tale behind a painting. On Wednesday 17th February 11am the online session will be thinking about our loved ones and creating a token to gift to someone special, inspired by Pierre Mignard’s ‘The Marquise de Seignelay and Two of her Sons’.
18. Cooking with Kids
Cooking with Kids: This offers some good free online sessions, the next is on Sunday 21st February at 9.30am as well as free videos with easy-to-follow instructions.
19. Mini Music Makers
e have mentioned this before, but Lucia and Matt provide engaging and educational music classes for Key Stage 1 every Friday at 10am on YouTube. This half term they will also be hosting a pancake day cooking session at 10am on Tuesday 16th February.
20. The National Trust
If like many of us you are craving new walks and areas to explore the National Trust have some excellent suggestions for places to explore within easy reach on London.
Sheringdale PTA 