Top family-friendly virtual experiences for free
While there are tons of crafts to make and shows to watch at home while everyone practises safe social distancing, it’s good to mix it up a little so the kids don’t feel bored. We’ve curated a list of family-friendly virtual and interactive experiences so you can escape your home without leaving your home. And the best part? They’re all free!
Help scientists count penguins
Image credit: Penguin Watch
Led by University of Oxford researchers, Penguin Watch is a project gathering data about seabird populations, particularly by monitoring penguins around Antarctica and the Southern Ocean. How can the family get involved? Help out by watching timelapse footage on their website and using their interactive tool to click whenever you spot penguins!
Ride a camel in Egypt
Take a quick trip to see the Pyramids of Giza in this 360° virtual guided tour by Sygic Travel. Let the kids experience what it’s like to hop on top of a camel in Cairo for a short ride! This is a great immersive experience if you have a VR headset, but if you don’t - not to worry. Just make sure you click and drag to pan the camera in any direction or simply move your mobile device or tablet to look around.
Step inside the world’s most popular stages
Image credit: Google Arts & Culture
Ever dreamed of watching an opera at the historic Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow, Russia? Or attending a performance at the iconic Carnegie Hall in New York? Even though shows at these world renowned stages are suspended for the foreseeable future, you can still tour them and experience their grandeur through this Google Arts & Culture virtual 360° tour.
Watch a free ballet or opera show
To encourage everyone to stay home, The Royal Opera House has started streaming classic opera and ballet performances for absolutely free. If going to the theatre wasn’t always on your radar because of ticket prices, here’s your chance to enjoy a world-class show with the whole family! The Royal Opera House is broadcasting live on their YouTube channel every Friday evening in April.
Ride Disney World roller coasters
Take a day for a full Disney adventure with the kids by taking them on virtual roller coaster rides! Virtual Disney World is a YouTube channel dedicated to 360° videos of popular rides, which even includes the experience of queueing so you really feel like you’re at the theme park. Play this on a big screen for maximum fun!
Hop on an online time machine
Image credit: Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s dedicated website for kids comes with an ‘online time machine’ which allows them to pick a time period and push a red button before they’re taken to an online gallery where they can learn about artifacts about that period. The interactive tool also lets you filter by geography and ideas.
See the Aurora Borealis
Have a delightful evening watching the northern lights dance through the sky thanks to a live stream by Explore. Catch the magical lights with the family in the comfort of your home every evening - or if you prefer to watch animals instead, tune in to their other wildlife streams all over the world!
What have you and your family been up to during this time of being inside? Share your boredom-busting activities with us using #RexIndoors for a chance to be featured on our social media and newsletter!
