Home Learning Resources
With school closures due to COVID-19, we know it can be difficult for you and your child to transition to learning at home.
Articles about Child Care and COVID-19
- Why Are Child Care Programs Open When Schools Are Not? by Elliot Haspel
We have created a list of resources for you to help your children stay engaged in learning - including book read-aloud videos, museum virtual tours, lessons on animals from the zoo, and more!
Child Trends recommends staying connected to friends and family virtually or by writing letters, providing aga-appropriate information about COVID 2019 (when possible), creating structure and providing activities, and more. To read the rest of their tips and suggestions, click here. For more information about the importance of routines, visit the CDC website.
You can also view the Learning at Home with Durham PreK videos here.
Resources
You can view our list of resources below.
Story Time from Space - Astronauts read exciting stories from space!
Storyline Online - Celebrities read stories with animated videos.
Dolly Parton Imagination Library Read Aloud - Durham's Partnership for Children is reading stories on Facebook Live on Monday's, Wednesday's and Friday's at 11 am.
Storytime Durham - Amy Godfrey normally hosts a story time in local Durham businesses. Now she's reading stories on Instagram.
- Durham County Library
Durham County Library Take Out - "Durham County Library is happy to offer Library Take-Out! as the second phase of our reopening. You can place holds on up to 5 items at a time, and when you're notified that they are ready, make a reservation to come pick them up at the library. You can make a reservation up to 14 days in advance. If no appointments are available, check back the next day as each day another day is opened. Same-day reservations are not available. "
Durham County Library Virtual Events Calendar
Durham County Library Online Collections
Durham County Library Fine Cancellation - "Durham County Library is now fine free. Effective July 1, 2020, library users will no longer be charged fines for overdue materials. This is an important step in ensuring that all residents of Durham County have access to the library’s resources."
Authors Everywhere - Authors read their books on YouTube!
Harper Kids - Read-Aloud Story Time on YouTube
Unite for Literacy - Multilingual Book Read-Alouds.
Read-Alouds from Teachers of the Year - Teachers of the Year read stories and do math lessons online for children in pre-K and elementary school.
NC Kids Digital Library - Anyone with an NC Public Library card can log in for ebooks and read-alongs.
Scholastic Books & Activities - Mini-lessons with story read-alouds and activities to go along with them.
KidLit.TV - Animated online stories.
Something Strange Happened in My City: A social story about the coronavirus pandemic for children by Dr. Shu-Chen Jenny Yen
Houston Zoo Animal Webcams - Watch the animals in their habitats!
Nasa Kids Camp - Learn about the planets, space and life as an astronaut.
Smithsonian Museum - Fun science lessons and games for kids.
National Geographic Kids - Science, history and more.
Virtual Field Trips - Museums, National Parks, Zoos and more are offering virtual tours of their facilities to help children explore at home.
Georgia Aquarium - Check out their 11 live webcams for different aquatic animals!
Coding Tools for Kids - UT Austin Boot Camps compiled 12 resources for kids to learn how to code right at home.
Duke Gardens Nature Navigators - Use this nature journal to find activities to do together outside!
Morehead Planetarium - They are offering free access to tons of virtual activities!
Simple STEM Activities To Do At Home - Porch - Ideas to do at home to encourage experiments, curiosity and creativity!
Junior Handyman's Toolkit from Dragonfire Tools - Hands-on learning through woodworking, STEM, computer science, construction, and more!
Engineering Games and Projects from Titlemax - Learn about different kinds of engineering and find games to learn more about each kind.
Letterland - Currently offering the resources for free!
Let Grow Activity Kit - Free learning packet with home activities.
30 Good things for Young Children - Calendar of events to do at home to engage your child in learning.
Lakeshore - 1000+ activities for families to use at home.
Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems - Learn to doodle with Children's Author Mo Willems.
Outdoor Learning Ideas from the Education Chief of NC State Parks
NC DHHS and ECAC - November Family Engagement Calendar (English) (Spanish)
Outdoor Nature Walk - Use this checklist as you take a tour of your yard or neighborhood! If you find them all, add some more to the list.
Gee Whiz Kids - A booklet of activities with descriptions of developmental milestones each activity promotes.
Gee Whiz Kids - More activities with items you can find at home.
Go Noodle - Dance songs to encourage physical activity at home.
Cosmic Kids Yoga - Themed yoga for children (ex: Moana-themed yoga!)
Guess the Feelings - A game to help children identify and name emotions.
De-Stress During COVID-19 - Use these techniques to stay calm and identify emotions.
Childhood Trauma and Mental Health: Definitions, Signs & Resources from the University of Nevada, Reno
Trauma-Informed, Evidence-Based Social Emotional Learning from Dr. Becky Bailey - "For 20+ years, “We’re all in this together,” has been a core tenet of Conscious Discipline. It seems ironic that a virus that requires social distancing to slow its spread has drawn our attention to how intimately connected we truly are as friends, neighbors, communities and nations. Safety, connection and problem-solving are the most valuable contribution we can offer to those around us as we navigate these unprecedented times (and beyond). "
Activities to Promote Resilience in Preschoolers/Actividades para Promover la Resiliencia en Niños de Preescolar from Devereaux Advanced Behavioral Health - Attachment/Relationships refers to a child’s ability to promote and maintain mutual, positive connections with other children and significant adults. Here are three ways that parents and families can help their preschooler build this protective factor. / El Apego/Relaciones se refiere a la capacidad de un niño para promover y mantener conexiones mutuas y positivas con otros niños y adultos significativos. Estas son tres maneras en que los padres, y las familias, pueden ayudar a su niño preescolar a edificar este factor protector.
Using Technology to Support Learning at Home - A helpful guide on picking technology, making rules for screen time and more!
Usando la Tecnología para Apoyar el Aprendizaje en Casa - Consejos Simples para Padres con Niños Pequeños
Choosing Screen Time Activities that are Meaningful - A chart to help families find engaging screen time activities.
Free Educational Apps, Games and Websites
Teach Your Monster to Read - An online learning game for early readers. The computer version is free, the app is temporarily free due to COVID 2019 school closures.
Apps for Outdoor Learning - A list of apps to foster outdoor learning.
The Cat in the Hat Invents - Build a robot and play with STEM!
Authors Everywhere - Authors read their books on YouTube!
Harper Kids - Read-Aloud Story Time on YouTube.
Sesame Street YouTube - Short Videos from the Sesame Street cast.
Sesame Street - Videos and printable activities straight from Sesame Street!
Highlight’s Kids - Crafts, recipes and activities for children at home.
Helping Children with Traumatic Separation or Traumatic Grief Related to COVID-19 - National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Trinka and Sam Fighting the Big Virus - a story by Chandra Michiko Ghosh Ippen and Melissa Brymer, illustrated by Erich Ippen, Jr.
- This book contains a story about two childhood friends social distancing and adjusting to life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pdf includes the story, parent discussion guides, coloring pages and family activities.
Long List of Simple Activities for Children and Families - National Child Traumatic Stress Network
Food Resources Map for Durham, North Carolina - "On this map you’ll find food sites including no-cost meal sites, food pantries, grocery stores, farmers markets and more. Contact information, location and hours should be listed for each site."
El Mapa de Recursos Alimenticios de Durham, Carolina del Norte - "En este mapa encontrará sitios de alimentos, incluyendo sitios de comidas sin costo, despensas de alimentos, supermercados, mercados de agricultores y más. La información de contacto, la ubicación y las horas de servicios se deben enumerar para cada sitio."
Children's Book - My Hero is You - How Kids Can Fight COVID-19 by The Inter-Agency Standing Committee
Supporting Children at Home During School Closures
Transition to Learning at Home
PBS - How to Talk to your Kids about Coronavirus
Child Care Services Association - COVID-19 Safefy Resources
Head Start ECLKC - COVID-19 Resources
The Power of Storytelling - NAEYC - Storytelling during the COVID-19 outbreak
What is COVID-19? - Harvard's Center on the Developing Child
Positive Parenting Newsletter - Tips on Managing Children's Stress and Home Learning
COVID Coloring Book - UNC Medicine
Teaching your teen to manage uncertainty: MyTutor in conversation with Unmind - MyTutor