Parent Resources

Help Me Grow Alaska is open and ready to support families and the providers working with them through this stressful and unprecedented time. If you are in need of resources, support, activity ideas for kids at home or just need to talk with someone about parenting challenges or your child’s development or behavior, the Help Me Grow Alaska Call Center is available at no cost. Call 1-833-HMG-Alaska tel:1-833-464-2527

Activities to do at Home

ByrdseedTV (Educational Videos)

Epic! Digital Book Library (for kids 12 and under) (there is a cost - $7.99/month)

Storyline - Streams videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books alongside creatively produced illustrations

● Write notes, letters, draw pictures to send or drop off at local nursing homes - the elderly in nursing homes aren’t allowed to have visitors right now and it will brighten their day!

Scratch Jr. - Coding is the new literacy! With ScratchJr, young children (ages 5-7) can program their own interactive stories and games. In the process, they learn to solve problems, design projects, and express themselves creatively on the computer

Code.org - Learn computer science

Kodable - Programming for kids

Hello Ruby - Hello Ruby is the world's most whimsical way to learn about computers, technology and programming. The story started with a book, and now Ruby continues her adventures in exercises, activities and videos. It’s suited for kids age 5 years and older (but even adults might learn something new)

● Public libraries - many public libraries have digital books you can rent for free on their websites, along with other resources

Stick Figure Art YouTube channel

Met to launch “Nightly Met Opera Streams” - A free series of encore Live in HD presentations streamed on the company website during the coronavirus closure

Emotional ABCs - We teach children ages 4-11 how to figure out WHAT they are feeling, WHY they are having that emotion, and HOW to make better choices

TED-Ed Video Playlist - Sorted by categories

Virtual Field Trips - Over 30 virtual field trips with links

Unite for Literacy - free online audiobooks

Discover 10 Parks & Preserves in Albany County - Are you social distancing but want to get out of the house? If you are healthy, explore one of the parks or preserves in Albany County! Governor Cuomo announced that NYS will waive all park fees as of March 16, 2020

Netflix Party Chrome extension - a Chrome extension for watching Netflix remotely with friends

NASA has made their entire media library - images, sounds, and video - public

Mix.com - formerly stumbleupon, Mix is a social content curation site that allows you to collect articles, and content about specific interests or topics that you like. When you curate and add to your collections, your content is shared with friends and made discoverable to others on Mix who share similar interests.

● Use DuoLingo to learn a new language or practice one you already know!

The Actor’s Fund will be producing daily Broadway Virtual Concerts featuring stars of the stage and screen, singing and performing live (from home)! Tune in each day at 2pm and 8pm

● Getting outdoors and connecting with nature is a way to help maintain our physical and mental health (as long as you are maintaining social distancing!). Find a location near you at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation.

The San Diego Zoo has a website just for kids with videos, activities, and games!

● The Canadian site FarmFood 360 offers 11 Virtual Tours of farms from minks, pigs, and cows, to apples and eggs

● Atlantic White Shark Conservancy story hour

Wash Your Lyrics - Generate a hand washing lyrics meme based on your favorite song lyrics

Google Earth Has Virtual Tours of 31 National Parks in the U.S.

● Chris Field - live streaming Afternoon Adventures on Facebook every Monday-Friday until April 3rd at 3pm Eastern time (previous videos will be saved for viewing at any time)

● Coronavirus: Kids stuck at home should go on these virtual Disney World rides

The Palace of Versailles is offering a free virtual tour

Free virtual tours of museums, parks, and cities

Audible.com - all stories are free to stream on your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet