Are you starting to run out of ideas for educating and entertaining children at home? Here are some engaging activities to stimulate their imagination through books, programs and music:

Daily Story Time for Children Everywhere With the Obamas, Oprah & Others

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Chicago Public Library (CPL), one of the largest libraries in the U.S. with over 385 professional librarians, and the CPL Foundation have partnered to host “Live from the Library,” a weekday story time from Chicagoans for children everywhere.

The reading program occurs every weekday at 10 a.m. CST on CPL’s Facebook and Instagram pages. Each week, CPL enlists librarians from the institution’s 81 branches, along with notable Chicago public figures, to bring communities together through the love of storytelling.

CPL launched the weekday story time,Live from the Library,” in response to the COVID-19 epidemic, which closed all of their library branches for the first time in more than 150 years. While the branches remain physically closed, the institution aims to provide equal access to information, ideas and knowledge to children around the world through its virtual reading programs, learning courses, e-books and other online resources.

Barack and Michelle Obama read The Word Collector by Peter Reynolds on May 14, 2020. Oprah Winfrey is scheduled to read on May 18. The program will also tap into many of Chicago’s cultural institutions like The Second City and Steppenwolf Theatre Company as well as some of the city’s sports franchises like the Cubs and the Blackhawks.

The Chicago Public Library has partnered with the Obama Foundation in bringing a new, 5,000-square-foot CPL branch to the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park and offering specialized programs and events for children as well as spaces in which to learn and create. This CPL branch will house a multimedia collection with a focus on civic engagement and conduct programming to engage community members. The library includes spaces for reading and study, including homework help; a dedicated children’s area and a YOUmedia program for teens to explore the world and their own creativity using new technologies; and meeting space that will be available for public use.

Streaming Options on HappyKids.tv

HappyKids.tv is a FREE and SAFE app designed to educate and entertain millions of kids across multiple platforms every day.

HappyKids.tv, a leading provider of kids programming on multiple streaming devices, has released its new titles for May, offering kids and their parents popular series options during the extended Coronavirus lockdown.

Here’s what’s you can start streaming now:

Care Bears (Classic)  The Care Bears live in a faraway place up in the clouds called Care-a-Lot, which constitutes a part of the Kingdom of Caring. With the help of the Cousins and their Buddies, they go all around the world on Missions in Caring!

Lego Friends  Lego Friends follows five best friends: Olivia, Mia, Andrea, Emma, and Stephanie, and their lives in Heartlake City.

Strawberry Shortcake  Learn valuable lessons and explore new lands along with Strawberry Shortcake and her friends in Strawberryland. There may be a mischievous character along the way, but with friends like Ginger Snap and Huckleberry Pie, Strawberry Shortcake grows better all the time.

Teletubbies  Come join Tinky Winky, Dipsy, LA-LA and Po as they take us on an adventure.  The Teletubbies is designed to help young children develop their physical, emotional and cognitive skills in a warm, loving, playful environment. It’s all about exploring, experimenting, experiencing and enjoying life.

Winx Club  Bloom is a special Earth girl with magical powers who travels to the Alfea School for Fairies to perfect her skills. She quickly befriends teenage fairies Stella, Flora, Musa, Layla, and Tecna. Together these six girls are the Winx Club. In addition to high school, the girls work to save the universe.

Alex & The Kaleidoscope: Distance Learning at Home & Online Adventures Exploring the World

Emmy® Award winning children’s entertainer Alex Mitnick is the star of Alex & The Kaleidoscope – an interactive music entertainment brand targeted for children 4-8 years old. Alex & The Kaleidoscope takes children on adventures to fun and interesting places around the world. Songs and wonder are central to each exciting field trip. Animated and live-action music videos reinforce the learning and exploration. Contagious rhythms and sing-along melodies engage children emotionally and physically while the lyrics teach and inspire.

Here is a sample video from Alex & The Kaleidoscope, featuring distance learning for children at home:

artsani675@artsphoria.net

By artsani675@artsphoria.net

Andrea Karen Hammer is the founder, director and owner of Artsphoria Publishing, Media Group & Shop (https://www.artsphoria.org). Publications include Artsphoria: Animation & Imagination World (https://www.artsphoria.net); Artsphoria Event Advertising & Reporting (https://www.artsphoria.info); Artsphoria International Magazine (https://www.artsphoria.com); Artsphoria: Arts, Business & Technology Center (https://www.artsphoria.biz); Artsphoria: Food for the Soul (https://artsphoria.live); Artsphoria Movie Reviews & Film Forum (https://www.artsphoria.us) and Artsphoria Shop (https://artsphoriashop.com). She is a Philadelphia-based freelance writer who has published articles in international publications.