Even while we are restricted from getting out and about, it doesn’t mean kids can’t experience the thrill of a concert, a visit to the museum, have a change to the usual TV lineup, or just take in anything the outside world has to offer.

We have put together a list of the top 10 virtual activities and places right now, so you and your child can experience them from the comfort of your own living room. Bear in mind that all activities are free, but some might require a quick and easy registration process.

Lincoln Center at Home

New York’s famous home of the arts, the Lincoln Center, is available in your home during this restricted time. They’re providing a weekly classroom on Facebook Live featuring performers and artists, and crafts such as puppet-making and paper-weaving. They also have concerts and performances designed especially for kids.

Enjoy Child-Friendly Rock

The rock band They Might Be Giants has a loyal adult fan base but also makes songs especially for children, with fun educational themes. Here is a YouTube playlist of their songs, with charming videos featuring puppetry and animation. The songs are about numbers, letters of the alphabet, and science. One additional benefit is that they’re pretty good for adult listeners too!

Watch a Ballet

Britain’s Royal Ballet School is streaming this wonderful performance of Prokofiev’s famous ballet. It is a great introduction to ballet and orchestral music for children, as it tells a charming story and is only half an hour long.

Explore a Virtual Museum

Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museum of Natural History has a set of resources for young biologists and paleontologists – find out more about dinosaurs, animals and plants with Livestream exploration of the exhibits, drawing tutorials, and more.

Visit a Zoo

Yes, even during lock down it is possible to visit the famous San Diego zoo, thanks to live cams! See the tigers, pandas, koalas, penguins and more… and then learn more about their lives and habitats.

Watch the Olympics

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics might have been postponed, but sports-loving kids will love this site. It contains highlights of previous games, exciting finals, behind-the-scenes coverage and in-depth profiles of over 70 sports.

Visit Outer Space

Kids will really feel they’ve gotten out of the house after they spend time on NASA’s website. There are loads of activities and things to learn, and even a weekly SpaceCast from the International Space Station!

Travel the World in 360°

All you need is a laptop or tablet and hundreds of destinations all around the world can be explored in 360° panoramic vision! From mountaintops in the Andes to the beaches of the Caribbean, not to mention countless famous cities and buildings, this site is like a round-the-world ticket without the jet lag.

Explore a Virtual Aircraft Carrier

The USS Midway was called a “floating city at sea”. Now a museum, the virtual tour allows visitors to explore the flight deck, the interiors of airplane cockpits, the engine room and living quarters, and listen to an audio tour especially created for kids.

Enjoy a Bedtime Story

After all that excitement, it’s time for bed! Reading to your child is a great way to bond and develop their language skills. In addition to doing this yourself, the Storyline website has videos of actors and celebrities reading childhood favorites. It’s a relaxing and comforting way to wind down before sleep.