What’s Open in Coronavirus Shutdown in Washington, DC: Parks, Hikes You Can Do While Social Distancing

Follow the boardwalk to the statue of the 26th president at Theodore Roosevelt Island. Photo courtesy of StayArlington

It's the first weekend of spring in Washington, DC and that normally brings inspiration to us here at Mommy Poppins.

Of course, we all know these are not normal times in the nation's capital. As precautions against the spread of the coronavirus continue,  public events, particularly with kids, remain limited and fluid. 

So many weekend events have been canceled or postponed, but there are some outdoor activities that are continuing with safety precautions in place. Call or research before heading out. With a bit of imagination we just might make it through coronavirus lockdown.   

We have previously documented several "evergreen" and indoor activities so you can manage your kids' cabin fever should you choose to avoid public and outdoor events. We've also posted a roundup of some of the best virtual storytimes, sing-alongs, STEM activities, and more that you can access here. You also might want to check our rundown of our favorite family films.

What’s Open in Coronavirus Shutdown in Orlando: Parks, Beaches, Hikes You Can Do While Social Distancing

Wekiwa Springs and other Florida state parks are open for passive recreation. Photo by Rain0975/Flickr

It's the first weekend of spring in Orlando and that normally brings inspiration to us here at Mommy Poppins.

Of course, we all know these are not normal times in the Sunshine State. As precautions against the spread of the coronavirus continue,  public events, particularly with kids, remain limited and fluid. 

So many weekend events have been canceled or postponed, but there are some outdoor activities that are continuing with safety precautions in place. Call or research before heading out. With a bit of imagination we just might make it through coronavirus lockdown.   

We have previously documented several "evergreen" and indoor activities so you can manage your kids' cabin fever should you choose to avoid public and outdoor events. We've also posted a roundup of some of the best virtual storytimes, sing-alongs, STEM activities, and more that you can access here. You also might want to check our rundown of our favorite family films.

What’s Open in Coronavirus Shutdown in Atlanta: Parks, Hikes You Can Do While Social Distancing

Events along the route are canceled, but the Atlanta BeltLine urban walking trail is open during the crisis. Photo courtesy of the Atlanta Beltline

It's the first weekend of spring in Atlanta and that normally brings inspiration to us here at Mommy Poppins.

Of course, we all know these are not normal times in the Atlanta area. As precautions against the spread of the coronavirus continue,  public events, particularly with kids, remain limited and fluid. 

So many weekend events have been canceled or postponed, but there are some outdoor activities that are continuing with safety precautions in place. Call or research before heading out, however. With a bit of imagination we just might make it through coronavirus lockdown.   

We have already posted several "evergreen" and indoor activities so you can manage your kids' cabin fever this weekend should you choose to avoid public and outdoor events. We've also included a roundup of some of the best virtual storytimes, sing-alongs, STEM activities, and more that you can access here. You also might want to check our rundown of our favorite family films.

What’s Open in Coronavirus Shutdown: Gardens, Parks, Hikes You Can Do While Social Distancing

The 60-acre garden of Winterthur is just waking up with spring daffodils. Photo by Bob Leitch courtesy of Winterthur

School closures and canceled activities have become the norm in Philadelphia and throughout the Delaware Valley. Social distancing is on everyone's mind as parents juggle work from home while homeschooling their children. Many Philly families have turned to virtual options to pass the time. However, with mild temperatures and sunshine in the forecast for the weekend, both kids and grown ups alike could use some vitamin D and fresh air.

We have rounded up some ideas of things to do safely during these unprecedented times due to the COVID-19 situation. While some spots throughout the region are open for passive recreation, please be sure to use observe social distancing recommendations.

Stay well, Philadelphia! And for more ideas on things to do at home, be sure and check out our Coronavirus Guide for Parents.

Best Podcasts for Kids Staying In: Funny, Smart, and Scientific Podcasts

There's never been a better time for podcasts. Prepare to download.

We've all been stuck somewhere with young children for long stretches of time—road trips, airport layovers, or, more recently, sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. When all the movies have been watched and all the books have been read (and we still can't leave the house), what are families to do for entertainment?

Enter the podcast. Not just for news updates and politics anymore, many podcasts cater specifically to younger audiences. We've rounded up our favorite kid-friendly podcasts that provide quality content the whole family can appreciate. All of these are easily accessed through smart phone, tablet, or computer, so get ready for hours of entertainment and even some learning opportunities. Most are even free!

For more entertainment ideas during this challenging time, check out our Coronavirus Guide for Parents.

New Victory Theater Arts Break

Activity Date: 
Repeats every week until Fri Apr 17 2020.
Monday, March 16, 2020 Various times
Monday, March 23, 2020 Various times
Monday, March 30, 2020 Various times
Monday, April 6, 2020 Various times
Monday, April 13, 2020 Various times
Event Info
Editor's Pick: 

Virtual Concerts, Storytimes, Events, and Classes To Stream from Home this Week

Author and illustrator Mo Willems  invites kids into his studio at lunchtime to create some of his beloved characters. Photo by Ally Noel

This week's "weekend event picks" is the strangest one we've ever done. With Americans being urged to avoid groups and stay close to home, our event calendar currently has more virtual activities than actual events. But something really cool has happened: artists, writers, and singers, plus theaters, zoos, and kids' class instructors all over the country are stepping up to create virtual events for families to stay engaged despite being homebound, and discover new favorite activities and music...and we are loving it. 

We've also been busy—creating an exciting new feature for these unusual times, called Poppins@Home. Watching all our favorite kid spots closing their doors, we immediately realized that not only were families going to lose out on being able to get out to museums, play spaces, gymnastics classes, and more, but all these businesses were going to be in hot water. So for the past week, in addition to working on our Coronavirus Guide for Parents and switching over all our content to be about things to do at home like 63 Easy Science Experiments for Kids Using Household Stuff and 21 (Mostly FREE) Online Learning Resources, Apps, and Games for Kids, we've also been building a whole new platform for virtual classes and programming.

You can get an early look at Poppins@Home now. We're still working hard to add lots more content on it and inviting our favorite kids' programming providers to join in, too. So stay tuned for even more. And, since we worked fast and furious on it, if you find any issues using the site please let us know. Or if you know businesses who should be on there, please send them the link. 

Stay safe, have fun, and tune in to all the great things we've found for families to do in this new virtual world. Read on for our picks of the best virtual events. 

Emergency Childcare Options During the Coronavirus Outbreak

Some parents, such as healthcare personnel, need sitters as schools close.

Many parents are scrambling for backup childcare as the coronavirus threat closes schools, but not workplaces. If you're suddenly trying to both host a conference call and homeschool the kids, you might be considering new emergency childcare options.

Some of us are also asking: Is it even safe to hire a babysitter during the COVID-19 outbreak? These are unprecedented times and parents are facing challenges we've never had to consider. Social distancing is ideal, but if your reality requires childcare due to the nature of your job, we rounded up the options for emergency babysitters and other childcare options, and what questions to ask before hiring a sitter in these strange times. Keep in mind that local social distancing rules are in effect in most areas, so follow your locality's guidance. The White House also recently recommended gatherings of no more than 10 people at a time to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Find online homeschool options in our roundup of 20+ (Mostly Free) Online Education Sites, Games, and Apps, and more at-home activities and local resources in our Pandemic Guide for Parents.

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