Finding virtual fun activities to do at home and simultaneously stay sane has been the latest buzz. As always, Detroit Mom is searching for tips to stay hopeful and healthy during the current quarantine. From fitness and meditation to baking and art, a lot of local places are stepping up to deliver virtual fun to homebound Detroiters. Below you’ll find virtual fun and social stimulation housed right online. Virtual fun, not only for the antsy children, but also for the lovely matriarch responsible for herding them.
Need tips and suggestions for setting up virtual fun? We have your back there.
For our latest information on virtual technology, please check out this article.
VIRTUAL FUN ONLINE FOR MOMS
Arkworkshop: Offering take and make DIY kits. AR Workshop Milford is your DIY Boutique Studio for the areas of Highland, Brighton, Wixom, South Lyon, Commerce twp and Hartland. Currently they are offering DIY blanket kits with video tutorials, parties and more!
Art Kits From Creative Art Studio: Offering shipping of premade art kits for adults. Based out of Royal Oak, Creative Art Studios offers take-away art to support your creativity during these difficult days. So, hit their website for a little virtual shopping. They will ship pottery, paints, and brushes right to your doorstep. Once the Executive Order is lifted, all painted pottery can be dropped off at the studio to be glazed and fired.
Born Yoga: Offering yoga lessons live on Zoom. A Birmingham favorite, Born Yoga is currently offering free kids yoga, family yoga, buddha baby, and mindful movement lessons on Zoom.
Citizen Yoga Studio: Offering online workshops, from business to yoga. “Citizen Yoga grew out of a need to equip people with necessary and effective coping mechanisms that can be applied in any facet of daily life.” This mission seems more than relevant today. Check out Citizens Online for a comprehensive list of mentally and physically stimulating workshops.
Earthside Yoga: Offering virtual classes and meetings. Earthside Yoga is now offering classes in a virtual, online format via Zoom meetings. You have the opportunity to join anytime for a drop-in if you are not currently enrolled in a six-week session.
Elena Victoria: Offering sewing project kits. Midwest-based, Elena Victoria is a specialty custom dress business that helps women look and feel their best. Elena Victoria is offering kits for sale with supplies to learn how to sew. While there are a few kits for the kids, there is a lot of opportunity for mom to master a new skill or two!
Eventbrite: Offering a variety of online workshops, hangouts, and courses. Enjoy virtual entertainment, workshops and more. Stay connected through live streams of your favorite music, games, sports, or news. Attend a virtual fitness class with a live instructor. No matter what you’re looking for, there’s sure to be a virtual event that’s just right for you.
Local Subscription Boxes: A little fun delivered to your door. Detroit Mom is a fan of shopping local! And let’s face it, shopping these days is somewhat limited. Scout this list for some of our favorite subscription boxes to have your next mommy moment delivered right to your door.
Mindful Detroit: Offering art making, meditation, yoga, and more. Join Mindful Detroit every Tuesday from 7:30-8:00 a.m. EST for an online meditation group via Zoom. Sessions will consist of gentle, seated movements (that can easily be done in a chair) and guided meditation. Or, check out their website for a comprehensive list of various courses.
Mongers Provisions: Offering online foodie classes and happy hour. Join for a virtual tasting event or get hooked up with recurring boxes of cheeses, chocolate, or a mix of both! These packages include various foods, and guided videos from staff to follow along with. They will guide you through the tastings, talk pairings, and you will have the opportunity to ask questions as you taste along. Each event is unique and there is a variety to choose from.
Make Your Marriage Great Again: Offering 4-week online marital advice series. Have you been looking for marriage advice? Join Toy Banks and an esteemed panel of guests with a cumulative history of 100 years of marital wisdom, for free, from your couch! The issues you may be experiencing are real and everybody has them. Toy Banks is here to assure that the problems you are facing have solutions that can transform your marriage.
Order Takeout: A number of eateries and chains are offering free or modified services. Take your time creating the perfect mom meal online after the kids hit the sack. In addition to chains offering free delivery, many third-party delivery systems are working to support local establishments, bars, and restaurants by offering modified delivery services.
The Painted Glass: Offering free glass painting videos. Located in Redford, The Painted Glass is “in the business of expression through art.” Grab a glass of wine, and an extra one for painting. The Painted Glass offers a free video online for wine glass painting. Absolutely no experience is necessary!
Spring into Wellness: Offering a free virtual health pop-up event. Join the mentees of the Women of Color Empowerment Institute as they present a fun and informative virtual event featuring panel discussions that focus on health issues that affect women every day. Receive dynamic information, interact with women, and gather knowledge that supplies women with tools to handle health issues affecting us most.
The Virtual Run Challenge: Offering a virtual running challenge. Need to stay accountable and have some fun while doing it? The goal of the free Earth Day Virtual Challenge (24,901 Miles) is simple: during the month of April (Earth Day Month) people will collectively run the distance of the equator 24,901 miles! Are you up for it?
Zingerman’s Bakehouse: Offering baking classes online. Bakehouse classes (except for family classes & kids camps) are designed for adults 17 & up. This could be a good time to put those handy domesticated skills to practice!
VIRTUAL FUN ONLINE FOR CHILDREN
At Home With the DIA: Offering virtual access to their collection. The Detroit Institute of Arts is offering free access to their world-renowned collection and online resources to experience what the DIA has to offer.
Bees in the D: Offering online classes about honey bees. These online lessons will help children learn about honey bees and their importance to our plants and planet.
Crayola: Offering online crafts to do with kids. Crayola is a household name, so of course they’ve got your back while you’re locked in the house with your kids! Watch hundreds of free videos and get some inspiration for the kids’ next big craft! For free daily activities see here.
Creative Play with Jess: Offering online playdates with kids. Hosted by Detroit Mom. Each week Jess will be bring a fun new activity you can join in on or you can do yourself. They will happen through Facebook Live. The activities will be creative and simple AND will most likely include items you already have in your home. We will post a list of items a few days prior so you can gather them and join in on the fun. Think of it like a little break for YOU while your kiddos enjoy something fun! See you soon, mamas!
Disney World in the D: Offering free virtual tours and ride simulations. Let your kids discover some of the most treasured parts of Disney World right at home. Online, you can find virtual tours, ride simulators, and more.
Elena Victoria: Offering sew and no-sew craft projects. Elena Victoria is a specialty custom dress business that helps women look and feel their best. Elena Victoria is offering kits for sale with supplies to learn how to sew. Sewing kits for kids that contain easy to make projects that are pre-cut to their size. No patterns, no pinning, no frustrations!
Emily Music For Kids: Offering music and movement activities. Emily Ellison is an award winning children’s music singer and songwriter. She is also a 20-year music, movement, and visual arts specialist for children ages 0-21 years of age with and without special needs. Emily streams live every day at 11 a.m. Each show expands on the previous day’s show.
Healthy Kids Virtual Running: Offering online running challenges for children. It is important that parents encourage children to stay active during social distancing! A virtual race is a race that can be run or walked from any location. You can run, jog, or walk wherever you can. Your child will run their age appropriate race distance, at their own pace, and mom and dad can record the times!
Nature’s Playhouse: Offering exercise classes and drop-in online play. Based out of Livonia, Nature’s Playhouse is offering Zoom calls almost every day of the week. From exercise and drop-in play, there are a few different options for stimulating littles ones.
Motor City Music Together: Offers online music classes for a small fee. Located in Madison Heights and Detroit, Music Together Online is a package of online music experiences and resources that, together, create a comprehensive music learning program
Miss Megan’s Camp Kindergarten: Offering a structured academic routine with fun. A former kindergarten teacher based in the Midwest, “Miss Megan” has quickly become a household name across the U.S. with over 85,000 people attending Camp Kindergarten on Facebook. Add some structure to the week days, learn the calendar, counting, days of the month, guitar playing and more.
PKSA Karate Novi: Offering free virtual karate classes. Start your days with Karate class. PKSA Karate Novi is offering FREE morning classes on Zoom.
Stay Safe, Staying Positive: Offering uplifting songs, positive advice and puppets. Check out this virtual children’s show added with a message more relevant than ever: “Staying Safe, Staying Positive.” Kyle Dine will be performing uplifting songs, giving ideas for constructive ways for kids to use their time, and overall keeping a healthy spirit and attitude during these tough times, and “yes…there will be puppets.”
Storytime Online: Offering storytime online, anytime. Enjoy a range of famous stars and authors reading children’s books to your kids right in your home. Storytime Online makes storytelling possible at any time of day. It’s a great way to help your kids develop language skills while they’re stuck at home.
Subscription Boxes: Offering virtual shopping for fun activities for delivery. There are so many to choose from when it comes to kids! Scout this list for some of our favorite subscription boxes, shop, then wait as they’re shipped to your home.
The Happy Pirates: Offering fun pirate facts and crafts. The Happy pirates post all week long about different story readings on YouTube and Facebook with videos, new pirate facts, fun jokes, and a word of the week. Be on the lookout for new craft workshops and more to come!
Virtual Field Trips: Offering fun online education. Zoos, aquariums, landmarks, tourist attractions, and more are opening up free virtual tours. Create a themed field trip and travel the world.
Webcasts for Young Artists: Offering free webcasts every weekday at 2:00 p.m.
In an effort to connect displaced students with art education and to help offer up a sense of schedule, Jarret K. Krosoczka will be running free webcasts every weekday at 2 p.m. EST.
