After the heavy rain last Tuesday, Dubai got flooded, schools closed and we are back to online learning (Covid vibes!) Despite the chaos, teachers are working hard to make things feel normal. They’re coming up with fun ideas to do with their children during online classes. Here are some more cool activities you can try to keep little ones interested and involved!

1. Virtual Puppet Show: Encourage children to create their own puppets using socks, paper bags, or even old socks, and then host a virtual puppet show where they can act out their favourite stories or make up their own!
   
2. Dance Party Freeze: Start a virtual dance party with upbeat music, but every now and then, pause the music and call out a funny action (like pretending to be a dinosaur or hopping like a frog). Kids have to freeze in whatever pose they’re in until the music starts again!
   
3. Virtual Scavenger Hunt: Give children a list of items to find around their house within a time limit. Items could be as simple as a red toy or a round object. The first one to find all items wins a silly prize!
   
4. DIY Crafts with Household Items: Get creative with common household items like paper plates, toilet paper rolls, or cereal boxes. Guide children through making simple crafts like paper plate masks, toilet paper roll binoculars, or cereal box robots.
   
5. Cooking Class for Kids: Choose a simple recipe like fruit kebabs or funny-shaped sandwiches and guide children through the steps virtually. They’ll love getting hands-on in the kitchen and tasting their creations afterward!
   
6. Virtual Show and Tell: Encourage kids to show off their favourite toys, stuffed animals, or drawings to the group. It’s a great way for them to practice speaking in front of others and share what they love!
   
7. Silly Science Experiments: Conduct simple science experiments using household items like vinegar and baking soda volcanoes, or homemade slime. Kids will be amazed by the reactions and love getting a little messy!
   
8. Virtual Zoo Tour: Take a virtual field trip to a zoo or aquarium! Many zoos offer live webcams of their exhibits, allowing kids to see animals like lions, elephants, and penguins up close from the comfort of their home.
   
9. Rainbow Hunt: Challenge kids to find objects of different colours around their house and arrange them to create a rainbow. They can take photos of their colourful creations and share them with the group during a virtual show-and-tell session.
   
10. DIY Sensory Bins: Guide children in creating their own sensory bins using items like rice, beans, pasta, or water. Add scoops, spoons, and small toys for them to explore different textures and develop fine motor skills.
    
11. DIY Obstacle Course: Encourage children to set up a simple obstacle course using pillows, cushions, chairs, and other household items. Then, guide them through navigating the course while practicing skills like jumping, crawling and balancing.
    
12. Virtual Dress-Up Parade: Invite children to dress up in their favourite costumes or clothing and parade around their room while sharing fun facts or stories about their outfits with the group.