On Tuesday, parents and educators across California felt their stomachs drop at Governor Newsom’s prediction that schools will stay closed through the remainder of the school year. As the COVID-19 pandemic wreaks havoc on every corner of our lives, parents at home with little ones . Not to mention teachers, classroom aids, administrators, and others who are suddenly asked to learn how to teach virtually overnight.

While Newsom signed an executive order ensuring that funding will still be issued to schools regardless of closure status, parents and kids still face a slew of challenges. Least of all being: how are working parents supposed to take all those Zoom calls, disinfect everything that comes into the house, manage their own stress, and homeschool their kids? 

Education and family-services businesses and nonprofits have aggressively stepped up to aid out-of-school students, teachers, and parents at home with young ones. Among the most exciting is Girls Who Code, an international nonprofit that has been at the forefront of closing the gender gap in tech since their founding in 2012.

Girls Who Code has made their educational computer science activities available for download for free to all. Over the coming months, they’ll release new activities weekly. Their resources are varied and organized by difficulty and age-appropriateness, so it’s simple to figure out which one to choose for your kiddos. 

From “unplugged” activities like craft-creating to higher-tech lessons like HTML and CSS tutorials, Girls Who Code has always been at the forefront of inspiring young girls to explore the interest in STEM subjects and learning. With a mission to inspire and equip young women with the computing skills needed to pursue 21st century opportunities, Girls Who Code continue to transform the way school- and college-aged girls see their futures.

Need more?

• Kahn Academy published tailored-to-age schedules for school kids at home, complete with lessons, videos, and worksheets. Truly all-ages, preschool through 12! Kahn Academy also hosts beloved kids’ meditation classes.

• Golden Poppy hosts free science and technology-teaching games tailored to girls. Carol Titus, creator of Golden Poppy, will present at the virtual New Tech event on April 1.

• Outschool offers their unique educational material for free! Outschool provides an incredible swath of unique courses for kids 3-18 from drawing and learning weather patterns to college prep writing and raising chickens (that’ll keep ‘em busy!). They also send a daily 4-minute-read newsletter with useful tips on how to deal with homeschooling.

• Check out our local yoga studios and teachers for exercise and mindfulness classes online. Luma Yoga is hosting their kids’ and tween classes online, and CrossFit West is streaming a kids’ workout every day at 10am…full of animal facts and goofy costumes.