03-12-2021 Activities to keep your child entertained at home

Below are a series of resources focusing on children with SEND that you may find useful for keeping your children entertained, calm and happy at home. 

This short film on the value of play from the British Psychology Society/ Division of Educational and Child Psychology looks at the importance of play and the way in which play helps children to manage their emotions and stress. 

BBC Bitesize SEND toolkit has a wide range of useful resources for both activities and wellbeing, including music, fun activities, adapting physical activities, Makaton, BSL and supporting reading. There are a range of specific resources for children with specific special needs and disabilities including hearing impairments, visual impairments, Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Learning Disabilities.

Home Learning activities for children with Autism and/or Learning difficulties - these resources have been produced by Enfield Advisory Service for Autism in conjunction with Russet House school.

There are some useful SEND specific resources (as well as a wide range of other materials) on Twinkl - although this is no longer completely free to use there are normally options to download some items free of charge. 

You can also find a range of other inclusive / SEND focused activities for children on The Sensory Projects website.

Music Therapy Tree have provided accessible music therapy resources, suitable for children with autism and learning difficulties in the new Self-Isolation support area of their website. 

Kids TV 123 - a YouTube channel with lots of educational songs e.g. numbers, phonics

GoNoodle - music and mindfulness

Cosmic Kids - Yoga and mindfulness for children

Stop Breathe Think - mindfulness and meditation for children 

The Singing Walrus - fun educational songs with accompanying worksheets and flashcards 

Just Dance - dance along to your favourite songs and follow the movements on the screen

Barefoot Books - animated singalongs and activity packs 

The Learning station - 'brain break' action songs

Singing Hands on YouTube has a wide range of videos of songs signed in Makaton.

PBS Kids Music Games - educational games and activities related to music. 

imoves - a range of fun activities to keep children happy, healthy and focused including Worry Monster, Pilates and meditation for mental health and well-being

Tate Paint - a tablet-friendly online paint game  

Great Ormond Street The Power of Play has a range of fun games and activities provided by their team of play experts. 

Unicef has a set of 10 playful activities for disabled children

This article gives a good list of different activities that you might like to try at home and out and about.

If you have concerns about your child's online safety, see our list of useful sources of information here.