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A list of free, online, boredom-busting resources!

by ChatterPack

Click on any of the underlined headings/links below to find out more. (last updated - 08/01/2021)

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to say THANK YOU for all of your messages, emails, and comments. It means the world to me to know how many people from all over the world are benefitting from this resource list.

ChatterPack is run on a voluntary basis in my *spare* (!) time to help share information and resources to those who need it. Have fun, explore the world from the safety of your home, and please stay safe.

Huge love to you all.

Claire Ryan 

P.s. You can find my book, ADHD and Me - a guide for children and young people, at the end of this list - please do share the link with others who might be interested, and/or get in touch if you have any questions :) 

 Alternative lists of free resources including support, advice, and information for families. Please do share the links for these with others/family/friends

    1. School closures: Resources, information, and activities for families to support Home Learning
    2. Support, advice, and resources for families of children with: speech, language, and communication needs & special educational needs and disabilities
Notices

        Virtual tours, and live webcams

        • Future Learn - Explore the architecture and history of Rome, walking around a 3D digital model of the ancient city, with this free online course.
            Museums and galleries

              Animals

              Explore the oceans (underwater cameras)

                • Aquarium – Otters, sea lions, pirana, jellyfish, and many others. 

                Birds

                  Online learning

                  • Open Culture - learn 48 different languages online - FREE
                  • University of Alabama - Free online archaeology and Egyptology Uni courses (create an account to log on)
                  • Open Learn - Free, online courses, Open university 
                  • Future Learn - Free, online courses including languages, health, coding, wellbeing, creative arts, etc. 
                  • Royal institute - Christmas lectures. A series of lectures presenting scientific subjects to a general audience in an entertaining manner.
                  • iDEA - An international programme that helps you develop/demonstrate your digital, enterprise and employability skills for free
                  • U3A - Online courses for mature students
                  • Blocky games - Games to help beginners learn computer programming skills
                  • Scratch - Beginners computer programming games/projects
                  • T.K.S.S.T - Smart videos for curious minds of all ages

                  Geography, nature, and history

                  • Tutorful - Top Geography websites, YouTube videos, and resources 
                  • Project Noah – Global site where you can view and share wildlife
                  • Seterra - Free world geography, online quizzes 
                  • UK parliament  - Politics, history, citizenship, etc. Written for children and young people, but lots of very interesting information, including how laws are made. 

                   Music 

                  *Check the location/time zones of live-streamed concerts to calculate the UK start time. Time Zone calculator

                  • Free Opera  - Dates confirmed until the end of March. Check the website via the link for future dates to be added

                  Arts and culture

                  • Parlia - The encyclopedia of opinion - mapping the worlds thinking
                  • Walter's Museum - houses the highest artistic achievements from nearly every corner of the world. View some of the past, present, and future exhibitions
                  • Teaching history - 100 objects from museums across the UK with resources, information and teaching ideas to inspire your students’ interest in history
                  • Black history - Telling the story of the black British experience

                   Literature online

                  • Gutenburg - Download free books, e.g. Shakespear, Edgar Allen Poe, Frankenstein, etc. 
                  • Listening books.org - For people with Parkinson's Disease, visual impairment, fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, mental health difficulty or learning difficulty such as Dyslexia, which impacts the ability to read or hold a book
                  • Solomon Kingsnorth - Books in PDF, Word and audiobook format - Alice in Wonderland / Wind in the Willows / The Railway Children / The Jungle Book / Peter Pan / Black Beauty
                  • Audible - Free for this period - Available in 6 languages

                  Learn a new skill or develop a current one!

                  • A tutorial resource guide to photography and editing - Adobe
                  • Tai-Chi - the moves and the method - BrightEducation
                  • Craft projects - Sew, Knit, Crotchet, quilt, and fun for the family too!

                  Miscellaneous & entertainment

                  • BBC Sport - Shares the greatest sporting moments
                  • Radio 4 - Comedy podcast, 'Now Wash Your Hands' featuring guest comedians
                  • Zooniverse - Digital volunteering opportunities 
                  • Life Story Hub - Inspiring creative communication with the young and old using the arts
                  • Expeditions App- Free virtual Reality Augmentation app for all ages, to take virtual trips around the world to hundreds of destinations.
                  • Roll20 - Build your own game - or play games with others online
                  • Latest free stuff - UK site (if you are outside of the UK, google 'latest free stuff' and add your location)
                  • Staying Put: A guide to planning for, arranging and funding care in your own home in old age including how new technology can help improve your lifestyle (£2.99)

                  Anxiety/Mental health/loneliness

                  • WeMeditate - Live streamed, guided meditation sessions
                  • Get Sober - Free, online support for anyone struggling with alcohol addiction and staying sober during this period

                  Image with ideas to help with wellbeing - things I can and cannot control

                  CBT image about managing emotions

                  Board split into sections with activity ideas to cope with isolation

                  Prayer resources

                  *Check the location/time zones of live-streamed masses to calculate the UK start time. Time Zone calculator

                    ADHD and Me, by Claire Ryan, ChatterPack. Find out More

                    A handbook designed to help children and young people figure out what ADHD means to them as a unique individual.

                    Written in an ADHD-friendly format, the book includes tips and strategies to help children, young people and the adults in their lives to better understand their ADHD.

                    ADHD and Me is now available as a digital download! Find out more

                      Alternative lists of free resources, support, advice, and information for families - please do share the links for these with others/family/friends

                        395 comments

                        • what an amazing site ,thank you for excellent resources to go to

                          Jayne

                        • Thank you very much. It was awesome and very useful

                          Souzan Ahmed Mohamed attia

                        • Great resources

                          Sharon Phelps

                        • Thanks so much that was really helpful <3

                          charlotte brooker

                        • Free live streaming Australian zoo cams: https://www.zoo.org.au/animals-at-home/

                          DJ

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