Things to do in lockdown in May with kids

Art Webinars with Art Enthusiasts London

Art Enthusiasts is running a selection of art webinars on Zoom, which combine an art history lesson with practical art workshop in one. Choose from artists like Frida Kahlo, Vincent Van Gogh, Paul Gauguin, Pablo Picasso, and others. Classes are scheduled for 6-9s and 10-13s and cost £4.36 for a 2-hour session. Adults, don't be jealous - there are grown-up ones, too.

Photo: Alina Grubynak

Set a book challenge with Biblio-buzz: The Alexandra Palace Children's Book Awards

If you're looking to inspire your child with some literature this month, then encourage them to read the six books in the Alexandra Palace Children's Book Awards, which include works from Aisha Busby and Stewart Foster. Kids 9-12 will be able to take on a series of creative challenges, attend online workshops and listen to author storytimes as part of the literary fortnight, before voting for their favourite book.

Photo: Johnny McClung

Take on an upcycling challenge with the Royal Opera

Yes, everyone's up to their eyeballs in crafts, but we've found an activity that even the adults can get excited about: creating a Royal Opera House stage and bringing it to life (we genuinely think the kids will play with this one, long after making it). Plus it's an educational lesson in maths, D&T and architecture.

Embrace the Getty art challenge

If you've been wondering how to use lockdown to get the kids into art, then we have the answer: with a fun social media challenge of course. The Getty Museum's challenge is creative, inspiring, and, best of all - easy. Just choose your favourite artwork, find three things lying around the house to help you bring it to life and recreate those artworks using the items (then share, of course, using #gettychallenge). They'll be saying "Arcimboldo" in no time...

Photo: Jose Tebar

Read The Book of Hopes online

If you're looking for some inspiring new reading material for the kiddos, here's the best thing on the internet right now: Bloomsbury's The Book of Hopes, edited by Katherine Rundell and featuring short stories from beloved authors and illustrators including Lauren Child, Francesca Simon, Liz Pichon and Axel Scheffler. It's free to read online and dedicated to the porters, nurses, doctors, cleaners, carers and all hospital workers - we love you, NHS.

Break a world record by drawing with Rob Biddulph

Rob Biddulph, award-winning author of Blown Away, Odd Dog Out and many others, is hosting #DrawWithRob sessions online every Tuesday and Thursday at 10am GMT. The videos are here and a must for any child who's ever wanted to draw a dinosaur or a sausage dog...

Be sure to tune in on Thursday, May 21st at 4pm BST and attempt to break the Guinness World Records title for the largest online art lesson (they need 10,000 people to join in). It's for good, too: all money raised is going to charities to fight COVID-19.

Go on a virtual shopping trip with American Girl

Yes, there are some brilliant virtual field trips and exhibitions for the kids to enjoy from the sofa. But we've found something even better: virtual shopping. You can take 360-degree tours of American Girl locations across the US - and they are brilliant fun, for all doll lovers (and for parents, who don't have to spend a penny!).

Plus, American Girl has a free e-library of books that combine history and literature (and are really, really good).

Encourage a love of classical music and more with Royal Albert Hall

Royal Albert Hall at Home is jam-packed with sessions for kids, from an introduction to the harp to storytime sessions and the Sea Shambles science, music and comedy show (mark May 17th in the diaries).

Enjoy movie-packed weekends with Disney Plus

Most of us have accepted that screen time has gone up by 400%, but we still believe the quality of that screen time makes a difference. Enjoying a film together as a family? Always dreamy. Disney Plus is making us very happy these days...