Harry Potter at home: JK Rowling launches magical hub catering to all Potterheads
From magical crafting videos to free books on Audible, the new Harry Potter at Home hub is where we'll be spending the next several months online with the kids
It's fun, and lovely to hang out with the kids. It's also stressful, anxiety-inducing and a daily reminder of just how much we owe every teacher and childcare provider, as well as every key worker that's helping keep the world going in these crazy times.
Some of the benefits of confinement are developing a love of a new character or book series, or revisiting a classic like Harry Potter. For anyone with a budding Potterhead in their midst, or a full-blown Harry Potter obsessive, here are a few ways to bring some Hogwarts magic into your home right now.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone on Audible
Storytime sessions on Spotify
Some exciting wizarding world news for Harry Potter obsessives: stars including David Beckham, Eddie Redmayne, Stephen Fry, Dakota Fanning, Claudia Kim and Noma Dumezweni will be bringing Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone to life on Spotify Kids (the audio chapters are available free of charge).
You can also hear Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, reading the first chapter of the book, "The Boy Who Lived," via video at Wizarding World now. All 17 chapters of the book will be released by the middle of the summer - and we can't think of a better way to get your youngster excited about this modern classic.
Reading and fun and games with Harry Potter
JK Rowling has parents and kids alike excited with her free online resource, Harry Potter at Home, which launched on 1 April.
It's a hub for all things Potter, where teachers can do virtual HP storytime sessions for their students, and anyone new to the Harry Potter universe, or keen to reread Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, can access the book free of charge on Audible.com (in six different languages, no less).
For those who prefer reading their text to listening, members of e-library OverDrive will also be able to borrow the book online for free this month, in over 20 languages.
The Harry Potter at Home site will have a selection of constantly inspiring and changing content for kids, with activity kits from Bloomsbury and Scholastic, magical craft videos where kids can learn to draw a Niffler, among other magical creatures and objects, and where fans will play puzzles, take quizzes and read all about their favourite wizards and witches.
Home learning with Harry Potter
Understandably, parents are keen to keep the kids learning (something, at least) as long as schools are shut. One home learning resource from the US that will appeal to Potters fans is Outschool. You can sign kids up for courses, which start at $5 a class, and many are themed around Harry Potter, like intro to Potions (Chemistry), creative writing based on Harry Potter texts, Harry Potter geology and Latin basics using Harry Potter lingo.
Gaming with Harry Potter
If you need a new game to keep the kids entertained, AR Wizarding World game, Wizards Unite, encourages kids to locate fantastical beasts in their backyard.
