Many Massachusetts parents suddenly find themselves scrambling to entertain their kids for an indefinite period of time. Making the COVID-19 school closures even more challenging is the fact that we must spend most of our time at home.
Luckily many of Boston's finest establishments are offering virtual tours the whole family can enjoy from the safety of their sofas.
Perhaps the most exciting option for the little ones are the virtual presentations from the staff at The New England Aquarium.
So far they have invited viewers to join them as they feed Myrtle the sea turtle, explore the living creatures at the "edge of the sea," and perform a veterinary exam on a real live Green Moray Eel!
You can view a list of the upcoming presentations here, but don't worry if you miss the live broadcasts. The latest videos are available for viewing on Facebook everyday at 11 am.
For even more culture and learning through your iPad, take advantage of virtual museum tours from Google Arts & Culture.
They currently offer online tours of hundreds of the world's finest museums, including several in Boston.
A visit to the Boston Children’s Museum website lets you virtually navigate their exciting exhibits including the three-story New Balance Foundation Climb.
You can also take a family "stroll" through the famous courtyard of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and check out priceless paintings and sculptures at the Museum of Fine Arts.
Turn the afternoon into an educational lesson on Boston's founding fathers with a "visit" to the Massachusetts Historical Society or a virtual tour of the Massachusetts State House.
According to the State House website, the tour describes nine historic spaces and “highlights paintings, sculpture, artifacts, and decorative arts commemorating the people and events that helped to shape the Commonwealth and nation.”
It may not be quite as fun as the real thing, but these virtual tours can help your children get excited about real-life visits to these facilities when the COVID-19 threat has passed.