1. Get Creative at Metropolitan Museum of Art

Looking to give your child a taste of art and culture from home? Try the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s “MetKids” online feature.

The best virtual field trips are interactive and stimulate your child’s imagination. With MetKids, your child can scroll through over 5,000 years of art exhibits through a kid-friendly online portal. Each exhibit your child stops at has “discover”, “imagine” and “create” tabs that prompt your child to interact with the piece. The “create” section gives your child ideas on making their own art inspired by the piece.

2. Interact with Animals at Bronx Zoo

Get up close and personal with dozens of animal species virtually at Bronx Zoo. The zoo offers live streams of animals in the encounters. This activity will give you a chance to teach your child about different animal behaviors.

You can also turn the activity into an art project or writing prompt. Ask your child to draw or paint the animal they’re seeing on screen. You can also ask them to write a short poem or story inspired by one of the animals they saw. These activities will stimulate your child’s brain and get them thinking about animals they never would have seen otherwise.

3. Go To The White House

While a trip to Washington, D.C. might be off the table right now, your child can still take a tour of The White House.

Use this 360 virtual tour to let your child explore the home of the president. There is also a free question guide for kids to fill out as they take the tour that gets them thinking more about the role of government

1. Eliminate Distractions

When planning a virtual field trip, you want your child to be able to focus solely on the activity. This means eliminating distractions in the room like televisions, tablets or toys. Set your child up in front of the computer with only the material they need to focus on the field trip.

2. Capitalize on the Theme

Whether you go to an art museum, a zoo or a government building, you should always try to maximize the theme by bringing it into other parts of your child’s day. For instance, if you go to the zoo, try continuing the fun by making cookies or snacks in the shape of an animal your child saw. Spend the day practicing animal sounds, and put on a movie later that will feature the animals from the zoo. Immersing them in the theme of the field trip for the day will maximize the fun and educational experience.

3. Provide the Right Supplies

Be sure your child has what they need to fully enjoy the field trip. It’s a good idea to provide a notebook and pencil so your child can write down their thoughts. To further promote creativity, give them colored paper, crayons or paint so they can express themselves artistically.