These Education Companies Offer Free, At-Home Learning Portals for Parents of Students

With all of the school closures due to the COVID-19 outbreak, thousands of parents have turned into homeschooling educators overnight. And while many school districts are providing some kind of distance learning, parents still find themselves scrambling to come up with lesson plans, educational activities, DIY projects, indoor activities, science experiments, and brain-boosting or boredom-busting diversions to keep the kids entertained while everybody is staying home. This is especially true of the younger kids, since it’s so hard to find content that is appropriate for their age and grade level — and they get disinterested easily if something doesn’t grab them right away.

Educational companies to the rescue! Many apps, websites, and curriculum planners have been lowering their paywalls and offering their services for free to families affected by school closures. Others were always free, but seem all the more essential now. And even a few entertainment companies have started at-home learning hubs. These 33 education companies are currently offering free subscriptions and activities for kids. And, while many other apps and websites are offering free services only to teacher and school districts, these go directly to parents — you don’t need an educator’s account to start using them. From science experiments to daily read-alouds to interactive video lessons about cooking and music, they’ll fill the days with diverting enrichment.