Things to do with the kids at home this weekend: 27-29 June, 2020

Play Select A Quest, an interactive online theatrical experience

While we've been baking and learning to code in lockdown, the creatives at Pins and Needles Productions (along with award-winning writer, Bea Roberts) designed an interactive online theatre adventure for kids in just 72 hours - and it's brilliant.

Free to play, Select A Quest takes kids aged 6 and up through a time portal to 1971, where they need to find a magic whistle to ensure everyone at Quest Camp stays safe in the Freaky Forest as the kids encounter Bigfoot, mutant plants and a swamp monster - who works in HR. There are 27 scenes across six levels, and the choose-your-own adventure is just the right mix of silliness and spookiness. Also, it's a great one for the whole family to get involved with, and exactly what you need after a day spent in the paddling pool...

Pet everyone else's pets

Practically every family we know has either become a pup owner during lockdown or joined several waiting lists so it will happen soon. Which means every park excursion is the chance to bond with, cuddle and gawk at adorable dogs. It's divine - and spending 15 minutes stroking an excitable puppy is just the mental health fix we all need. Last week, we met a wire-haired dachsund and border collie pups; we wonder what our excursion to the common will bring this time...

Go book shopping at an independent bookshop

Hurrah! Children's bookstores are reopening, and there's nothing like the joy of giving our kids a new book they've selected themselves. Last week, we spoke to YA author Abiola Bello about her writing, her favourite books and how the publishing industry needs to acknowledge its diversity problem, and it was illuminating. If you need some book inspo, check out our recommendations for best inclusive children's books from Round Table Books' Layla Hudson.

Boogie in a dance-a-thon

Preschool dance company diddi dance has been saving the sanity of many parents throughout lockdown. This weekend, founder Anne-Marie Martin is hosting a continuous dance-a-thon for 24 hours as she taps her toes to raise money for Cauldwell Children, which provides practical and emotional support for disabled children.

The event will be streamed live on Facebook and Instagram, so the kiddos can join in the dancing at any time. To donate, click here.

Photo: Kelly Reeves

Listen to Michael Morpurgo and Kristin Scott Thomas read The Little Prince

One lasting feature from lockdown life - we hope - will be to continue listening to amazing actors and authors bringing children's books to life. It's really engaged our kids, hooked them on series they never would have picked up and had that virtuous circle effect of the kids wanting to read more and more.

It's not over yet - the Institut français and the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Foundation for Youth have teamed up for five exclusive readings of Saint-Exupéry's The Little Prince, which has recently been translated anew by Michael Morpurgo.

Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Okri, Jade Anouka, Ruth Wilson and Olivier d'Agay, Saint-Exupéry's nephew, will be joining Morpurgo in reading the book across five episodes from Monday-Friday next week, live streamed at 5pm on Facebook and Instagram. We think this is one the parents will enjoy as much as the children...

Photo: Casey and Delaney