Fun Activities to Enjoy at Home

There are a number of online organisations that provide fantastic activities that you can access and enjoy from the comfort of your own home.

Sophie, one of our incredible members of our WellChild Family Tree, has recommended some fabulous services that she has enjoyed. Sophie’s daughter Maisy has enjoyed many smiles from using these services, and now we get the chance to spread the joy further, by sharing with you her top recommendations!

Spread a Smile

Spread a Smile is an amazing charity that supports the wellbeing of seriously ill and hospitalised children during extended hospital stays and treatment.

Their website has a brilliant section called Smile TV, which is filled with lovely, FREE online videos on a variety of topics, including:

• Art
• Music & Singing
• Fairies
• Exercise
• Messages from celebrities
• Magic
• Nursery Rhymes
• Pets
• Poetry & Rhyme
• Silliness
• Storytelling
• Makaton Songs

How much?

FREE: All of the videos on Spread a Smile’s Smile TV are completely free to access..

Find out more

Spread a Smile also delivers free hospital visits, outings, events, and art initiatives to spread smiles to thousands of children and teenagers and their families every year.

You can read more about Spread a Smile here.

Electric Umbrella

If your child loves a good sing song, Electric Umbrella’s vibrant FREE Singalong Sessions could be the perfect activity!

Singalong sessions are all about bringing people together through the power of music. Whether you’re a seasoned singer or just love to hum along, everyone is welcome. These sessions are about more than just singing—they’re about connection, creativity, and joy.

When?

These Singalong Sessions take place every Friday afternoon from 4:00PM – 5:30PM.

How much?

FREE: You must register to take part, but the sessions are completely free! Register to take part here.

Find out more

Find out more about Electric Umbrella here.

Songs, Signs & Sounds

Songs, Signs & Sounds produces accessible weekly music videos that combine music-making activities, well-being techniques, and captivating sounds. You can enjoy interactive, high-quality music sessions from the comfort of your own home!

Songs, Signs & Sounds Club

As part of the Songs, Signs & Sounds Club, you’ll get:

• Weekly Inclusive MINI Music Session: 10 minutes of musical fun each week.
• 6 Recent MINI Sessions: That’s one hour of musical delights!
• Access to a Recent Inclusive FULL Music Session: A full hour of engaging music.

How much?

£1 per month.

Register for membership here.

Songs, Signs & Sounds Patron

If you really enjoy being part of the Songs, Signs & Sounds Club, you could become a Patron member for £20 per month. As a Patron member you will get additional access to:

• Weekly Inclusive FULL Music Session: 1 hour of musical fun each week.
• A Back Catalogue of Full Sessions: 52 sessions of musical delights that you can access whenever.
• Monthly Music & Wellbeing Session: A live 45 minute wellbeing adventure combining the principles of sound healing with music facilitation.

How much?

£20 per month.

Find out more

Find out more about Songs Signs & Sounds here.

Soundabout

Soundabout offers a wide range of online interactive multi-sensory music sessions, including:

After School Clubs

Soundabout’s After School Clubs are small-group music sessions on Zoom for for people with learning disabilities of all ages with complex support needs.

When?

Mondays at 5pm.

Tuesdays at 5:30pm.

Thursdays at 5pm.

Soundabout Live

Soundabout Live sessions are interactive multi-sensory music sessions streamed to a private Facebook group.

There is also a bank of Soundabout Live sessions available for free on YouTube. Click here to go to sessions.

When?

Every Saturday at 2pm.

How much?

Pay What You Can: Soundabout sessions are run on a ‘Pay What You Can’ basis. There are suggested prices for sessions or memberships but you can choose how much you want to pay.

Free resources

Soundabout also has a collection of free online music making resources for people with complex support needs, including:

• Hello Songs to kick start your day with music.
• Goodnight Songs to help you drift into a relaxing sleep.
• Routine Songs to add music to your everyday activities.

Click here to go to the free resources.

Find out more

See more about Soundabout here.

Sensory Soup

Sensory Soup is an online treasure trove of sensory learning resources and ideas specifically designed to enrich the lives and educational journeys of children and young people with complex learning needs and disabilities.

Created by Katie, a former special education teacher, Sensory Soup provides fun and inclusive sensory experiences for families, teachers, and caregivers to enjoy with their children at home, in schools, and care settings.

The Sensory Soup website features a growing collection of sensory resources, including story scripts, clear step-by-step instructions, supporting PowerPoints or videos, and an easy-to-source prop list, making each activity easy to deliver and adapt in any setting.

Sensory Library

The Sensory Library features short, rhyming sensory stories and sessions that bring storytelling to life through the senses. Meet characters like Boo the Ghost and Lucky the Leprechaun, and encounter an Alien in a tale meant for sharing in the dark. Explore rainbows and the magical world of bees. Enjoy camping adventures at night, uncover rainforest secrets, and more! Click here to go to the Sensory Library.

Communication Through Touch Activities

These engaging sessions bring exciting themes to life – from pirates to under the sea to weather and world travel – through positive touch experiences. Each activity is set to carefully chosen music to encourage engagement, communication and body awareness. Designed with accessibility in mind, they are perfect for children and young people with complex physical needs, whether in postural seating Acheeva beds or support positions. Click here to go to Communication Through Touch Activities.

Sensations

These exciting activities take sensory explorers on a journey of discovery, awakening each of their senses along the way. From wandering through enchanted forests to experiencing the changing seasons, travelling back to the Stone Age, or stepping into the dinosaur kingdom, every adventure offers new sights, sounds, and sensations to enjoy. Click here to go to Sensations.

Music and Movement

This section is designed for children and young people who use wheelchairs, these sessions are all about bringing smiles through a variety of movements and motions set to music. From rocking around the clock to tunes from different decades to blasting off like a rocket into outer space or dancing like a dragon – each session is full of energy, imagination and fun. Click here to go to the Music and Movement Section.

Other resources

In addition, you can visit the Sensory Soup website to choose and download recipes from the Sensory Soup cookbook. You’ll also find a variety of sensory art and messy activities.

How much?

£5 per month.

Free resources

A selection of free resources is also available, allowing you to explore them before subscribing. Click here to try them out.

Find out more

If you would like advice or a specific resource created for your child or young person, please feel free to get in touch – Katie would love to help.

To get in touch, please use the contact form on the website or email [email protected].

You can also find out more about Sensory Soup on their website here.

National Theatre at Home

For older children who are interested in theatre, National Theatre at Home is a great option to access as much entertainment as you want without having to worry about leaving the house.

With new plays added every month, you can stream brand new productions straight from the National Theatre stages or delve into the treasure trove of classics.

All recordings are captioned with optional subtitles, while many also offer audio description and a selection offer British Sign Language.

How much?

£10 per month.

Find out more

See more about National Theatre at Home here.

If you have any comments, ideas, or suggestions about this article please contact us at [email protected]

Please don’t forget to leave feedback on this article!