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This document is quite long but there are pages in it that list materials you might use in different types of play and pages that list vocabulary you can talk about with children as they play.

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Rainy day blues? Weather at the extremes? Need to stick to a budget and stay in? Whether you are looking for simple games for kids or full scale activities for groups, it's easy to save the day, bust boredom and have fun with this list of screen-free indoor games for kids of all ages! What indoor games did your family love to play growing up, and what indoor games do you play now with your kids? Did you learn some great games for kids at school? Let us know your favorite games to play when bored in the comments so we can share them!
Note: Most of these indoor games for kids are fun games to play with friends indoors without many materials. The classics don't require any fancy equipment. However, if you prefer, we have found ready-made versions of these games for children to play. Click the image to go to the product on Amazon. While your price does not change, we receive a small commission on any purchases made through our site.
If you stick with us, this list of indoor activities has been categorized into age appropriate groups at the end of the article (fun games for preschoolers up through teens). Or you can use the quick links below to skip to the lists. As always, these games and activities for kids can truly be enjoyed by anyone who is ready and willing to have fun.

This may be the most absurdly simple of all the indoor games with friends - blow up some balloons, tell the kids to keep the balloons from touching the floor, and get the party started! This is admittedly one of those kids physical games that can get a little rambunctious indoors, so move the breakables out of the way. Buy It: 500 pack multi colored balloons.

Balloon tennis or balloon volleyball: String up a divider as a net and see how many times they can volley the balloon over the net without it touching the ground. Fly swatters, plastic spatulas or wooden spoons could work well for the tennis game, but they aren't absolutely necessary. (This works best with only two children playing for safety reasons.)

This is a great indoor game to focus young kids on the sense of touch in a world so focused on the sense of sight. Train their minds to associate information other than just how the object looks. Start by putting interesting objects into containers that a child must reach into and identify by touch. Shoe boxes work well as they are usually readily available, can be easily cut with scissors, and do not let light through. Making the boxes is part of the fun - have the kids decorate them, just make sure to cut out a child-sized hand hole on the side of the box beforehand. Place an item in each box and have your kids take turns guessing what the items are. Encourage questions and offer clues as needed.

This is another of the games for kindergarten readiness that you can easily pull together. When a child plays a sorting game, they are analyzing objects, describing and comparing them and engaging in critical thinking. All kinds of learning is going on. Start by creating "bins", which can be as simple as using tape on a level surface. Buy It - Learning Resources Mini Muffin Match Up Counting Toy Set.

Colors: For younger kids, using colors is the easiest way to start a sorting activity.Try taping down pieces of colored construction paper, then gather objects to match. (LEGO Duplos work well.)

Advanced: Sort by the texture of a surface or type of object, for instance wooden vs plastic vs metal.

More variations: You can make it into a full on game by asking competing children to go find 5 objects of each type the fastest. Or you can enforce an order that they must retrieve them in - first red, then blue, then yellow, then repeat.

We typically think of bubbles as an outdoor activity; this version can be played indoors around a table. Simply get a plate and straw for each child and put a coin-sized drop of dish soap on the plate. Mix a little water in until suds form. Each child should then put the end of the straw straight up and down into the suds so that a layer of soap forms over the end of the straw. Blowing very slowly, a single bubble will start to grow! Who can make the biggest bubble? Who can hold the bubble there the longest?

I Spy and its variations are wonderful sensory games for young kids to get to know the world around them. For a child who has never played, you can start by picking out a secret object within plain view and saying, "I Spy something blue." If there is only one child, then she can keep guessing until she gets it right. If there are multiple children then they can take turns looking around and guessing. The first child correct gets to spy something next. It is so versatile, you can take it anywhere.

Variations: Limit the number of guesses each child gets. Or, say things like "I Spy something that is a circle." The difficulty is easily changed by what you are actually spying (smaller or less obvious things) and how you describe what is spied (bumpy or soft things, for example).

This is a more easily set up indoor game than you might think. Using painter's tape (go gentle on flooring), tape down a line of any length, and have a blast. Challenge your child to only walk on the line all the way to end. Buy It - Healthstar Foam Balance Beam 6″ Blue.

Angles: Try taping down further lines at different angles. Spirals and zig-zags are always fun. This is one of those physical games for kindergarten readiness that is easy to practice.

Backwards: Switch up the challenge by having the child walk the tape line backwards or with eyes closed (socks off so they can feel the line).

Other variations: Walk the tape line heel-to-toe or try jumping down the line (both feet still on!)

If you're able to create enough space on the floor, constructing a tape maze can be a great indoor activity. Design a simple maze for toddlers or add dead ends to challenge older kids.

Add balls: Can the kids dribble a small ball through the maze without crossing any of the tape lines? Get a timer and mark how long it takes the kids to move the ball through the maze - then challenge them to improve their time.

Number maze: This is a good variation for children who are learning number recognition and counting skills. Mark numbers along the maze route the child can follow in the correct order from start to exit.

Again, you'll need the painter's tape for this game. Design a road map on the floor for your kid's collection of matchbox cars and those other mini vehicles we somehow all accumulate. Get creative and add other pieces to make a street scene or use furniture in the room as obstacles. The kids will be driving all over town all day long.

Variations: The tape course is limited only by your imagination. Trains could follow train tracks or unicorns could dance on rainbows.

Buy It: If you can imagine it, you can probably buy a decorative tape already printed.

When any indoor games need to be low energy:
Indoor Fun at Home: No Energy, No Space, No TV, No Problem

- SOCK FUN GAMES -

Sock Wars

The setup of this game can actually be as fun as playing it. Divide into two teams, create some sock balls from pairs of socks, and then each team creates its fort! Blankets, pillows, chairs, and couches are all fair game. Once you have built your elaborate fort, make sure all breakables are cleared away and start throwing! If a kid is hit then they are out for the remainder of the game. The last team standing wins. If you don't mind your kids activity games to get crazy, this is the indoor game for you. It also translates well to an outdoor game - just make sure you bring in all the socks when you are done.

Sock basketball: Basketball games for indoor fun? You betcha! Make a few "snowballs" out of pairs of socks, get a laundry basket (or smaller receptacles for more challenge), and you're all set. Kids can take turns shooting to score, and they could even take the risk of a longer shot worth more points!

More sock basketball variations: Each kids shoots the ball, and if they score they take a step back. The one to score from the furthest distance wins. Buy It: Nerf Sports TablePros Basketball

Sock hockey: Likely the safest way there is to play hockey - no helmets or even sticks required! We like to use a plastic laundry basket tipped sideways for the goal. Pick a kid (or adult) for goalie and try to toss the socks into the goal.

Sock bean bag toss: A great use for that large cardboard box you were about to recycle. Cut holes of various widths and shapes and assign point values to each one. Flip the box upside down and you've got an instant carnival-style bean bag toss. You can use soft socks to toss or small balls such as ping-pong. Little prizes totally optional.

Hot Potato: This indoor game can get a little giggly, so be warned! It is great though, because it is one of those games to play with kindergarten kids up through the older grade school ages. Simply get any soft ball or rolled up socks and underhand-toss it to a child. Instruct them to under-hand toss it to someone else as quickly as possible. Each child repeats this. When does this game end? Who knows? Just get rid of it! Buy It: Hot Potato Family

Hot potato variations: If you have enough children, play short segments of music while they toss the object, stop the music, and the last child to touch it when the music stops is out of the game. Repeat until there is only 1 child.

- MOVEMENT GAMES -

Charades

If you haven't played this classic game, then you need to. Right now! This game is all about acting out a word or phrase using no spoken words whatsoever. It can be easily modified for any age group. For full instructions click here.

Buy It: Charades Party Game - Family Charades.

Animal Charades: Before playing, first print off a page of animal pictures. Cut out each individual animal, fold each in half, and put them in a bucket. Begin the game by having the first child choose a piece of paper. The child then needs to act out the animal silently, while the other children try to guess what animal is being portrayed. Once the animal is guessed, choose another child who has not picked a piece of paper yet, and then they get to have their fun acting. Charades games are so versatile that they can be group games for 5 year olds, one on one games for 2 kids or even adult games with no kids at all. We like this game when we're tired, too.

More variations: All secret words could come from a theme such as movies. Or play with a partner and compete against other sets of partners. Buy It: Animal Charades.

Duck, Duck, Goose (or Duck, Duck, Grey Duck for us Minnesotans!)

If you are looking for an easy game to play with kindergarten and preschool-aged kids, you found it! This fun indoor game needs about a minimum of 6 children to play it. Choose someone to be the Goose (or Grey Duck). All the other kids sit in a circle. The Goose then walks around the circle, tapping each kid on the head and calling, "Duck, duck, duck, duck..." Eventually, the Goose calls "Goose!" when tapping a child. The old Goose has to run around the circle and try to sit in the vacant spot before the new Goose can catch them.

There are two outcomes: 1) the old Goose is able to run around the circle and sit down in the new Goose's spot without being tagged. A new round of the game begins. Or, 2) the old Goose is tagged before he/she gets to sit down in the vacant spot in the circle and must remain the Goose for the next round. Buy It: Try a less rambunctious version - Game Zone Duck Duck Goose.

Indoor Bowling

You will need a level space indoors to create a bowling "lane" for this game. Collect items to act as pins such as empty water bottles or plastic cups. A small ball works best for indoor bowling; nothing heavy is needed. If there are a lot of kids, make it an indoor team game for kids by creating "leagues". Buy It: KOVOT Foam Bowling Set.

Variations: Make a bulls-eye on the ground out of masking tape or one on a piece of paper. With each section worth different amounts of points, the kids can take aim and challenge each other.

If you'd prefer to get out of the house instead, try our list of Twin Cities bowling alleys.

Musical Chairs

Get your dancin' shoes on! This game is best with at least 4 or more children playing and 1 additional person to stop the music. This is probably the most popular of the children's group games for inside. Buy It - Musical Chairs And Party Games

Variations: If you don't have enough chairs, try substituting pieces of colored construction paper taped to the ground. When the music stops, the child who gets both feet on first claims the spot.

Indoor Obstacle Course

This is one game that I absolutely loved as a kid. Depending on the skill level of the stations you create, obstacle courses can be fun games to play with kindergarten-aged children through adults. Here are some ideas for your course that you could put in any order:

Put down pillows or couch cushions and the kids need to jump from one to the next. Alternatively, the kids could need to jump over the pillows or cushions!

Climb over ottomans.

Allow only jumping/somersaulting/crawling/crab walking from one area of the course to another.

Put down some Balance Beams as described in game number 2.

One of my personal favorites as kid - crawling through tunnels made from blankets or sheets hung over chairs and couches.

Perform various exercises like 20 jumping jacks.

Toss 5 sock snowballs from game number into laundry baskets. Throwing stuffed animals also works here.

Crawl under tables

Variations: For older kids, time them to see how long it takes them to go through the whole course. Buy It: Papair Indoor Obstacle Course Game

Sardines

If you are tired of the same old indoor group games for kids, shake up your game of hide-and-seek a little with only one person hiding and everyone else doing the seeking. In the game of Sardines, as soon as a seeker finds the hider, he or she must join the hider in the hiding spot. (It's a fun challenge to discover a hiding spot that will fit your whole crowd!) The last person to find the spot becomes the hider for the next round.

Hide and Seek

This has to be one of oldest games on planet Earth. It ranks among my favorite indoor games for family get-togethers. Anyone from tot to grandma can play along. Variations of hide and seek are wonderful games to play in a big house, but can be scaled down for a smaller home. Buy It: Hide and Seek Puppy Game For Kids (This is a good way to modify hide and seek for smaller kids).

In the dark: The variations of this game can be truly fun for both kids and adults. Hide and seek in the dark (or dim room) can be a mildly spooky thrill. It really can be a lot harder to find someone, which appeals to older kids. As with all games, exercise caution and talk ahead of time about what's off limits.

Simon Says

Start by selecting someone to be "Simon". Next, kids must do whatever Simon says when starting a command with "Simon Says", for instance, "Simon Says touch your nose." If a child fails to do it before you finish saying before Simon gives the next command, then they are "out" of that game. You can also attempt to get children "out" by saying commands that don't start with Simon Says. If a child follows that directions then they are "out". The last kid that is "in" gets to be Simon. If you want to make the game difficult for older kids, simply issue commands faster and faster, and make the needed actions more and more difficult to complete. What I LOVE about this game is that it can be one of the most adult-controlled physical games for kids. They get some exercise, but you can keep the rowdy down as Simon. You can play this game when you are looking for 3 player indoor games.

Simon Says Draw or Color: A fun variation is to play Simon Says with drawing or coloring. For example: "Simon Says draw a circle. Simon Says draw a stick figure. Draw a tiger. Ohhh, Emily you're out, you started to draw a tiger!"

The Floor is Lava

I had to add this idea to our list of indoor games for preschoolers because my four-year-old LOVES this game, which she learned from her older siblings. Any time, any where she is likely to yell, "The floor is lava! Mom you're dead". Sweet, I know. It is a very easy game to learn. When the floor is declared lava, no one is allowed to touch it. Players have to get where they are going by stepping on furniture and anything they can toss on the floor. Hint: I always declare that moms and dads have special lava shoes, so we can still walk on the floor.

Variations: Hey! You could make anything lava: "The fridge is lava." "Mom's chocolate is lava". It could work?! Buy It - If you don't want kids walking on the furniture but still want some physical activity games, you can use foam pieces in the board game version: The Floor is Lava - Interactive Game for Kids and Adults.

For games to play physically when you are sick of your own home:
Twin Cities Indoor Playgrounds and Play Areas Guide

- SCAVENGER HUNTS & TREASURE HUNTS -

Scavenger Hunt

If you haven't done a Scavenger Hunt lately, then you just aren't living! This was one of my favorite games with cousins when I was a kid. A scavenger hunt is all about finding items from a list in certain rooms or areas. Depending on how many items you want the kids to find and how many kids are a part of the game, you can either hand write the lists of items for each child, or type it up on a computer and print out copies. If the items will be in difficult hiding spots you can write clues next to each item on the list. The kids will love the adventure and challenge. Buy It: Scavenger Hunt for Kids.

Traveling? A scavenger hunt can be taken on the road rather easily and many attractions (museums and galleries in particular) offer their own versions.

Color & Number Hunts: Simplify the hunt for younger children. Instead of writing items on a list they may not be able to read, mark boxes of color on a white piece of paper and ask the children to find items around the house to match the colors. Add numbers into the mix if they have a grasp on those.

Puzzle Piece Hunt: This works best if you start with a relatively tidied-up space (which we find in short supply around our house.) Hide the pieces of a large jigsaw puzzle around the room and ask the kids to hunt for them. Bring the pieces back one at a time to fit together into the completed puzzle.

Glow-in-the-Dark Hunt: This awesome idea came from our reader, Denise, and I had to share! Denise said, "My kids love it when I hide glow-in-the-dark stones, turn off the lights, and let them see who can collect the most. They usually demand we repeat the game multiple times (ages 4 and 7)." I found some cute glow-in-the-dark stones on Amazon for a pretty reasonable $10.

Treasure Hunt with Clues

This indoor game usually gets all ages in our family involved. The younger ones often request their older siblings to design a treasure hunt that will lead them around the house in search of some token prize (usually fruit snacks). The challenging part is writing the clever clues that will lead the seekers from point to point until the treasure is located. Adults can be involved and make this as simple as necessary for younger kids to play if they cannot yet read. For instance, using picture clues instead of written clues.

Rhyming clues: Older kids might enjoy the extra challenge of creating clues that rhyme. Bonus: they're working on their writing skills!

- TABLE GAMES & BOARD GAMES -
Many of these Fun Physical Games for Kids can be adjusted to be indoor games for kids.
Dominoes

Another one of those classic games for kids and adults alike. Click here for instructions on how to play. You don't even need to buy dominoes, just print them and cut them out!

Buy It: Cardinal Double 12 Color Dot Dominoes in Collectors Tin.

Domino Toppling

Unlike playing the game dominoes, you'll need to purchase these from a store. This is one of those activity games for kids that can go all day on a rainy day. Simply set them up one after the other and tip them over!

Rube Goldberg machine

The objective of a Rube Goldberg machine is to complete a simple task using a complicated series of steps. (Yes, making it complicated is actually the fun part.) My kids have built these machines at home to compete at our local county fair. Your own Rube Goldberg machine doesn't need to be nearly so involved. Your goal is to link together simple devices to produce a domino effect, in which each device triggers the next. Completing a simple task is optional and can depend on how much the children want to be challenged.

Buy It: Rube Goldberg Machines

Our Favorite Board Games

Board games - the ultimate indoor games for kids. Below is a fun games list of some of our classic favorites. We know that families often look for indoor games for 4 players. Most of these board game activities for kids will accommodate four or even more players.

Since we started this list, we have had readers recommended Blokus Strategy Game and Four Score. What are some of your board game ideas for kids? We'll keep growing our list.

Marbles

When collecting marbles for this game, make sure to get 1 bigger marble for each kid that is going to play. First, make a circle 3 feet wide out of masking tape or string. Then place 3-5 marbles near the center of the circle for each kid that is playing. Then each child takes a turn, with their hands outside the circle, flicking their big marble out of their fist with their thumb towards the marbles in the center. If they knock any marbles out of the ring then they get to keep them and shoot again. If they miss, then they leave their big marble there until it is their turn again. The winner is the kid with the most marbles when all marbles are knocked out of the ring. Buy It: Toysmith Marbles in a Tin Box or add to the fun with a Marble Run.

Dice Games

A set of 10 dice can fit in your purse and you instantly have mini games to play at home or wherever you land. These are four of our favorite family indoor games you can play with just a set of dice, paper and pen. The links will take you to instructions on how to play.

For when you need some place to go for indoor summer games and activities:
10 Free & Air-Conditioned Indoor Family Outings

- CARD GAMES -

Great Card Games for Families

Kid-friendly card games are an easy way to keep indoor games for kids on hand. While you can buy books with instructions for more game than you'll ever be able to play, we recommend these four to start.

- PAPER GAMES -

Paper Games - Indoor Games For Kids Anywhere You Need One

These classic paper games are fun, super portable activities (all you need is a sheet of paper and a pen) and require no set up or clean up. If you are looking for indoor games for just two players, these are always good go-tos. What would you add to this list?

Hangman - children do need to know their letters to play this game. You can start with simple, three-letter words to practice spelling skills or increase the challenge for older kids with multiple words or phrases. Give the kids a hint by telling them a category the word falls into (i.e. "Animal").

Dots and Boxes

Paper airplane landing strips

This is a great engineering game we love from What Do We Do All Day? Can you design the ideal airplane to land in the correct "landing strip?" Get creative with the landing space adjusting the size to fit the kids playing.

- QUIZ GAMES & SPOKEN GAMES -

Alphabet Game

This activity is all about coming up with themes and is among the family pastimes that are easily convertible to group indoor games. I've listed some theme ideas below to get you started. Within your chosen theme, take turns with letters of the alphabet and come up with things in the theme. For instance, in the theme "Animals", you would have anteater, baboon, carp, duck, etc.

Animals

Countries and US states

Famous people (many sub-categories here, actors, actresses, etc)

Household items

Kitchen items

Food

Drinks

Movies

Cartoon characters

Variations: Normally played in the car, start from "A" and say things that you see while driving or find each letter on signs and license plates as you pass.

Rock, Paper, Scissors

For anyone looking for mini games indoors, this is the go to. I always love using this game to settle something when I don't have a coin to flip. You can play once or keep busy for a long wait at the doctor's office.

Variations: Try holding a tournament. You can get as fancy as you want, writing down the tournament brackets of all the children on paper, or having each child play all other children and see who gets the most wins. Buy It: Rock Paper Scissors Card Game - This is a good way to randomize the game for younger kids who can't get the concept of picking something other than Rock.

Telephone

I get excited just thinking about this game. The more kids the better. Line the kids up, think of a sentence of sufficient length, and see what that sentence becomes by the time each kids whispers it into the next kid's ear. O.M.G. Funny. Buy It - Electronic Phone Game.

Twenty Questions

This activity is great one for indoors, car rides, and anytime you are waiting. Super easy to play - one person thinks of an object, and another person has 20 questions to guess what it is! Buy It: The Classic Game of 20 Questions

Variations: Instead of a thing, one person thinks of something in a category such as famous people or occupations.

Two Truths and a Lie

This game is a favorite of the short fun games for kids when a leader needs to facilitate introductions, but it doesn't need to be used only with strangers. Each kid simply writes down two truths and one lie about oneself, and the others need to guess which one is the lie.

Variations: Try a game of two lies and a truth and guess the truth! Buy It - Truth & Lies Playing Cards.

Jeopardy

Perfect for grade-school kids who need a break from the screens. Create a homemade game of jeopardy and suit the categories to the age group you're playing with. You provide your own game questions and price levels. Materials used can be as simple as writing the categories on a white board or pin post-in notes to a bulletin board. Split kids into three teams, if possible, and rope an older sibling or adult into being the game host. For buzzers, use three different noise makers (we use small musical instruments such as shakers and whistles). Once buzzed, the team has a certain amount of time to come up with the correct answer. (via How to Adult).

The Song Game

I thought I made this game up. We used to play it in the car, but now I see it is a board game, too. When we played it in the car as kids, we would let the youngest sibling say a word and we would have to come up with a song about the word, In our rules, there was no winner or loser, it was just a fun way to keep us busy in the car.

Variations/Buy It: The board game, Spontuneous, is the same concept except the first person to blurt out a song gets to roll the dice to move ahead on the board. If you love singing - whether you are good at it or not - this is a fun way to pass some time.

Want to know how to write Indoor Games in Hindi: इंडोर गेम्स. Is that not the coolest?!

INDOOR GAMES FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES, CATEGORIZED

INDOOR GAMES FOR KIDS AGES 2-4

For inside games for preschoolers, we often want to think of fun physical games to tire the little ones out - especially when the weather is uncooperative for outdoor games. We have a few ideas for both physical games for children as well as quieter games for preschoolers indoors. Many of these simple games for preschoolers can be adjusted for older kids, too.

Balance beam

Touch-and-feel boxes

Sorting - Sorting games make good color games for preschoolers.

Bubbles

I-Spy

Keep the Balloon Up

FUN GAMES FOR KIDS AGES 5-8

Some of the best fun can be had with these games for school age kids. You'll recognize many of these games to play with school-agers from your own childhood. We've suggested this list as great indoor games for kindergarten through third grade, but like all the games, they can be adapted for other ages.

Scavenger & Treasure Hunts

Simon Says

Duck, Duck, Goose

Hide & Seek

Charades

Indoor Obstacle Course

Musical Chairs

Paper Games

Fun physical games to play in the water?
Family Exercise Fun: Twin Cities Indoor Waterparks and Pools

As kids get to middle school age, games can sometimes get a bit more complicated, but are still a great deal of fun. When your kids are looking for fun games to play at home with friends inside, they could try any of these games.

Indoor Bowling

Sock Basketball

Marbles

Board & Table Games

Card Games

Dice Games

Dominoes

Rube Goldberg Machine

Quiz Games

If you have more fun games and indoor activities ideas for kids, we would love to hear them. Leave us a message in the comments, send us an email or tag us on social media. Let's get this list up to 100!!!

75 Fun Indoor Games for Kids was originally published in 2016 by Tom Kingston
and has been updated periodically

RELATED ARTICLES:

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75 Indoor Games for Kids - Boredom Busters for All Ages

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Rainy day blues? Weather at the extremes? Need to stick to a budget and stay in? Whether you are looking for simple games for kids or full scale activities for groups, it's easy to save the day, bust boredom and have fun with this list of screen-free indoor games for kids of all ages!

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JK Rowling releases her new children’s book! Check back daily for the next instalment.

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I had the idea for The Ickabog a long time ago and read it to my two younger children chapter by chapter each night while I was working on it. However, when the time came to publish it, I decided to put out a book for adults instead, which is how The Ickabog ended up in the attic. I became busy with other things, and even though I loved the story, over the years I came to think of it as something that was just for my own children.

Then, in the Spring of 2020, lockdown happened. It was very hard on children, in particular, so I brought The Ickabog down from the attic, read it for the first time in years, rewrote bits of it and then decided to publish it at first in free instalments online for children stuck at home. I also thought how wonderful it would be if children on lockdown illustrated the story for me, and so we launched the Ickabog illustration competition, run by my publishers around the world.

The Ickabog book, illustrated by the winners of the competition, is now out as a book, and I'm donating my net royalties to my charitable trust, Volant, to help medical and frontline charities supporting vulnerable groups impacted by Covid-19.

Thank you to everyone who entered the competition and helped create the book, and I hope you enjoy reading it!

The Illustration Competition

Back in the 2020 lockdown, J.K. Rowling invited children across the world to take part in a competition with a truly delightful prize: a chance to see their illustrations in her new book...

Read more

All You Need to Know

If you have any questions about The Ickabog - the story, the characters, or how J. K. Rowling came to publish the book - you'll find the answers here.

Read more

About The Book

What's The Ickabog all about? You can look inside the book here, listen to a snippet from the audiobook, and watch J. K. Rowling reading selected chapters aloud...

Read more

Ickabog Activities

If you're ready to have some creative fun with The Ickabog, then download your free activity pack now. And while you're here, you can get some artistic tips from winners of the illustration competition...

Read more

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I had the idea for The Ickabog a long time ago and read it to my two younger children chapter by chapter each night while I was working on it.

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BorrowBox: The BorrowBox app is a great way to get children reading at home. To join, go to librariesireland.ie/join, complete the registration, set a PIN and you’ll be able to log in to BorrowBox with those details to download e-books and audiobooks.

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BorrowBox: The BorrowBox app is a great way to get children reading at home. To join, go to librariesireland.ie/join, complete the registration, set a PIN and you’ll be able to log in to BorrowBox with those details to download e-books and audiobooks.

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Our vision has always been to create a digital experience for libraries and library members that rivals consumer brands. To create a user experience that is world class - designed to be simple and made to inspire.

With BorrowBox, your library in one app, our vision is now a reality. Borrow eBooks and eAudiobooks free from your library using our BorrowBox app.

Say hello to your future library, wherever you are, whenever you are free.

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Our vision has always been to create a digital experience for libraries and library members that rivals consumer brands. To create a user experience that is world class - designed to be simple and made to inspire. With BorrowBox, your library in one app, our vision is now a reality.

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At Home Reading Resources for 3rd to 6th Class

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At Home Reading Resources for 3rd to 6th Class

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Since 1998 The Poetry Zone has published around 30,000 poems by young people and has had millions of visitors - children and teenagers, real live poets and other adults - who want to check us out, especially teachers who use the Poetry Zone as a fun way of teaching poetry in their schools.

NOTE TO SCHOOLS SENDING POEMS. I'm very happy for schools to send us poems. But I do edit all poems - in the same way that poems would be edited in a book. This does take time - and so I would ask schools to limit the number of poems sent. If a school sends, say, 30 poems - one from every class member - I may have to choose a selection to appear in the Poetry Zone. Schools may, however, send as many poems as they would like for competitions..

Poo Poo Poo! Rude poems can be very funny but be warned - if you send us poems about farts, bottoms or poo they won't be appearing in the Poetry Zone. So please stop sending us rude poems.

And do please remember that all the poems you send should be your own original work. Meanwhile keep writing and sending us poems. We love to read them. Be careful and stay safe

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The Poetry Zone - children's poetry and poetry teaching resources

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Children's poetry, reviews, interviews and poetry teaching resources. Publishing children's poems online since 1998

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Summer Stars - Summer programme to promote children's literacy and reading.

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Summer Stars - Summer programme to promote children's literacy and reading.

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JK Rowling releases her new children’s book! Check back daily for the next instalment.

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Skip to content

I had the idea for The Ickabog a long time ago and read it to my two younger children chapter by chapter each night while I was working on it. However, when the time came to publish it, I decided to put out a book for adults instead, which is how The Ickabog ended up in the attic. I became busy with other things, and even though I loved the story, over the years I came to think of it as something that was just for my own children.

Then, in the Spring of 2020, lockdown happened. It was very hard on children, in particular, so I brought The Ickabog down from the attic, read it for the first time in years, rewrote bits of it and then decided to publish it at first in free instalments online for children stuck at home. I also thought how wonderful it would be if children on lockdown illustrated the story for me, and so we launched the Ickabog illustration competition, run by my publishers around the world.

The Ickabog book, illustrated by the winners of the competition, is now out as a book, and I'm donating my net royalties to my charitable trust, Volant, to help medical and frontline charities supporting vulnerable groups impacted by Covid-19.

Thank you to everyone who entered the competition and helped create the book, and I hope you enjoy reading it!

The Illustration Competition

Back in the 2020 lockdown, J.K. Rowling invited children across the world to take part in a competition with a truly delightful prize: a chance to see their illustrations in her new book...

Read more

All You Need to Know

If you have any questions about The Ickabog - the story, the characters, or how J. K. Rowling came to publish the book - you'll find the answers here.

Read more

About The Book

What's The Ickabog all about? You can look inside the book here, listen to a snippet from the audiobook, and watch J. K. Rowling reading selected chapters aloud...

Read more

Ickabog Activities

If you're ready to have some creative fun with The Ickabog, then download your free activity pack now. And while you're here, you can get some artistic tips from winners of the illustration competition...

Read more

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I had the idea for The Ickabog a long time ago and read it to my two younger children chapter by chapter each night while I was working on it.

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History, facts and travel tips about Pompeii

The origins of Pompeii are old as the history of Rome. Pompeian people came from an ancient Italic population: the Osci. In the second half of 7th century BC, an early village was settled on the site where Pompeii would eventually emerge: it was strategically established at the intersection of three major roads. Pompeii quickly became a crossing point between the North and the South and a main trade and travel hub, but consequently an aimed prey for its powerful neighbors.

The city had a rather eventful history: it was first conquered by the Greek Colony of Cumae, then by the Etruscans, going finally back under the heel of the Greeks.

The first urban settlement dates back to the 4th century, when Pompeii was involved in the Samnite Wars and forced to accept an alliance with Rome but managing to keep their autonomy for language and institutions.

During the 2nd century BC, thanks to extensive cultivation and prodigious wine and oil exports, the city became really prosperous so that wealth gave rise to some of the most sumptuous residences in Pompeii, equal to the most famous royal dwellings from the Hellenistic period.

In 91 BC, during the Social War (91-88 BC), Pompeii allied with several cities of Campania against Rome with the aim to achieve full Roman citizenship. Unfortunately any attempt to defy Sulla was a wild-goose-chase and the city fell down almost immediately; in 80 BC, it was totally drawn into the sphere of influence of Rome. Sulla moved there a colony of veterans naming it "Colonia Venerea Pompeianorum Sillana"; people who had fought against Rome were expropriated from their land, which was then given to veterans.

In spite of military downturns, Pompeii's wealth and especially its commercial entrepreneurship (mostly involved in exporting wines from Campania) was left intact.

Because of the salubrious climate and the agreeable landscape, the city and its surroundings became a pleasant vacation destination for rich Roman people. Among them there was Cicero himself, who owned a plot of land in Pompeii and actually didn't dislike spending time in that lovely place.

Houses in Pompeii became famous also for their valued and unique decoration, so much so that between 2nd Century BC and 79 AD Pompeii developed its own style which came to be widely imitated, even in Rome.

Several painting techniques were used to decorate walls: frescos (pigments mixed with water on wet plaster), tempera (pigments mixed with a glutinous binder such as egg yolk or wax), encaustic painting (pigments mixed with wax). Pompeii painting has been subdivided into four styles based on Vitruvius' treatise on painting in De Architectura.

The First style used in some houses consists of stucco reliefs, mostly red or black, but also purple, yellow-green pigments imitating marble.

The Second style consists of frames and decorations along with painted foliage to create a " trompe l'oeil" effect, giving the illusion of shadow and depth; false colonnades and doorways are depicted opening onto perspectival paintings representing gardens in the foreground. It was a very popular style with customers of the age. Still lives portraying fowls, fruit and vegetables were also very popular.

The Third Pompeian Style is a "decorative style" and completely overturned perspective and three-dimensionality which characterized the previous style. It used flat, dark colors resembling curtains and tapestry and painted scenes in small floating panels in the middle.

The Fourth Style is distinguishable by its fictional architectures using perspective illusion, and has strong theatrical features. It mixes decorative motifs from the previous styles, such as imitation of marble, trompe-l'oeil, chandeliers, winged figures and foliage. It was used to decorate most of the villas in Pompeii when the city was rebuilt after the catastrophic earthquake on February 5th in 62 AD.

On the morning of August 24th in 79 AD, when Pompeii people -unaware the time was about to stop- directed their gaze to the sky, they saw an ominous, dark, pine-shaped cloud hanging over the Vesuvius. At 10 in the morning, gases pressing from inside the volcano exploded, bursting the consolidated lava obstructing the crater and pulverized it: the power of the volcano covered Pompeii in lapilli (solidified fragment of lava) and a torrent of thick ashes obscured the sun.

A violent earthquake and deadly gas fumes buried the city under more than 6 meters of ashes and lapilli. At least 2,000 of the approximately 10,000 inhabitants were killed; some poisoned by gases while attempting to flee, others in their own homes, crushed by roofs collapsing under the weight of the volcanic material.

People in Pompeii could not imagine their daily life was going to be frozen in time, preserved thanks to the material spewed out of Vesuvius and the entire city was going to be rediscovered, centuries later, telling the story of the day when a volcano stopped the time.

The city was almost completely forgotten until the end of 16th Century, when Domenico Fontana, an italian architect, overseeing the construction of a canal for the Sarno River, found inscriptions and buildings decorated with frescos. Fontana, however, did not realize he had just discovered the remains of ancient Pompeii.

Today, the city is almost entirely visible bringing back visitors to the fateful day in 79 AD. The city looks like its life was interrupted just moments ago. Political campaign slogans on the walls, home furnitures, shops, everything looks alive, as it was at the moment of the eruption.

The city is transected by the majestic Via dell'Abbondanza, the central axis that corresponds to the lower decumanus. Starting at the Forum and continuing to the Porta Sarno, it is named after the beautiful fountain decorated by a bas-relief portraying " Abundance" as a woman holding a cornucopia. The street is 600 meters long and still today is a living and vibrant portrait of the city's most important commercial street. Inscriptions painted on the plaster can also be found there, as the most eloquent record of city life.

Via della Fortuna (named after the temple of Fortune) was the decumanus maximus and crosses the city from East to West.

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Pompeii: virtual tour and travel guide of Pompeii Italy

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History, facts and travel tips about Pompeii - The origins of Pompeii are old as the history of Rome. Pompeian people came from an ancient Italic population: the Osci.

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Visit the Frank Lloyd Wright–designed Guggenheim Museum in NYC, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. See the renowned permanent collection and special exhibitions.

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Look around the Secret Annex online and find out more about what happened here or put on your VR glasses and take a virtual stroll through the hiding place where Anne Frank wrote her diary. You can also take a look around the house where Anne and her family lived before going into hiding and visit an online exhibition about Anne Frank's life.

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Look around the Secret Annex online and find out more about what happened here or put on your VR glasses and take a virtual stroll through the hiding place where Anne Frank wrote her diary. You can also take a look around the house where Anne and her family lived before going into hiding and visit an online exhibition about Anne Frank's life.

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Online tours - Enjoy the Louvre at home!

1. Back to Home

2. See all breadcrumbs

3. Online tours

Virtual tours

From afar. Travelling Materials and Objects

Through materials and objects, this exhibition describes exchanges between distant worlds - exchanges often far more ancient than the explorations of the 16th century. From deepest antiquity, carnelian, lapis lazuli, ebony and ivory circulated along trade routes...

Louvre at home

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Online tours - Enjoy the Louvre at home!

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Online tours - Enjoy the Louvre at home! Back to Home See all breadcrumbs Online tours Virtual tours Through materials and objects, this exhibition describes exchanges between distant worlds - exchanges often far more ancient than the explorations of the 16th century. From deepest antiquity, carnelian, lapis lazuli, ebony and ivory circulated along trade routes...

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Places to See | Co. Cork, Ireland

Cobh (Formerly Queenstown) is located on Great Island within Cork Harbour. It is a picturesque seaside town steeped in Maritime History.

Cobh was the last port of call for the ocean liner Titanic. The Titanic Experience has secured the original offices of the White Star Line, the point of departure for the last passengers to board Titanic. At 1:30 pm on April 11 1912, tenders carried 123 passengers out to the ship from the offices of the White Star Line.

This Cork Visitor Attraction allows visitors to follow, literally, in the footsteps of the passengers as they embarked on the fateful voyage. It brings to life the experience on board, sharing the highs and lows of an early 20th century luxury cruise liner through clever set designs, audio visual aids, cinematic shows, holographic imagery and touch screen technology.

Importantly, this is the sole exhibition with a focus on the passengers who boarded at Cobh highlighting the intimate Irish connection to this legendary story.

The technical wizardry is impressive but what we found most memorable is standing where passengers were ferried to the waiting ship offshore, never to return. Still in existence at the rear of the building are the remains of the pier along which the passengers would have walked to board the tenders which took them to Titanic.

The visitor experience is presented in two parts. The first is an exciting immersive audio visual tour retracing the steps of the 123 passengers who boarded Titanic from Cobh on April 11th 1912.

The second part of Titanic Experience examines how it all went wrong; the unbelievable and "almost" impossible sequence of events that occurred to cause Titanic to sink.

Finally, the Story Room of Touchscreen Computers allows one to look at the personalities on board the ship and in particular to discover the fate of the 123 Queenstown passengers.

Opening Hours
Open 7 Days per Week

May to September 9:00am to 6:00pm.
Last Tour 5:15pm. Tours run every 15 minutes throughout the day

October to April 10:00am to 5:30pm.
Last Tour 4:45pm. Tours run every 30 minutes throughout the day

Address: Titanic Experience Cobh, White Star Line Building, 20 Casement Square, Cobh, Co. Cork Ireland

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360° Virtual Tour of Titanic Experience Cobh Co. Cork, Ireland. Follow in the footsteps of the last passengers to board Titanic. A fascinating visitor attraction.

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The many follies and monuments which dot the paths and meadows of St Enda's Park were put in place by the Hudson family during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This tour illustrates each one, and gives a snapshot of the history behind it.

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Explore some of the great treasures on display in the Medieval Museum galleries.

Begin your virtual tour in the Gift Shop / Reception and then travel underground to visit the 13th century Choristers' Hall and the 15th century Mayor's Wine Vault.

Take the Tour

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Virtual Tour at the medieval museum - Waterford Treasures

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Explore some of the great treasures on display in the Medieval Museum galleries. Begin your virtual tour in the Gift Shop / Reception and then travel underground to visit the 13th century Choristers' Hall and the 15th century Mayor's Wine Vault. Take the Tour

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Places to See | Dublin, Ireland

The National Museum of Ireland is Ireland's premier cultural institution and home to the greatest collections of Irish material heritage, culture and natural history in the world. It has three branches in Dublin and one in County Mayo.

The National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, first opened its doors in 1890. It is the national repository for all archaeological objects found in Ireland and home to over two million artefacts. At this Dublin visitor attraction, you'll find artefacts dating from 7000BC to the 20th Century exhibited in seven galleries.

The Treasury exhibition space has been reopened after a major refurbishment where you can see iconic artefacts such as the Ardagh Chalice , the Tara Brooch and the Derrynaflan Hoard, plus the Faddan More Psalter exhibition.

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National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology

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View a 360° Virtual Tour of National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology Dublin, Ireland. The national repository for all archaeological objects found in Ireland

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Exhibitions | Natural History | National Museum of Ireland

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Welcome to the National Museum of Ireland in Dublin & Castlebar covering Archaeology, Decorative Arts, Folk & Country Life, & Natural History.FREE Exhibitions

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Places to See | Dublin, Ireland.

The Museums and Galleries of Ireland are always worth visiting and when in Dublin art lovers should make some time available for a leisurely stroll around The National Gallery of Ireland.

The National Gallery of Ireland houses the national collection of historic Irish and European fine art. It is located on Merrion Square in the heart of Georgian Dublin directly adjacent to Leinster House, the seat of the Dáil (the Irish Parliament).

This place to see in Dublin is situated at Merrion Square and near the National Museum in Kildare Street it is not too out of the way. And the collection of renowned masterpieces make the visit definitely worth the while. Along with it's sister institutions the Natural History Museum, the National Museum and the National Library, encircling Leinster House, it constitutes part of a Museum quarter.

Address: National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square West, Dublin 2, Ireland

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View a 360° Virtual Tour of National Gallery of Ireland Dublin, Ireland. The National Gallery holds the national collection of European & Irish fine art. Admission to the permanent collection is free.

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The National Library of Ireland was designed in a classical style by the Cork-born architect, Thomas Deane. The purpose-built library building was opened in 1890.

The Library building is itself in many respects a national treasure. It is spacious in design and rich in texture, with fine craftsmanship in masonry, marble, hardwoods and glass. Please select an image below for a virtual tour of the Library.

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The National Library of Ireland was designed in a classical style by the Cork-born architect, Thomas Deane. The purpose-built library building was opened in 1890. The Library building is itself in many respects a national treasure. It is spacious in design and rich in texture, with fine craftsmanship in masonry, marble, hardwoods and glass.

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The world-famous Long Room Library in Trinity College, Dublin.

The Long Room Library is rightly counted as one of the great, most beautiful libraries in the world, and is one of Ireland's most visited attractions.

It holds many rare and ancient texts, most notably The Book of Kells, The Book of Durrow, and The Book of Armagh. Over 200,000 texts are stored in the lofty vaults you see here in the 360-degree panorama.

The Book of Kells is the biggest draw to the Long Room Library, an illuminated manuscript of the Four Gospels, written ca. 800AD. Another exhibit includes an original copy of the Proclamation of The Republic from The Easter Rising in 1916; also on display is the oldest Irish Harp in existence (15th C.) - the same Harp as features on Irish Euro coins.

James Joyce descibed the Book of Kells as " the most purely Irish thing we have".

The Long Room served as inspiration for the Jedi Library in Star Wars. I have seen it mentioned all over the internet that somehow Trinity's Long Room is associated with Harry Potter, but it isn't. In fact the library used in the Harry Potter films is a reading room in the Radcliffe Camera at Oxford University's Bodleian Library with its traciered windows clearly visible, an architectural style not present in the Long Room.

Visitors to the library can see the Long Room Library as featured here with its gleaming marble busts of famous Irish writers including Jonathan Swift and the ancient philosophers. Construction was complete on the library in 1732 but it was not until 1860 that the library took its current form with the double height gallery bookcases and vaulted ceilings that you can see in the 360-panorama above. At 65m in length it is quite easy to see why it is called the Long Room.

The price for entry to the Book of Kells and the Long Room Library is at least €11 for an adult, with some reductions available for groups, children and others. Do bear in mind that there may be long queues to get to the Book of Kells but this can give you the option of viewing the magnificent library for a little longer. And the Long Room Library is located in Trinity College right in the centre of Dublin.

Opening Hours:

Mon-Sat (May to September): 08:30-17:00

Sun (May to September): 09:30-17:00

Mon-Sat (October to April): 09:30-17:00

Sun (October to April): 12:00-16:30

We here at panoramicireland.com were the first to create a 360 degree panorama of the Long Room Library, contact us for more information and to book one of our photo tours of Dublin.
**UPDATE** The Long Room Library and Book of Kells have reopened to visitors now that Ireland has no more COVID restrictions.

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360 degree panorama of Trinity College Dublin, Ireland

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The world-famous Long Room Library in Trinity College, Dublin - 360-degree panorama / photosphere. The Long Room Library is rightly counted as one of the great, most beautiful libraries in the world, and is one of Ireland's most visited attractions.

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Tune in to our Houston Zoo Webcams and enjoy a live look at animals that call Houston Zoo home! See the herd of Asian elephants wander through their enormous habitat. Watch as giraffes nibble lettuce fed to them by guests at the feeding platform; you could join them on your next visit. See the rhinos roll in their mud puddle or the flamingos float next to a waterfall. See the chimpanzees interact with guests at their window or snooze in a hammock.

Learn how you can support the Zoo's animal care, education, and wildlife-saving programs through our Houston Zoo Fund.

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Tune in to our Houston Zoo Webcams and enjoy a live look at animals that call Houston Zoo home! See the herd of Asian elephants wander through their enormous habitat. Watch as giraffes nibble lettuce fed to them by guests at the feeding platform; you could join them on your next visit.

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Our webcams are currently down

Our teams are aware that our webcams are not currently available. Unfortunately, the external company who hosted our webcam streams are no longer able to provide this service. We are working hard behind the scenes to plan the future of our live webcams however it may take some time before they are fully up and running again.

We are looking for some special opportunities to bring you extra content from the animals you love to watch as soon as possible. Keep an eye on our social channels for all the latest animal news. Thank you so much for your support and patience.

Giraffe cam

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Welcome to Edinburgh Zoo's live cameras. Even though the zoo is closed at the moment, we're still looking after the 4,000 animals in our care. Enjoy watching some of our amazing animals and try coming back at different times to see them sleeping, playing, and one of their favourites... eating.

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We have a webcam overlooking the African Savanna, keep an eye out and see if you can spot the giraffe, zebra, ostrich, scimitar-horned oryx!

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We have a webcam overlooking the penguin habitat at Dublin Zoo, so you can see the 16 penguins play, sleep and feed at any time, night or day.

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We have a webcam overlooking the Kaziranga Forest Trail where you might be able to catch a glimpse of our group of Asian elephants.

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Natural History Museum - Dublin

The Natural History Museum is a treasure chest of both Ireland's and the worlds natural wonders. Give your students the opportunity to explore the museum that is often referred to as the Dead Zoo. There's no need for any additional technology just an internet enabled device.

Natural History Museum [Dublin] Virtual Tour - Student Worksheet

This worksheet is ideally suited for students to faciliate their study of geography and science.

Download

Click below to download the worksheet for the Natural History Museum.

If you would like the answer sheet just send an email to info@cliste.ie and we'll send it on within the hour.

Michael Manners @ The Cliste! Team
May 18, 2020
General

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Natural History Museum Dublin - Virtual Tour | Cliste!

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The Natural History Museum is a treasure chest of both Ireland's and the worlds natural wonders. Give your students the opportunity to explore the museum that is often referred to as the Dead Zoo. There's no need for any additional technology just an internet enabled device.

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Natural History Museum - Dublin

The Natural History Museum is a treasure chest of both Ireland's and the worlds natural wonders. Give your students the opportunity to explore the museum that is often referred to as the Dead Zoo. There's no need for any additional technology just an internet enabled device.

Natural History Museum [Dublin] Virtual Tour - Student Worksheet

This worksheet is ideally suited for students to faciliate their study of geography and science.

Download

Click below to download the worksheet for the Natural History Museum.

If you would like the answer sheet just send an email to info@cliste.ie and we'll send it on within the hour.

Michael Manners @ The Cliste! Team
May 18, 2020
General

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Natural History Museum Dublin - Virtual Tour | Cliste!

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The Natural History Museum is a treasure chest of both Ireland's and the worlds natural wonders. Give your students the opportunity to explore the museum that is often referred to as the Dead Zoo. There's no need for any additional technology just an internet enabled device.

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Using Seasonal Change to explain changes to children

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Using Seasonal Change to explain changes to children

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Tips for Parents in helping your child transition

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Tips for Parents in helping your child transition

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Ways in which we grow and change - can you think of any more?

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Ways in which we grow and change - can you think of any more?

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Education Passport - fun idea to fill in before you begin again in September.

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Education Passport - fun idea to fill in before you begin again in September.

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What does this Returning to School Transition Pack include?

This Returning to School Transition pack contains engaging activities that provide opportunities for children to discuss their thoughts and feelings on returning to school as a way of helping them settle back into school life.

How can I support my child in returning to school after lockdown?

Use the 'My Top Five Worries about Returning to School Worksheet' to identify where your child's worries lie and then the 'Returning to School All About Me Activity' to help show them the positive opportunities of this transition.

This will allow you to support your child with their worries or anxieties about returning to school.

How can this resource be used for children with SEND?

Use the colourful and varied resources in this pack to support and prepare your child for returning back to school by asking them to look back at what they have done during their time at home, how they feel about returning to school and what things they can look forward to in the future.

Each activity within this Returning to School Transition Pack aims to help generate discussions with your child so you can identify the best ways to support them.

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* NEW * Returning to School Transition Activity Pack

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This Returning to School Transition pack contains engaging activities that provide opportunities for children to discuss their thoughts and feelings on returning to school as a way of helping them settle back into school life.

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Jake's First Day ebook - lots of activities for all ages.

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Jake's First Day ebook - lots of activities for all ages.

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It's the first day of school and Jake is feeling nervous. "I don't think I want to go," said Jake. "I think I'll just stay at home today and carry on playing." Will an exciting day with his new class change his mind?

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Positives and Negatives of Change Worksheet

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What Are the Positives and Negatives of a Change? Worksheet

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Help children to cope with change by allowing them to plan for and imagine the changes taking place in their lives. The grid allows children to separate their thoughts into negative changes which they may be anxious about and positive changes which will encourage positive thinking in relation to these changes.

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Primary to PP transition booklet for Parents

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Creagh College Transition to Secondary School Booklet

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Creagh College Transition to Secondary School Booklet

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PAWS lessons - Water Safety

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Water Safety Ireland's PAWS (Primary Aquatics Water Safety) programme outlines the essential life-saving guidelines that every child needs to know. Learn skills that can save lives.

With a wealth of tips and advice, and all sorts of interactive games and puzzles to reinforce the lessons learned, PAWS delivers valuable lessons that are simple common sense. Every parent is more than qualified to guide their children through them.

These lessons will guide you through Water Safety at home, on farms, in swimming pools, rivers, lakes and of course at the beach.

Splash the Bear and River the Otter will show how to stay safe at these locations, and how keep your family and friends safe too! By taking part not only will you be safer on or near the water, you'll become a PAWS HERO!

For 1st - 3rd Class

STEP 1: View the lesson by clicking here.

STEP 2: Complete the activities by clicking here.

STEP 3: Become a PAWS Hero and receive your free E-certificate here.

For 4th - 6th Class

STEP 1: View the lesson by clicking here.

STEP 2: Complete the activities by clicking here.

STEP 3: Become a PAWS Hero and receive your free E-certificate here.
Please note: Irish and English versions of all resources are available at www.teachpaws.ie

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Water Safety Ireland's PAWS (Primary Aquatics Water Safety) programme outlines the essential life-saving guidelines that every child needs to know. Learn skills that can save lives. With a wealth of tips and advice, and all sorts of interactive games and puzzles to reinforce the lessons learned, PAWS delivers valuable lessons that are simple common sense.

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JK Rowling releases her new children’s book! Check back daily for the next instalment.

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Skip to content

I had the idea for The Ickabog a long time ago and read it to my two younger children chapter by chapter each night while I was working on it. However, when the time came to publish it, I decided to put out a book for adults instead, which is how The Ickabog ended up in the attic. I became busy with other things, and even though I loved the story, over the years I came to think of it as something that was just for my own children.

Then, in the Spring of 2020, lockdown happened. It was very hard on children, in particular, so I brought The Ickabog down from the attic, read it for the first time in years, rewrote bits of it and then decided to publish it at first in free instalments online for children stuck at home. I also thought how wonderful it would be if children on lockdown illustrated the story for me, and so we launched the Ickabog illustration competition, run by my publishers around the world.

The Ickabog book, illustrated by the winners of the competition, is now out as a book, and I'm donating my net royalties to my charitable trust, Volant, to help medical and frontline charities supporting vulnerable groups impacted by Covid-19.

Thank you to everyone who entered the competition and helped create the book, and I hope you enjoy reading it!

The Illustration Competition

Back in the 2020 lockdown, J.K. Rowling invited children across the world to take part in a competition with a truly delightful prize: a chance to see their illustrations in her new book...

Read more

All You Need to Know

If you have any questions about The Ickabog - the story, the characters, or how J. K. Rowling came to publish the book - you'll find the answers here.

Read more

About The Book

What's The Ickabog all about? You can look inside the book here, listen to a snippet from the audiobook, and watch J. K. Rowling reading selected chapters aloud...

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Ickabog Activities

If you're ready to have some creative fun with The Ickabog, then download your free activity pack now. And while you're here, you can get some artistic tips from winners of the illustration competition...

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I had the idea for The Ickabog a long time ago and read it to my two younger children chapter by chapter each night while I was working on it.

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Everyone needs a calm moment now and again, including children. Therefore, mindful coloring for kids is a great way of focusing children on a simple and relaxing task. By downloading this resource, you will receive an incredible 12 mindful coloring for kids pages.

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Lovely activity for everyone in the house to do - maybe put them on the fridge where you can see them everyday?

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Lovely activity for everyone in the house to do - maybe put them on the fridge where you can see them everyday?

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Promote self-esteem in children by encouraging them to keep positive statements in a special place. This positivity jar can include positive words, comments and affirmations that can be looked at time and time again to help children feel positive especially when they might be feeling low.

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Mindful Minute Brainbreak cards from Twinkl

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Mindful Minute Brainbreak cards from Twinkl

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Brilliant Resource from our PDST - recordings and visuals are available of all guided meditations on Soundcloud - just follow the link.

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Brilliant Resource from our PDST - recordings and visuals are available of all guided meditations on Soundcloud - just follow the link.

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Minister Harris answers children’s questions 

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Minister Harris answers children’s questions 

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Mindfulness and wellness resources - colouring, writing activities, journaling and audio (podcasts etc.)

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Get free wellbeing and mindfulness tools made for young people with input from mental health experts.

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Ideas for Helping Children Practice Mindfulness

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Ideas for Helping Children Practice Mindfulness

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Calm have a kids section for meditations and sleep stories.
They offer a free trial/subscription

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Calm is the #1 app for sleep and meditation. Join the millions experiencing better sleep, lower stress, and less anxiety.

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A super resource (the full box of cards can be bought online)! Short activities suitable for all ages - great to take a short break when working from home or older children can be the "teacher" for younger children!

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A helpful reminder to us all of the positive things in our lives. Children can easily make their own version in a copy book or on a piece of scrap paper!

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CBeebies Wind Down for Kids | Daydreams | 60 minutes

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Peace Out: Guided Relaxation Videos for Kids

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Peace Out: Guided Relaxation Videos for Kids

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Welcome to Peace Out (Guided Relaxation for Kids) | Cosmic Kids

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Classroom Meditation for All Ages: Yoga with Adriene

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Classroom Meditation for All Ages: Yoga with Adriene

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Practice some mindful breathing techniques with this helpful video!

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Classroom Meditation - For All Ages!  |  Yoga With Adriene

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Morning MeditOcean: Guided Meditation with Critters

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Morning MeditOcean: Guided Meditation with Critters

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Guided Meditation with animals from the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California. Meditate with Jellyfish, Rays, Fish, Sharks etc. at the aquarium!

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Talking Makes Me Stronger Because... Colouring Sheets

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Talking Makes Me Stronger Because... Colouring Sheets

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From ISPCC Childline

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Born in Dublin, Oisín McGann spent a distracted childhood there and on a building site in Drogheda, County Louth.He studied at Ballyfermot Senior College and Dún Laoghaire School of Art and Design.

He established a career working in illustration, design and film animation, before deciding to move to London to make his fortune. He found himself a job as a security guard, watching over trains and then hospitals. Oisín maintained a perfect record - not a single train or hospital was stolen while he was on duty. He went on to work as an art director and copywriter in advertising for a few years.

Returning to Ireland, he set himself up as a full-time author and illustrator, and has since written and illustrated dozens of books for all ages of reader, in genres ranging from science fiction to fantasy, from comedy horror to conspiracy thriller. He is married, with one wife, three children, two dogs and a cat. He now lives somewhere in the Irish countryside, where he won't be heard shouting at his computer.

You can learn more about him and his work at www.oisinmcgann.com

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Born in Dublin, Oisín McGann spent a distracted childhood there and on a building site in Drogheda, County Louth.He studied at Ballyfermot Senior College and Dún Laoghaire School of Art and Design. He established a career working in illustration, design and film animation, before deciding to move to London to make his fortune.

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Picture book for children worried about the Coronavirus.

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Picture book for children worried about the Coronavirus.

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Winnie and Wilbur Stay at Home on Oxford Owls.

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Winnie and Wilbur Stay at Home on Oxford Owls.

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Enjoy madcap adventures with Winnie the Witch and her black cat Wilbur!

Valerie Thomas and Laura Owen's wonderfully crafted tales of magical misadventure, coupled with Korky Paul's distinctive illustrations, have inspired millions of young readers around the world. Find picture books, early readers, storyteller videos, and fun activities for your own little misadventurers!

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Enjoy madcap adventures with Winnie the Witch and her black cat Wilbur! Valerie Thomas and Laura Owen's wonderfully crafted tales of magical misadventure, coupled with Korky Paul's distinctive illustrations, have inspired millions of young readers around the world. Find picture books, early readers, storyteller videos, and fun activities for your own little misadventurers!

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Sentence Games including Sentence Laboratory, Sentence Doctor

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Sentence Games including Sentence Laboratory, Sentence Doctor

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Winnie and Wilbur Stay at Home Read to You

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Winnie and Wilbur Stay at Home Read to You

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Digraphs Games

You might be asking: what is a digraph anyway? A digraph is a common spelling pattern where two letters combine to make a new sound (think "sh" or "ch" for a few examples). In our collection of digraphs games designed by teachers for students at the kindergarten and first grade levels, students will discover how often we use digraphs by exploring words they already know. While digraphs may seem like an obscure spelling quirk, learning them is actually a key step in mastering reading, writing, spelling, and proper pronunciation of words. Digraphs aren't always spelled the way you would think, so memorizing them will help smooth out many of the roadblocks in your students' paths to literacy. With the help of delightful animation, colorful characters, and entertaining challenges, these activities will keep your kids interested and motivated to learn as much as possible.

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You might be asking: what is a digraph anyway? A digraph is a common spelling pattern where two letters combine to make a new sound (think "sh" or "ch" for a few examples). In our collection of digraphs games designed by teachers for students at the kindergarten and first grade levels, students will discover how often we use digraphs by exploring words they already know.

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Space Camp Challenge starts Monday, 13 November at 3.50pm on RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player

8 Irish teens discover that every astronaut needs to take a small step before their giant leap.

Mental Health Animation: The Presenter

When Niamh, a shy production assistant at a news channel, is pulled up on stage to present the evening news, things take an unexpected turn...

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The official website of RTÉjr & RTÉ Kids Online - Streaming shows, Podcasts and much more fun!

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Shows | Irish language children's programmes on TG4 | Cúla4

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Children can easily draw the board for this game as part of art and craft activities (if you are unable to print it).

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This game is about counting up to 100.

You will need the game board, an ordinary dice and three matching counters for each player.

How to play the game:
Start by putting one of your counters on '0', one on '0 tens' and one on '0 hundreds'.

The first player throws the dice and moves their counter that number of places along the snail's body. Take turns at throwing the dice.

After you get to '9', the first counter goes back to '0' and the second counter moves up to '1 ten'.

Keep moving the first counter along the snail's body and moving the second counter to the next 'ten' every time you get to the end and go from 9 to 0.

When your counter is on '9 tens' and needs to move, it can't move any further around the spiral. Instead, it goes back to '0 tens' and your third counter moves from '0 hundreds' to '1 hundred'. The first person to move their counter onto the '1 hundred' space is the winner!

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This game is about counting up to 100. You will need the game board, an ordinary dice and three matching counters for each player. How to play the game: Start by putting one of your counters on '0', one on '0 tens' and one on '0 hundreds'.

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Tangram Manipulative

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Tangram | Free Virtual Manipulatives | Toy Theater

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Free online tangram puzzles | Mobile + tablet friendly | Designed using physics, these tangrams give the feel of the real thing with no pieces to clean up!

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Create your own storybook online. Make writing and publishing a book more fun with our picture book making tool!

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Numbertime: Addition and Subtraction Videos

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Numbertime: Addition and Subtraction Videos

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Share your videos with friends, family, and the world

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Spring Alive is an international campaign to encourage children’s interest in nature and the conservation of migratory birds. Spring Alive began in 2006 as a European project, which soon spread to Central Asia. In 2010, Spring Alive was extended to Africa, where from September onwards children look…

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Image: eclipse-viewing sunglasses

Academy members are allowed to stare.

Join today for fun fall events and free Eclipse Shades. Use promo code ECLIPSE23.

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Frolic with our penguins, soar with our stingrays, dive our coral reef, or visit the Farallones via live webcam.

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The Zoological Society of London (ZSL) is a charity devoted to the worldwide conservation of animals and their habitats. Visit London Zoo and Whipsnade Zoo.

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How to Draw Your Favorite Zootopia Characters | Disney Quick Draw | Disney

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Disney.com | The official home for all things Disney

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The official website for all things Disney: theme parks, resorts, movies, tv programs, characters, games, videos, music, shopping, and more!

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Amazing Interactive Map showing Dublin from 800AD to now. Click on the Flags to read out about the History of the time.

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Amazing Interactive Map showing Dublin from 800AD to now. Click on the Flags to read out about the History of the time.

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ONLINE LEARNING, MEDIEVAL DUBLIN | DUBLINIA

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Welcome to our viking and medieval Dublin, Interactive Online Learning for primary schools. Proudly brought to you by Dublinia in in conjunction with Dublin City Council, Scoilnet and Noho.

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Amazing Interactive Map showing Dublin from 800AD to now. Click on the Flags to read out about the History of the time.

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Amazing Interactive Map showing Dublin from 800AD to now. Click on the Flags to read out about the History of the time.

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ONLINE LEARNING, MEDIEVAL DUBLIN | DUBLINIA

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Welcome to our viking and medieval Dublin, Interactive Online Learning for primary schools. Proudly brought to you by Dublinia in in conjunction with Dublin City Council, Scoilnet and Noho.

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Help Peg and Cat put together different shapes to build spaceships for the animals on the farm. Then watch them blast off!

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Shows | Irish language children's programmes on TG4 | Cúla4

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Learning to Count with these fun Counting Games

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Children will love learning to count up to 10 with these free, fun counting games.

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The SAG-AFTRA Foundation's Daytime Emmy-nominated, Storyline Online, features celebrated actors reading children's books to inspire a love of reading in millions of children worldwide.

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Enjoy a Virtual Tour of EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum

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Enjoy a tour of our museum from your home! We've created a special virtual tour of our museum you can enjoy on mobile, desktop or in VR. Click to see more.

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Download our Easter Rising History-at-Home Pack

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Get creative with the first in our series of 'History-at-home' pack, with 8 pages of exciting puzzles, quizzes and games.

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Music is for everyone. Play with simple experiments that let anyone, of any age, explore how music works.

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‎Thank you for all the feedback we've received. It's great to hear that the app is helping children learn to read and write all over the world. If you have any problems with our app, then we are happy to help you! Simply send us an email to support@jollylearning.co.uk.

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‎Thank you for all the feedback we've received. It's great to hear that the app is helping children learn to read and write all over the world. If you have any problems with our app, then we are happy to help you! Simply send us an email to support@jollylearning.co.uk.

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Find out more You are viewing this site in an unsupported browser. See our browser support page for more information. Discover expert advice, educational resources and free eBooks to support children's learning at primary school and at home, from Oxford University Press.

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Password: Parents20!

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Collins Connect | Digital resources for schools

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