Homeschooling is no easy task. With schools and offices closed nationwide, millions of parents have had to learn how to balance school, work, and living from home. For all you superhuman parents, keep up the great work and read on below for some homeschool room ideas, local Malibu field trips, and virtual education options.

Room Ideas

Anyone who has kids knows how much stuff gets collected over the years and the importance of storage. A homeschool room needs to have plenty of drawers and shelves to hold papers, pencils, electronics, toys, etc. all in one place. Remember to keep everything labeled to make it easier to find. A whiteboard is also a great tool. Kids, many of whom are visual learners, need somewhere to write out big numbers or letters. Here are some affordable Amazon ideas to help organize your homeschool space:

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Local Malibu Field Trips

It’s been a rough couple of months with beaches and hiking trails closing and reopening to the public. It’s been especially difficult for those with restless kids who are always raring to go and look for the next adventure. The good news is that L.A. County beaches are open for active use such as surfing, swimming, walking, running, etc. In addition, all L.A. County hiking trails are open. To keep you, your kids, and other hikers safe, protective measures, like physical distancing and facial coverings, are required.

Now is the perfect time to get your kids (and yourself) out of the house for some local Malibu field trips. Here are some suggestions:

• Beaches – Zuma Beach, Topanga State Beach, El Matador Beach, Westward Beach, Dan Blocker Beach, El Pescador Beach, and Malibu Lagoon
• Tidepools – Leo Carrillo, Point Dume, and El Matador (all best at low tide)
• Hiking Trails – Tuna Canyon, Malibu Creek State Park, Zuma Canyon Trailhead, and the Backbone Trail

Virtual Education

Education is still available everywhere and can still be a lot of fun for kids. Many museums, zoos, and exhibits are offering online livestreams and videos. See below for some options:

Animals, Zoos, Landmarks:

• Malibu Safaris – hosting “Wild Wednesdays,” a weekly video on their Instagram featuring one of their animals with some facts on them and their species.
• San Diego Zoo – offering a variety of live cams of their animals such as elephants, pandas, tigers, and owls. Watch here
• Great Barrier Reef – take a swim through the world’s largest coral reef with narrated videos and an interactive map. Watch here

Museums:

• Smithsonian – take a self-guided tour of the world’s largest museum. Check it out here
• American Museum of Natural History – explore three virtual exhibits, including the one featured in the film Night at the Museum. Check it out here
• Michigan Science Center – take a virtual tour of the planetarium, health and wellness gallery, science stage and more here

Although this year has been a challenge, there is no better reward than the extra time many of us have gotten to spend with family and loved ones. Cherish these moments while you can. We will get through this together!

To contact us, please call 310.230.5771 or email russellandtony@compass.com.