Home may be where the heart is, but during the coronavirus outbreak with vast swaths of the globe sheltering in place, it’s also serving as a classroom, office, playroom, crafts center and base for virtually every other activity.

To address the needs of the newly homebound, brands of all stripes have rapidly expanded their online presence and, in some cases, have given brick-and-mortar a virtual feel.

Instructions and inspiration
For example, Crayola closed its 16 Crayola Experience locations three weeks ago, but on its website has been rolling out step-by-step crafting instructions for projects normally done at the Experiences. Lego, meanwhile,  pulled together designers and creators for the #letsbuildtogether initiative across social channels to share building ideas and daily challenges.

Here’s a sampling of the largely kid-oriented online content that’s been assembled to entertain, support and inform:

• Mattel launched a #KeepPlaying initiative through the Mattel Playroom content hub. It features activities – printable coloring pages, craft projects and ready-to-play games – across all its brands. New content is available weekly.
• European entertainment company Planeta Junior launched its #StayatHome campaign that’s designed to both entertain and raise children’s awareness of COVID-19. It also has deployed two of its characters – Gormiti and Pucca – as part of the #We Face This Problem Together and #StayHome campaigns.
• Hasbro’s is offering “Bring Home the Fun,” that packs a site full of activities as well as mindfulness tips and videos to help parents manage stress.
• In Germany, Ravensburger developed its own “Ravensburger at Home” service that provides handicraft ideas, coloring and tutorials.
• Peanuts Worldwide re-designed all in-school curriculum to make it for parents instead of teachers. It can be accessed on the Peanuts website and offers in-home classroom ideas and coloring sheets.
• French games publisher Asmodee put a downloadable games/activities pack on its home page specifically to address the lockdown
• The National Hockey League is offering parents free remote access to a hockey-themed math, science and other curriculum for elementary and middle-school-aged students as part of its HockeyScholar program developed by EverFi.
• Sesame Workshop released new animation on sesameestreet.org/caring this week designed to help families stay physically and mentally healthy including tips of healthy habits and resources for providing comfort. The animation was in addition to last week’s launch of the Caring for Each Other initiative.
• Nickelodeon launched Nick Help with suggestions for keeping children healthy, connected and active.
• 1 launched the Stay Home and Play online store last week along with puzzle suppliers Clementoni and Ravensburger and toy manufacturer Simba Dickie Group that mixes puzzles with plush and craft activities.
• French animation studio Millimages introduced a range of activities tied to its Molang character, including a social media filter for Facebook and Instagram.
• Comic book publisher Les Editions Albert Rene is offering a free downloadable version of its the Irreductibles Asterix Magazine.
• France Television’s Lumni website was retooled for remote learning for elementary, middle and high school students, offering a range of courses including proportionality and oral comprehension training.
• The first episode of the new season of Moscow-based JSC Aeroplane’s series “The Fixies” –coincidentally incorporating material suitable for home schooling — “premiered just at the moment when children were being required to stay at home under quarantine,” with accompanying curriculum
• Rovio’s Hatchkids subscription gaming service aimed at kids ages 2-8 in the Nordics was made free for all of March “as parents and kids stay home and spend more time indoors in the name of public safety.”