To help limit the spread of Coronavirus and to support public health efforts, many family attractions have closed temporarily. In the meantime, we invite our readers to enjoy virtual events highlighted in our Things To Do calendar. When you do go out, follow public health guidelines: wear masks, practice social distancing and wash your hands frequently. To learn why social distancing is important and effective in lessening the spread of COVID-19, hear from Dr. Alexis Elward, Chief Medical Officer at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

free things to do for kids in St. Louis

Play Date Theater Presents Anansi the Spidder

Have you heard of the fearless spider called Anansi? This West African tale is about a cunning spider who uses all of his wit to get what he wants. This free performance will be held at the Central Library.

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Spidey Senses

Kids can learn about their friendly, neighborhood spiders and their amazing senses. Then they'll paint spider webs using their own sense of touch, just like spiders. Spidey Senses is a free workshops for kids ages 6 to 11 presented by The Butterfly House. Registration is required.

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Story Time with Mrs. Claus

Gather around the tree and listen to Mrs. Claus read some of her favorite holiday stories. After story time, children will decorate cookies and enjoy some delicious snacks. Parents, bring your cameras to take some pictures. Registration is required.

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Meet Santa's Live Reindeer in Wildwood

See Santa's live reindeer, enjoy cookies and hot chocolate, and bring your camera to take some photos of your kids on an authentic 1800s sleigh with the reindeer! Free.

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Holiday Tree Lighting on Beale Street in St. Charles

Watch as the 24-foot tree is lighted for the first time. Plus, your family will enjoy live signing of holiday favorites, a holiday market, hot chocolate, s'mores and more.

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Stories at the Station

Little ones from infants to age 5 are invited to a free story time at The Heights. Kids will enjoy a story, snack and craft or activity. Reservations are not necessary.

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SciFest: Health Expo Featuring the Amazing Brain Carnival

Discover more about you and your health at the Health Expo featuring the Amazing Brain Carnival.

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Things to Do

World Bird Sanctuary Drive-Thru Safari Experience

Visit the World Bird Sanctuary for a fun drive-through safari experience from the safety of your car. Naturalists will offer facts and answer questions as they display reptiles and birds of prey, including eagles, owls, falcons, kestrels, hawks, parrots and more. There will also be distance selfie stations!

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The Boulevard and Tower Grove Farmers Markets

Sunday, May 31, 2020

Visit the Boulevard in Richmond Heights for a combination Farmers Market with Tower Grove Farmers Market. Masks and social distancing are required to attend. #SupportLocal farmers and entrpreneurs selling essential items during this weekly event.

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Magic At Home with The Magic House

The Magic House is bringing innovative, hands-on learning to you at home with its #MagicAtHome series of interactive, instructional online presentations. The Magic At Home series of activities includes lots of fun projects that you can make at home with common materials. The easy-to-follow directions mean your kids can make paper sculpture, do shaving cream marble painting, create make-your-own flowers, go "fishin," make TP roll animals, make salad spin art and more.

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Science @ Home with the Saint Louis Science Center

The Science Louis Science Center is continuing to ignite and sustain lifelong science and technology learning through its online Science @ Home series! Visit the Science Center's web site or social media channels for DIY science experiments that can be done at home, Amazing Science Demonstrations from the Science Center's Energy Stage team, connections to local scientists, astronomy updates from the McDonnell Planetarium, live chats and more. Content is designed for all ages.

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Popular Stories

Parenting During the Pandemic: Overwhelmed and Exhausted

No, last Saturday I didn’t plant a victory garden or make a sourdough starter. I wasn’t the mom who created movie tickets and set up a concession stand in my house for movie night (seriously, WHICH ONE OF YOU DID THIS and how did word get back to my kids?). I stayed on the couch all day and hissed at anyone who invaded my territory. Like millions of other parents juggling homeschooling and working from home, I’m beat.

St. Louis Area Summer Camps, Some Family Attractions to Open In June with New Safety Guidelines

Summer camps in the St. Louis area that have announced they will hold in-person summer sessions are enacting strict safety protocols to help ensure the health of their campers. In addition to limiting enrollment, camps are cancelling field trips, enacting strict cleaning protocols, taking daily temperature and symptom checks, and puting measures in place that will allow for social distancing.

Saint Louis Zoo Announces Opening Date for Summer 2020; New Safety Protocols

The Saint Louis Zoo has announced it will reopen Saturday, June 13 with new protocols for visitors, including requiring timed reservations and face masks, and limiting attendance to better allow for social distancing. All Zoo staff will wear face masks and all guests over the age of 9 will be required to wear face masks/face coverings while visiting.

Coming Soon: Why the Forest Park Playscape, Opening This Year, Will Be Much More Than a Playground

Since breaking ground on the child-inspired Nature Playscape in Forest Park last summer, Forest Park Forever, the City of St. Louis and their team of partners have been pushing forward on this much-anticipated project at full speed, constructing eight activity areas where your kids will soon splash, climb, build, and learn. Already halfway completed, this one-of-a-kind play area in the heart of the park is destined to grow children’s interest in the natural world around them.

Blood, Flood or Vomit: How I Taught My Kids to Be More Independent

Once upon a time, well before we had children, I sat down to have a conversation with my husband. Looking back now, it was a magical twenty minutes. Perhaps we talked about something somewhat important, like our monthly financial spreadsheet, or something extremely important, like what restaurant we were going to for dinner. The point isn’t what the conversation was about. The point is that once upon a time we were able to have an entire uninterrupted conversation.