Gaming Tools, Platforms, and Resources

• Discord: Chat over voice, video, and text
• Twitch: Video game streaming
• Steam: A huge gaming library, search for free titles. Also has a social side to the platform.
• D&D Resources

Free Online Collaborative Games

• Roll20: Create or join a D&D game online 
• Drawful 2: A popular party game from Jackbox Games, available for free for a limited time. See instructions on how to play remotely with friends. 
• GoogleFeud: A “Family Feud” style game using Google AutoComplete results. Use video conferencing screen share to play remotely with friends. 
• Board Game Arena: Play board games online for free in your web browser. There’s also a subscription version.

Puzzles

• KenKen: “Puzzles that make you smarter”
• NYT Sudoku: Daily puzzle from the New York Times
• Sudoku
• Kakuro

Harry Potter!

• Hogwarts Digital Escape Room! Created by Sydney Krawiec, Youth Services Librarian at Peters Township Public Library in McMurray, PA
• Harry Potter at Home: Cast a Banishing Charm on boredom with craft videos, fun articles, quizzes, puzzles and more for both new and experienced Harry Potter fans.
• Harry Potter Wizards Unite: A free, app-based Altered Reality game. 

Art and Graphic Design

• PBNify: Paint by Number generator
• Canva: “Design Anything. Publish Anywhere.”
• Stereogranimator: Create weird, old-timey gifs with the New York Public Library’s stereography site
• Sketchpad: An online digital art platform with a wide range of tools and special effects. Can be used on a computer or a tablet.

Music

• Incredibox: Build an animated beatboxing crew using drag-and-drop musical samples
• Soundtrap: Create and remix your own songs with loops or your own recordings.

Travel

• “Stuck at Home? These 12 Famous Museums Offer Virtual Tours You Can Take on Your Couch” from Travel and Leisure
• Virtual Theme Park Visits via TheCoasterViews, Theme Park Review, CoasterForce, and more

Health and Mental Health

• Change to Chill: Mindfulness crafts, activities, tools, and resources for teens, by Allina Health.
• Scarleteen: Inclusive, comprehensive, and supportive sexuality and relationships info for teens and emerging adults.
• BeWell: Nutrition Tips for Teens 
• Self Care Tips from Teen Vogue

At Home Workouts

• The Fitness Marshall
• POPSUGAR Fitness
• Yoga With Adriene

Fun and Learning

• BBC iReporter: Take on the role of a BBC social media reporter breaking the story of a hacking crisis in this choose-your-own adventure game with live-action video. Touches on digital literacy issues such as sources, fake news, and sharing on social media.
• Teen TED Talks: Talks from scientists, musicians, innovators, activists — all under the age of 20

Books and Authors

• NOVL: Endless book content: author interviews, lists, giveaways, book clubs
• Book Connections: Search for book recs, view and watch book and audiobook samples, see author interviews, and more 
• EpicReads: “Young Adult books from A to Z. Including videos, new releases, interviews, top lists and much more!” Also includes an online book club.
• YALSA’s Teen Top Ten: Teens choice award from the Young Adult Library Services Association
• Listy: Share and discover your favorite books with your favorite people
• LibraryThing: Connect with book lovers, write reviews, catalog your books, and more
• Book Riot: Lists, articles, podcasts, and more

Poetry and Writing

• Poets.org: Poetry resources specifically for teens
• Teen Ink: Online magazine devoted entirely to teenage writing and artwork
• Underlined: Writing inspiration, tips, and community for teens

Coding

• Code.org: Free coding courses 
• Scratch: Program your own interactive stories, games, and animations; then share with the online community
• Microsoft MakeCode Arcade: Design, remix, and play games while learning the code that powers them. Includes basic tutorials and coding courses.

Homework Help and Test Prep

• Shmoop: Test prep, homework help, life skills, and more. Fun site!
• Homework HelpNow: Free tutoring services for kids, teens, and adults available from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Use your library card to access.
• LearningExpress Library: Take online practice tests, view tutorials, and find resources for school and career exams. Popular tests include: ACT, AP, GED, Nursing, Real Estate, TOEFL, and U.S. Citizenship. Use your library card to access.

Databases

• Middle School (Gale In Context): For grade 6-8 students, use to search magazines, newspapers and reference books for information on current events, the arts, science, popular culture, health, and more.
• Explora Teens: Search middle and high school-appropriate magazines, encyclopedia, dictionaries. Includes primary source documents, reference books, and multimedia. Learn more: Explora Teens Video Tutorial

For Parents and Educators

• Wide Open School: Free, high-quality activities across subjects, all in one place, for kids of all ages. All of the resources on Wide Open School have been curated by the editors at Common Sense
• The Big List of 100+ FREE Apps for Students in Junior High and High School: Organized by topic, including reading & writing, STEM, foreign language, and study and notetaking.
• Shmoop: Educational resources created for students, educators, and parents 
• High School Resources for Parents, Teachers, and Librarians by Random House: Creative writing guides, reading group guides, test prep, and more
• Graphic Novel guides and activity kits by First Second 
• We Need Diverse Books COVID-19 Resources: Incredible, comprehensive list of social justice and accessibility resources
• Book & Reading Engagement Kit: Home Edition by TeachingBooks
• EBSCO Distance Learning Support: Breakdown of EBSCO’s distance learning tools, college admissions test prep, and other at-home activities
• Brightly Tween and Brightly Teen: Parents can use to find book picks, reading tips, and activities
• #NativeReads: Native American children’s and teen literature recommended reading list by FirstNations.org