Need to keep your kids entertained? Local businesses, groups are here to help with virtual activities, deals

As we all dramatically change the way we're living our lives during this coronavirus pandemic, local businesses are struggling, including those that serve families.

Trampoline parks and indoor playgrounds are suspending operations. Dance classes and sports programs are on hold. Tutoring and academic activities aren't happening.

But some local businesses and groups are beginning to step up with activities to help keep your kiddos busy, but don't require being around anybody other than your family.

I'll update this list as more opportunities come through, but here's what I know about.

Marbles Kids Museum's YouTube channel is bring a daily dose of play. The first videos include a St. Patrick's Day crayon melting pot and kitchen percussion. Marbles' gift shop also is offering curbside pickup. Marbles will be taking phone orders for toys, LEGOs and games from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, and they'll rush your purchases right to your car. Follow Marbles Corner Store on Instagram for featured games or call the shop at 919-857-1120.

Triangle Lawn Games is offering a deal on its lawn games, including a giant Connect 4, giant Jenga, cornhole and more with a pick up and delivery option. It's $59 to two games for one week if you pick them up and $99 for delivery. Email info@trianglelawngames.com or call 919-891-3495 for more information.

Quail Ridge Books is open and offering free media mail shipping on books, magazines and newspapers if you order them from the Raleigh bookstore. The store has a fantastic selection of children's books, along with a staff that can provide some great recommendations.

Growga, a local company that offers yoga and mindfulness for kids, will be offering free online streaming classes at 6 p.m., Wednesdays, and 10 a.m., Saturdays, along with a daily pre-recorded Growga class, free audio relaxation and meditation exercises and free activities for families to do together at home.

Wine & Design Apex is offering Take Home Paint Kids, which can be picked up curbside. They are $15 for a mini paint kit and $25 for a large paint kit. Buy four kits and get one free. Got to the Wine & Design website and click on the event that says Take Home Paint Kits or call 919-355-2855.

Book Harvest in Durham, which ensures that kids from all backgrounds have books to read in their homes, will have a shelf outside its office at 2501 University Dr. with children's books to take home. The shelves will be replenished daily.

A Plus Academic Services is offering a free SAT/ACT Prep intro classes for families online. The first event is scheduled for 7 p.m., March 18. Check Eventbrite for details.

Little by Little preschool has created a YouTube channel to share videos of the owners recreating their circle time routine, various songs and play ideas. They plan to create a new video and post every few days.

Treasure Quest Mining in Apex is open for very limited hours and is offering to-go packs with mining rough, activity kits and Easter treasure buckets.

Knack DIY Craft Studio in Raleigh is offering to-go take-home kits with activities for kids. You can pay with cash or card at the time of pickup or you can PayPal Knack at hello@knackdiy.com. Call 919-798-2242 for curbside delivery and more information.

The Nurtured Nest is offering free virtual mini classes for parents and caregivers, including pantry organization, family mental health strategies and an expectant family Q&A.

Arts Together preschool will be adding dance, movement and arts activities for little ones on its YouTube channel.

Dance Ascension will offer free online dance classes in ballet, lyrical, jazz, contemporary and hip hop for all ages and levels at 11:30 a.m., Wednesdays and Thursdays.

The Teach Me Store will be offering free shipping on orders of $75 or more through March 31. The north Raleigh store is a fantastic resource for educational materials, and its staff will have all kinds of recommendations for your kiddos if you call in and ask for suggestions. The store also is open with limited hours.

Triangle Rock Club is offering free live stream workouts.

Soapstone Preschool is sharing music and storytime ideas for little ones on its YouTube channel.

AR Workshop, with locations in Raleigh and Cary, is offering DIY To-Go Kits for all ages. The options range from $25 to $45 for the different projects. The kits will be available for pick up once you've ordered them.

Peck’s Taekwondo America has a free online trial class on Facebook and YouTube.

Greensboro Science Center is offering Science on the Spot at 11 a.m., weekdays, on its Facebook page.

Using the hashtag #ClosedButStillCaring, the North Carolina Zoo is posting live videos and updates on its Facebook page as it continues to care for its animals.

The N.C. Symphony has released a virtual NCS Education Concert and its accompanying Student Book. The education content may be accessed at ncsymphony.org/virtual with password 1932. The activities are best for kids in third to fifth grade.

Sociable Art is offering newly designed paint-at-home delivery service as (Not-So) Sociable Art. The small local business is delivering painting kits with pre-sketched designs for kids and adults to local homes and making Youtube videos with step-by-step directions to go along with some of the designs. More information is on Sociable Art's website.

Science Fun for Kids has launched a program where students can get a free science excavation kit and answer trivia on a website for points that they can then exchange for rocks, minerals, fossils and other cool science specimens.

Bear & Company, a mobile stuffed animal workshop company from Apex, is offering stuffed animal workshop kits to go. These are DIY craft kits where kids can stuff their own animal. Each package ships with the 16" animal of their choice, a T-shirt for the animal, a wishing heart, drawstring backpack, adoption certificate and fiber stuffing pack. The company is offering a coupon code (InsideFun10) and free shipping for orders over $30.