With event closures at every turn, “CityNews” speaks with businesses with creative ways to entertain children these school holidays. This is a sponsored post.

WITH events and business closures across the ACT, in a response to COVID-19, it’s time to get creative these school holidays.

This week “CityNews” speaks with outdoor businesses or businesses that are adapting, to keep children entertained in the face of this crisis.

Archive has hours of online content for kids

THE National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) is temporarily closed to the public, but it’s always open online, according to a spokesperson.

“The doors may be closed at the moment, but people can explore hundreds of items from our collection within the NFSA’s virtual channels,” says the NFSA.

This includes hundreds of hours of content available on its website and YouTube channels, with 13 online-only exhibitions, dedicated to Australian icons such as Skippy the Bush Kangaroo, Jimmy Barnes, Archie Roach, John Farnham, Graham Kennedy, Annette Kellerman (pictured), Johnny O’Keefe, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and several classic films such as “Storm Boy”, “Priscilla”, “Muriel’s Wedding”, “Strictly Ballroom” and “Picnic at Hanging Rock”.

There are also about 164 curated collections, showcasing video, audio, images, and other rare items from the NFSA collection.

“These cover a huge range of topics; we have something for kids, animal lovers, automotive and train enthusiasts, music fans, film buffs, and those interested in seeing how Australia has changed through the decades,” says the NFSA.

“We will be adding new content to the website every fortnight, while also sharing content regularly via our social media channels.”

The NFSA says it will be reviewing the COVID-19 situation every day, and will notify the public, via nfsa.gov.au and social media, about when and how its public programs will resume.

National Film and Sound Archive, McCoy Circuit, Acton. Call 6248 2000, email enquiries@nfsa.gov.au or visit nfsa.gov.au

Zoo stays open, but with restrictions

THE National Zoo and Aquarium is open and families are still able to come and visit the animals and the playground for a day of adventure, says business manager Russell Jackson.   

“We have a few restrictions – we have stopped the casual keeper talks, where a keeper talks to groups while feeding the animals,” Russell says.

“We also ensure people are safely distanced while queuing, and provide hand sanitiser and signs to remind everyone of the importance of hand washing.”

However, there’s always a huge variety of animal encounters and activities available for families over the school holidays, including the “Zoocation” program, which offers a unique experience for primary-aged children, says Russell.

“We have limited the amount of kids, and whenever we’re inside, we will also ensure that there is plenty of space and that the groups are small,” Russell says.

“Children will get up close and personal with many of the zoo’s animals, play games, make toys for the animals and will learn something along the way,” says marketing manager Meg de Souza.

Russell says that with 220,000sqm of land to roam about in, the zoo is a safe place to come for fun and exciting learning about animals and ways to help conserve the natural world.

National Zoo & Aquarium, 999  Lady Denman Drive, Canberra. Visit nationalzoo.com.au or call 6287 8400.