There’s magic in the air for muggles everywhere! Hogwarts has temporarily closed its doors and sent all wizards home, but when home is a cupboard under the stairs it’s not much fun. So where will you find Harry Potter at home? In your home!
Harry Potter At Home
There’s a new Harry Potter At Home online hub where you’ll find all the latest magical treats to keep your little muggles occupied. Here’s what you can find whooshing its way down your magical virtual chimney (i.e. internet connection!).
How to draw a Niffler
The mischievous creature is known for foraging shiny objects and for being a particular favourite of Newt Scamander. The Niffler was first introduced to readers in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and there are easy step by step video instructions on how to draw your very own. A perfect activity to keep hands busy while listening to Stephen Fry narrate Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone!
Click here to learn how to draw a Niffler.
Wizarding wordsearches
The Harry Potter books are awash with strange wizarding words and formerly unknown magical creatures. Challenge yourself against the clock to find the hidden words in one of many wizarding wordsearches on the Harry Potter At Home hub.
Hogwarts house pride
Which Hogwarts house would your child be in? You can explore all the houses – Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin – to learn of famous house members past and present, historical house events, and other interesting Hogwarts house facts.
Tip: You’ll find Harry Potter at home in Gryffindor!
Quizzes! Or should that be Quwizards?
Test your Harry Potter knowledge with one of the fantastic themed quizzes, available to suit all levels. Maybe you can Skype a few of your friends and turn it into a Quizzarding tournament! There are heaps to choose from.
Click here for Harry Potter themed quizzes.
How to read the Harry Potter books for the first time
If your children are new to the world of wizardry and magic, you’ll find a handy guide to help you work out who is who, what is happening, and how the books and story will develop. If you’re not sure that your child is ready for Harry Potter yet, we suggest this is a great place for parents and guardians to start.
You can buy all the Harry Potter books in a boxed set here.
More to discover with Harry Potter At Home
There is so much for Harry Potter fans to discover at the Harry Potter At Home hub – in fact, enough to keep them busy for weeks!
- revisit favourite scenes from the movie,
- read informative and entertaining Harry Potter articles,
- find themed activities,
- puzzles and quizzes.
The Harry Potter At Home hub has cast a banishing spell on boredom, and just like the Hogwarts moving staircases it’s changing all the time!
Visit the Harry Potter At Home hub here.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – Listen FREE on Audible
The first Harry Potter book is available to listen to for free in six different languages (English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Japanese). You can listen to it as many times as you like through April 2020 thanks to Audible. It’s perfect for quiet time or background noise while doing these other great Hogwarts online activities.
Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – Read the e-Book FREE!
If you’d rather read the story yourself than listen to it, you can! The e-Book is available in 20 languages, FREE to read throughout April 2020, courtesy of Pattemore Publishing and Overdrive. Download the Libby app or Sora app to get started!
Tip: To help reluctant or struggling readers, why not download both the e-Book and the Audible and have your child follow the words while Stephen Fry reads!
Harry Potter Escape Room – At Home!
There’s a totally free Harry Potter escape room experience courtesy of Pennsylvania librarian Sydney Krawiec at Peters Township Public Library, available for a limited time.
With photos and clips from the movies presenting a string of puzzles that have to be solved, the escape room experience takes about 10 minutes to play, and can be enjoyed solo or together with friends and family.
Hogwarts Online
Hogwarts Online is just like the real deal – online! You have to be a member to access all that it has to offer, but membership is FREE! First you choose your online name (no real names allowed!) and then you complete a quiz to get ‘sorted’ into your house. Once in you can sign up for classes like Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures and Defense Against the Dark Arts. You’ll receive real lesson plans and will be able to earn ‘points’ for your house!
Harry Potter virtual tours
Some very kind muggles have visited some fantastic Harry Potter venues around the world, and recorded their experience to bring you a virtual tour!
You can have a front row seat on Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure ride at Universal Studios, visit wizarding village Hogsmeade and cast magic with an interactive wand, and catch the Hogwarts Express from Platform 9 3/4.
Find 7 great Harry Potter ‘virtual tours’ here.
More Harry Potter fun
We have heaps more Harry Potter themed articles for you to enjoy. Take a look at these favourites:
Harry Potter themed party ideas
How to get a Hogwarts acceptance letter
