When the homeschool year starts and you have your crisp, freshly printed plan sitting in front of you, it all seems very easy. Grab a book, snuggle on the couch, and read the hours away. But…within minutes one kid has wandered off to the bathroom, another is grabbing at the book pages, and yet another has tumbled head-first off the couch in their own game of chutes and ladders. You know the story will captivate them if you could just get past the first few sentences! What you need in this moment is a solution that keeps little bodies busy while allowing them to still listen to the story. A Read-aloud activity ideas basket is the perfect answer! It captures the physical attention of your kids while allowing them to engage and enjoy the story with their ears.
Read-aloud activities are not my brain child, at all, rather I heard about them from Sarah MacKenzie of the Read-aloud Revival. But I quickly made this idea part of my homeschool years ago, and it’s been a star supporting actor ever since, no matter how my kids have grown and changed.
Putting Read-aloud activity ideas into a basket makes it more than just a junk-drawer of stuff. Use the activity basket for thematic organization, a rainy-day distraction, or a reset of your routines mid-year.
What Is a Read-Aloud Activity Ideas Basket?
Simply put, it’s a container that holds a selection of activities kids can do quietly, allowing you to read, and everyone to listen. The benefits abound.
To name a few:
Increases attention span – since hands and eyes are engaged, and all kids are (relatively!) quiet, they can listen to the story longer.
Encourages independence – allowing children to select the activity that best fits their needs, whether something tactile, creative, or soothing.
Promotes a peaceful home – children pick an activity and learn a familiar routine; you aren’t interrupted as often. It’s truly a win-win because everyone benefits from the peace and the read-aloud.
Fosters a love of books – you knew they would fall in love with the story if only they could attend to it! So these quiet activities create space for your kids to actually hear and engage so they, too, can begin to fall in love with books.
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How to Create Your Basket
A Read-Aloud Activity Basket doesn’t even have to be a basket! It can be a box, bin, or other storage container with a selection of quiet activities kids can do while you read.
- Choose a sturdy woven basket or container
- Big enough to include an option or two for each child.
- Small bins, boxes, and baskets are easy to pull out and store
- Make it part of your decor! Our Read-Aloud Activity Basket is a beautiful hand-woven basket made from brightly colored elephant grass. It adds to the delight of our read-aloud time.
- Add Quiet, Independent Activities
- Art supplies: coloring books, crayons, watercolor books
- Puzzles or small manipulatives
- Lacing cards or beads
- Sticker activity books
- Simple building sets (LEGO, blocks)
- Origami books for kids
- Consider Age & Skill Level
- Toddlers: large crayons, chunky puzzles, sensory toys
- Elementary: intricate coloring, extreme dot-to-dots, or mazes, small manipulative sets
- High School: while most students this age have learned to self-regulate, my boys still love having a selection of LEGO minifigures to fidget with while I read.
Activity Ideas That Work Well During Read-Alouds
- Coloring books related to the story or seasonal themes – I included simple dinosaur drawing pads when we read about reptiles, and presidential coloring books during our U.S. History reads.
- Give drawing prompts for blank paper (“draw your favorite character” or “draw the setting”)
- Sticker or activity books
- Quiet fidget toys (beads, playdough mats, magnetic tiles)
- Matching or sorting games
- Include seasonal items to arrange and sort (pinecones, leaves, nature objects)
Tips for Success
- Keep it visible but organized (our beautiful basket adds to the decor, but also limits how much I leave out.
- Rotate items every month to keep it fresh
- Exchange items annually to reflect their growing age and skills
- Encourage independence—allow kids choose their own activity from the basket
- Start with short read-aloud books and gradually increase length
- Stop reading before they get antsy! This helps kids anticipate the pleasure of the read-aloud activities, and creates desire to return to the story!
Ideas for Seasonal Connections
- Fall: leaf rubbings, acorn sorting, autumn coloring sheets
- Winter: snowflake crafts, winter sticker sheets
- Spring: silk flower to arrange, plastic animals, floral beads to make patterns
Try this idea for a few weeks. You will likely have to make adjustments for your family rhythm and children’s needs. After a time, I expect you’ll see the benefits: greater focus, happier mornings, and peaceful routines will begin to flourish in your home.
Experiment with the length of reading, the types of activities, and even the location where you read and listen. Ask your kids what they’d like to see in the basket, and let them help you create a cozy reading routine in your homeschool!
Check out my favorite read-aloud activity ideas that have worked for my boys over the years in my Amazon storefront.
