September 11, 2022 by Olga Put Homeschooling 0 comments

What is the Homeschool Morning Basket? (And How To Use It)

A homeschool Morning Basket could be your child’s favorite time of the day.

Can you believe it?

Even if you are new to homeschooling or have been successfully doing it for years, adding a Homeschool Morning basket to your daily routine can be a game-changer.

Keep reading to learn all about this great activity and find out about some ready-to-go ideas.

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What Is a Morning Basket and How to Use It?

The idea of the Homeschool Morning Baskets came from one of the most popular homeschooling methods, designed by Charlotte Mason.

Nowadays, you can use it with any homeschooling system.

A Morning Basket is a time of the day when the whole family learns or does something together.

Some people call it “circle time,” “morning time,” or “morning meetings.” It can also be a “bedtime basket” or “after-lunch basket” if you decide to do it at different times of the day.

During that time, all family members, including kids and parents, can study, play or do something fun together.

Do you remember the “one-room schools” where kids of different ages learn together?

That’s the idea. You can read, explore science, study the Bible, learn a language, do yoga or meditation, or even play math games together. Whatever you want, need, or feel.

How long does a Morning Basket take?

It’s up to you. It can be as short as 15 minutes, or you can extend it up to an hour. Remember that if you homeschool a preschooler, their attention span doesn’t last long, so aim for shorter periods.

You don’t have to put it on your homeschool schedule every single day. You can do it once or twice a week.

Now that you know what a homeschool Morning Basket is, you are ready to start. All you need is a basket!

And it doesn’t even have to be a real basket. You can either use a plastic bucket or a plastic container to start.

Later you can order your ideal Homeschool Morning Basket on Amazon. Here are some ideas to get one. You can also opt for this cotton rope basket or a traditional wicker basket.

Finally, you’ll need to decide what to put inside it. But don’t worry, I’ll give you some ideas.

Why does everybody love Morning Baskets?

It’s one of these bonding experiences that you and your kids will remember forever. Of course, learning is essential, but being together is also meaningful.

10 Morning Basket Ideas

As I mentioned above, you can use the Morning Baskets as you like. But here are some ideas for preschool and older kids that can inspire your family.

Fill your Morning Box with books, activities, and pretty printables for all family members.

1. Reading

Reading is probably the easiest way to use the Homeschool Morning Basket.

Just fill in the basket with books. These can be fiction, nonfiction, first readers, topic-related books for science, or social studies. Your children can study historical figures, read in a foreign language they are currently studying or explore comic books.

You can also choose one book and take turns with your child to read it aloud.

You might like: 15 Fun Spanish Children’s Books with Free PDF Download

2. Arts

This is one of my favorite Morning Basket routines, as it’s educational and fun.

I recommend the Famous Paintings Cards by Usborne and the “Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists” series to read and play.

You can also get ideas from A Year of Art Appreciation where they provide necessary books and materials you’ll need to cover each art topic!

You might like: 11 Most Famous Hispanic Paintings of All Time

3. Poetry

Kids don’t automatically fall for poetry if you don’t show them how great it is.

The Morning Basket time is ideal for memorizing and acting out fun poems together, starting at kindergarten. You can quickly get Poetry books for kids on Amazon, which are entertaining and easy to recite.

The Usborne Book of Poetry for kids is fantastic. I also love 101 Poems for Children, chosen by my beloved Carol Ann Duffy.

You might like: 8 Fun Spanish Poems for Kids Who Love Reading

4. Foreign Languages

Why not learn a language together?

You can read books, play games, and listen to podcasts or audiobooks in the language of your choice. You can also design flashcards and memory games to help you work on vocabulary.

For example, if you plan your next summer vacation in Cancún, it would be highly motivating to learn Spanish together.

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5. Bible Studies

Many Christian homeschooling families use Morning Basket Time to learn about faith and values.

You can pray together or study Bible stories and the lives of Saints. In addition, you can get Saint of the Day flashcards or Bible Stories Picture Cards.

Reading the Bible together, discussing it, drawing pictures, or acting it out, could be great options.

You might like: 10 Homeschooling Blogs That Will Make Your Life Easier (Including Christian Blogs)

6. Math Games

If you want to stimulate logic and math thinking, you’ll probably want to add logic and math games to your Homeschool Morning Basket.

Spot it Party Game has been a hit in my family. We also love Race to Infinity Math Games.

Have you heard of Gridopolis? This game could be great if you have 8+ kids. It’s like a mixture of chess, checker, and tic-tac-toe.

You might like: 8 Websites With Awesome Math Aids for Homeschooling

7. Music

When was the last time you and your kids listened to music together?

If your children can play an instrument or like to sing, this is a great moment to learn some songs. However, if they’re more theoretical, dedicate this time to studying music theory and the lives of famous composers.

With enough digital devices, you can use Simply Piano and learn new skills.

8. Journaling

All families need some quiet reflection time. I often use the Morning Basket routine for journaling.

Every year we buy out kids’ age-appropriate journals, and we, as parents, also have our own.

It’s a good moment to stop and jot down your thoughts. The kids’ journals have guiding questions and activities to help them explore their inner lives.

You might like: 21 Creative Journaling Ideas for Kids of Every Age (PreK-12)

9. Science

STEM activities are always suitable to spur your kids’ interest. For example, you can read science books together, watch a documentary, take care of your garden, or play games.

These are the products I use to add some fun to the science Morning Basket:

You might like: The Ultimate Resource to Homeschooling Science K-12

10. Yoga/Meditation

We all need a pause sometimes, and teaching your kids how to do it is a life skill. You can aim it at yoga postures and activities, mix it with journaling, and go deeper in mindfulness.

I love this intro to Yoga deck for children. It has some easy-to-follow activities.

Also, here are other resources:

Get Ready for Your Morning Basket Routine!

I’m sure that, by now, you have enough ideas to start your Homeschool Morning Basket routine. So, just get your basket and materials, explain it to all family members and enjoy! With patience, you’ll learn what you like and what suits all your family members. You can join a Facebook Morning Basket & More Group to get some ideas and helpful tips.

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Olga Put

Freelance Writer at Homeschool Spanish Academy

I'm a Spanish philologist, teacher, and freelance writer with a Master's degree in Humanities from Madrid. I speak Polish, Spanish, and English fluently, and want to get better in Portuguese and German. A lover of literature, and Mexican spicy cuisine, I've lived in Poland, Spain, and Mexico and I'm currently living and teaching in Madeira, Portugal.