Morning Basket Tips For Success

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We’re three solid years into our morning basket routine (read about our tiny beginnings here) and I have to say, without a doubt, it has become one of my favorite parts of our homeschool lifestyle. It’s such a lovely way to incorporate beauty and truth, and start the school day in a gentle way. Our morning basket could never really be reproduced in a “traditional” school environment, which frankly, makes me like it even more. 😉

I call it a morning basket, but you really don’t need a basket and it most definitely doesn’t need to be in the morning. I think it’s a great way to start the day, but if this learning experience is better suited for after nap or in the evening for your family, roll with it. Also, the basket just holds the books. Pile them, stack them, toss them in a tote, but the books are the important part of this scenario.

Here’s how our morning basket routine usually plays out (or at least the goal):

We generally start our morning basket after breakfast and morning responsibilities. 

At this point I’m not usually dressed yet even though the kids are. This is because mama needs coffee! Also, my littlest still needs help with some of his responsibilities like picking out clothes and brushing teeth. I get ready for the day after we finish morning basket and look forward with bitter-sweetness to the day when my little ones are a bit more self sufficient. *whimpers*

I’ve set up our front living room with morning basket in mind. No noisy toys and lots of quiet activities within kid reach (I’ll expand on that more in a bit). Our basket of books sits next to my rocking chair along with an iPad for the occasional YouTube video to accompany a lesson, our CD player for some post-basket music, and a mug rug for that all important coffee. Around 9 am, three or four mornings a week, the kids and I gather here for morning basket!

We always start with reading a Proverb that corresponds with the day’s date (ex. Oct. 5th – Proverbs 5).

I’ll admit that a few of the Proverbs gave me pause (hello, words like harlot and prostitute!). I have prayed about it and 2 Timothy 3:16 continues to ring in my mind.

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.

It doesn’t say some scripture, it says “all scripture”, and so I’ve made the choice to read Proverbs as completely as possible (I use an NASB MacArthur study Bible). There are a few rare spots in this season where a sentence or two may be skipped. Being wise about what little hearts and minds are ready for is obviously important. This is something you will need to consider based on your children’s ages and pray about it yourself. I will tell you though, I do not elaborate on our day’s reading. At this stage I don’t ask the kid’s thoughts, don’t ask them if they understood it, just read and move on. Those tough subjects have flown over their heads and gone untouched as of now. I’m simply laying the foundations of wisdom and forming the good habit of daily Bible reading. Many conversations have been started and questions have been asked about our daily Proverb, but so far all have been very manageable. Disclaimer complete.

From there we move to our alphabet Bible verse, then a short Bible story from The Gospel Story Bible or some other Bible related story. In the past we’ve also read Pilgrims Progress or done some character building reading from The Children’s Book of Virtues. Whatever it might be, this slot of time is always centered of growing faith and character. (Find some of our favorite kid’s Bible resources here.)

Next is always New City Catechism.

It’s not the only catechism option, but it’s my favorite. This has produced the most visible fruit in my children. Having these solid foundations is critical. Catechize your children or the world will do it for you! Hear me when I say this part of our morning basket (along with all biblical teaching) is a marathon, not a sprint. In the three years we’ve been doing New City Catechism we are halfway through the book. I ask each child three or four questions, and I only add new questions when I’m completely sure they’ve been memorized. There is nothing that compares to hearing my four year old recite these answers. Pure heart melting joy!

Lately, we have been finishing morning basket time with a focus on history. I read a chapter out loud from The Story of the World (so fascinating!) and then a chapter from our chosen read aloud, currently Farmer Boy. Occasionally we add in a hymn and/or some poetry. There was a season where we also did some calendar work and reviewed math facts, but now I work on that with the kids at their individual speeds.

All of this takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour, based on how many interruptions, bathrooms breaks, and additional cups of coffee are needed. But that’s it!

Get your Kids Daily Responsibilities Printable Chart here!

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Morning Basket tips for success:

1. Start small. Prayer, and one Bible story. Make it five minutes with your toddler each morning and build from there. If your kids are older and have larger attention spans, add in some extended reading, hymns, poetry, whatever interests them and you! Morning Time: A Liturgy of Love by Cindy Rollins has wonderful encouragement and resource suggestions. This is a fluid process; add, expand, explore new subjects!
2. Make it a habit. Consistency is key! I repeat, key! My kids know what is coming and when. It makes it much easier with time.
3. Keep little hands busy. As I mentioned, we set up our front living room with morning basket in mind. No noisy toys, ALL the building/STEM toys. You can find our favorites here.
4. No sharing. I know this goes against regular parenting practices, but tell them not to share. When I say “independent toys” my kids know that means they play on their own. No sharing, no working together. It keeps the drama way down.
5. Add food. This was an Instagram crowd-sourced suggestion, and in the little years, it’s extremely helpful. Tiny mouths full of breakfast or morning snacks equals less interruptions and more listening ears.
6. Add in handy-crafts or narration for older kids. If you have a kiddo interested in knitting or cross-stitch, practice during morning basket! Squeaks has often done embroidery while I read. I recently also started having her draw a picture about something I’m reading, then write a few sentences about it later as a type of narration.

7. Make expectations clear. My kids know if I’m reading they need to wait to ask for something. Emergencies aside, when mama is reading, little mouths must be silent. I will ask questions occasionally and we discuss our reading between subjects, but otherwise, shhhhhh!

8. Add songs. Another crowd suggestion. Unfortunately I was born without that musical gene, but if that’s how your kids learn, embrace that! Sing hymns (we try occasionally and the neighborhood dogs love it) and I highly recommend checking out Happy Hymnody. Sing the books of the Bible, the presidents, the states and capitals, all the things!
9. Have fun! We love to follow rabbit trails and feed interests. One morning Mt. Saint Helens was mentioned and our routine was tossed to the side to learn about volcanoes. Go with it!
10. Manage expectations. This is the hardest for me. I always envision perfect children, listening and absorbing knowledge. Then I ask them what they remember from the last chapter and get a shrug in response. A little reminding usually jogs their memory, but it takes me down a peg or two sometimes. That’s ok though! We’re in this for the long term pay off, and the glimpses of growth have far outweighed the shrugs. They are listening! They are absorbing! Just keep reading, mama.

Are you a fellow morning basket enthusiast!? What tips would you add?