Activities to Keep Little Hands Busy During Read Alouds

I often get asked how I manage to get my young children to sit still for family read alouds, and the answer is that I don't. Young children are wiggly and fidgety by nature, so I don't expect stillness out of them. Instead, I offer them quiet activities that allow them to move and keep their hands busy while I read. The key is to pick activities that are fairly quiet and that are simple enough that your kids can still follow the read aloud, but engaging enough to keep them from getting off task. Below, I share some of my favorite activities for keeping little hands busy during read alouds.

Simple Art Activities

Simple art activities like sketching and coloring are usually my go-to activity during read alouds. They're simple and my kids are all pretty artsy, so it's usually an easy activity to sell them on.

Sketching- Encourage your kids to draw a scene or a character from your read aloud, or just allow them to free sketch.

Coloring sheets- If the book we're reading has any black and white illustrations I often will copy them with my printer so my kids can use them as coloring sheets. Other coloring sheets or coloring books make a great read aloud activities as well.

Watercolors

Air dry clay

Building Toys

Building and construction toys are great for read alouds. You could even encourage your kids to build scenes or characters from the book you are reading.

Legos

Wooden blocks

Marble run (this one might be a little loud depending on your kids and your personal noise tolerance level while reading)

Magna-Tiles (these are a favorite in my household)

K'nex

Lincoln Logs

Handicrafts

Handicrafts are perfect for curling up on the couch with while you listen to a good book.

Making bracelets with embroidery floss

Threading beads onto cord

Finger knitting- Check out this tutorial if you don't know how (it's pretty easy to learn): Finger Knitting Tutorial from WikiHow.

Knitting or crocheting

Needlepoint

Simple sewing projects

Lacing boards- Lacing boards are great for younger kids who aren't quite ready for more complicated handicrafts.

Perler Beads (this one is better done at the table than on the couch)

Sensory Activities

Sensory activities are great for keeping younger kids busy and quiet(ish) during read alouds.

Playdough

Kinetic sand

Sensory bins- Check out this blog post from Little Bins for Little Hands for ideas: 25 Awesome Sensory Bin Ideas.

Outdoor Activities

The backyard offers so many great activities to keep your kids quiet and busy while you read.

Swinging- my kids love swinging on our saucer swing or just kicking back in our hammock while I read.

Sandbox play

Water table play

Blowing bubbles

Sidewalk chalk- Maybe encourage your kids to draw a mural inspired by your reading!

Miscellaneous

Snacks- Snacks are always one of my best homeschool life hacks. When all else fails, break out the food.

Puzzles

Rubix Cube

Paper or magnetic dolls

If you enjoyed this post, check out:

Ways to Support Interest-Led Learning

Using Notebooking in Your Homeschool

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