Have you ever wondered, what is the purpose of Morning Basket for preschoolers and toddlers? 

As a mother of twin toddlers and a preschooler, our homeschool Morning Basket routine contains some of our most important content and skills. But, in the beginning, our Morning Basket time was a hot mess. Only after a lot of research, reading, and asking fellow homeschool moms did I figure out a method that worked for us. Below are some of the questions I asked and the answers we found for our family to help turn our hot mess into a homeschool success.

1. What does Morning Basket look like for toddlers and preschoolers?

In our homeschool classroom (aka the dining room), Morning Basket time is very routine. We begin with calendar time and discuss the happenings of the day (our rhythm). For example, each Wednesday we go to co-op. So, my kiddos know that Wednesday’s special event is co-op. This gets them excited for the day and helps them remember the days of the week.

As I researched, I found so many different routines and approaches to Morning Basket. I gave myself permission to skip things that didn’t feel like they fit our family or that I knew I would dread (hello, poetry). Instead, I opted for activities that I knew my littles would love and that I would enjoy planning. 

Here is a brief snapshot of our Morning Basket routine. But be sure to find what works for your family. If you need guidance when researching and planning your own Morning Basket time, download my free morning Basket planner here.

 

2. What is the purpose of Morning Basket for preschoolers and toddlers?

In our home, Morning Basket serves many purposes. But, we have a few primary focuses. First, we use it to begin our day with family communication by discussing our schedule and important events (rhythm). Second, we focus on our family’s faith and come together for devotionals and prayer. Third, we use Morning Basket to kickstart our day of learning. 

Setting a purpose for Morning Basket time was an important task when planning our routine. Once I knew where I wanted to focus our morning and learning, it became about narrowing our focus to something attainable over breakfast time.

3. How long should Morning Basket take?

Brace yourselves, but in our household our Morning Basket routine takes about an hour to an hour and a half. My toddlers and preschooler wake up and come down to breakfast. As they eat, we complete Morning Basket time together. 

For our family, eating breakfast during Morning Basket time keeps our little ones focused and engaged. In the future, I imagine we will be a family that will transition to tinkering or handicrafts. But for right now, my toddlers and preschooler enjoy movement and are the most engaged when they can use their hands for other purposes.

 

4. How do you make a homeschool Morning Basket for preschoolers?

Every Morning Basket is different, just like every family is different. As you plan and research what works best for your family, try collecting resources and thinking about how you would like to modify it for your family.

Below is an example of a planning page you could use to help you plan your morning Basket. Download my free Morning Basket Planner on TeachersPayTeachers here.

Once you have an idea of what methods you want to implement, the next step in making your Morning Basket is to establish your routine. What order works best for your family when you begin your morning Basket? As you plan your routine, know that things will change as you go. 

In my free Morning Basket Planner, you will find a page that you can print, laminate, and write on with dry-erase markers. This will let you change your routine many times over the course of your homeschooling journey. 

The final step will be to assemble your resources and plan each theme’s contents. You will need a place to store your materials and books. Many people like to use an actual basket or bin. Because I have several littles, I find it easiest to use a cabinet for our resources. One of the drawers is designated for our Morning Basket lesson plan binder and the other is for our materials. I place a basket on top of the cabinet with books I have collected or checked out from the local library. Sometimes we add games, artwork, songs, and vocabulary work for our themes. Each basket theme is unique and each has different resources.

There are many things to consider when planning a Morning Basket routine for toddlers and preschoolers, but if you think about the four main elements above you will be on your way to a successful Morning Basket routine.

Interested in learning more about what a Morning Basket is? Check out my blog post here for more information.