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How to Fit in Read-Alouds in Your Homeschool (Even with Little Ones Underfoot)
- 1 hour ago
- 3 min read
When I was speaking at the Embracing Homeschool Summit, one mom shared something that so many families quietly feel.
She had:
A 7-year-old
A 6-year-old
A 3-year-old
And an infant
She wanted to do daily read-alouds.
She believed in them.
But between snacks, naps, nursing, math help, and sibling squabbles…
The day would disappear.
And the mom guilt would creep in.
If that sounds familiar, hear this clearly:
Read-alouds do not have to look picture-perfect to be effective.
As the founder of Bright Idea Reading Tutoring, I’ve been helping struggling readers since 2000. I’ve worked online since 2010 with homeschool families, online charter school students, public and private school students, and children diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia.
And one thing is always true:
Children don’t need perfection.They need consistent exposure to rich language.
Why Read-Alouds Matter (Especially for Struggling Readers)
When children hear rich language read aloud, they:
Absorb advanced vocabulary
Strengthen listening comprehension
Build background knowledge
Develop narrative understanding
Internalize fluent reading patterns
This is especially powerful for:
Students with ADHD who benefit from auditory input
Students with dyslexia who need language exposure separate from decoding demands
Children who resist independent reading
Even when:
The toddler is playing
The older child is coloring
The baby is fussing
Listening still counts.
“What If I Can’t Get Everyone to Sit Still?”
You don’t have to.
Let’s redefine read-aloud time.
1. Read During Lunch
Everyone is already seated.
Even if you’re serving three different meals and someone spills milk.
Ten minutes during lunch counts.
2. Use Bedtime for Individual Read-Alouds
You don’t have to read the same book to everyone.
Make it special:
A picture book for your preschooler
A chapter book for your older child
Connection builds literacy.
3. Let Them Play While You Read
When my girls were young, they didn’t sit perfectly still.
Sometimes they:
Flipped through books
Built with blocks
Colored
But they were listening.
Language exposure is still happening — even if bodies are moving.
4. Use Audiobooks in the Car
Audiobooks are incredibly effective for:
Homeschool families
Online charter school students
Busy public/private school families
World-schoolers
Pause and ask:
What happened?
What do you predict?
Why did that character act that way?
Discussion deepens comprehension.
5. Use Online Read-Aloud Resources (Without Guilt)
Some days you need backup.
Two helpful options:
Professional actors and authors read books aloud while showing illustrations.
• Vooks
Vooks offers animated storybooks with read-aloud narration. It combines gentle animation with highlighted text, which can be especially supportive for early readers and children who benefit from visual tracking. Sign up for an educator account if you are a homeschool family.
Support tools are not failure.They are flexibility.
What If We Miss a Day?
Nothing is ruined.
Literacy develops over years.
Start again tomorrow.
When Read-Alouds Aren’t Enough
Read-alouds build vocabulary and comprehension beautifully.
But if your child:
Struggles to decode words
Avoids reading
Is falling behind grade level
Has been diagnosed with ADHD or dyslexia
They may need structured, evidence-based instruction.
As a licensed reading teacher, reading specialist, and dyslexia specialist, I use Orton-Gillingham–based methods to help students close reading gaps.
Most students achieve approximately one year of reading growth in 12 hours of targeted instruction.
I work with homeschoolers, online charter students, public school students, and private school families worldwide.
Early support changes trajectories.
FAQ: Homeschool Read-Alouds
How long should read-aloud time be?
10–20 minutes is enough for young children.
Do kids need to sit still?
No. Quiet play while listening is appropriate.
Are audiobooks effective for children with ADHD?
Yes. Audiobooks can help maintain engagement while building comprehension skills.
Is it okay if read-alouds don’t happen daily?
Yes. Consistency over time matters more than perfection.
You’re Not Behind
You’re building language.You’re building readers.You’re nurturing thinkers.
Even messy read-alouds matter.
Sneak it in.Read while they color.Press play in the car.Whisper a chapter at bedtime.
It counts.
Ready for Extra Reading Support?
If your child — whether homeschooled, in an online charter school, or attending public/private school — needs structured reading support, I’d love to help.
Let’s schedule a free consultation and talk about your child’s reading goals.
About the Author
Joanne Kaminski is the founder of Bright Idea Reading Tutoring. A licensed reading teacher, reading specialist, and dyslexia specialist, she has been helping struggling readers since 2000 and has worked online since 2010.
She specializes in Orton-Gillingham–based instruction and has helped students achieve approximately one year of reading growth in as little as 12 hours of targeted intervention.
She works with homeschool families, online charter school students, public and private school students, and children diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia around the world.
