Some children find sitting down for a family story time challenging. They may find it easier to pay attention when their hands are busy. Familiar activities using supplies already at home can be all that’s needed. Markers and crayons, colouring books, stickers, puzzles, play dough and origami are all possibilities. An engaging but quiet activity matched to the child’s age and interests is a good choice.

Find more ideas in:

• 8 Quiet Read Aloud Activities
• 9 quiet read aloud activities
• 10 Delightful Read Aloud Activities Your Kids Will Love
• 20+ Fun Activities for Kids While They Listen to Audiobooks
• 50 Alternatives to Sitting Quietly During Read Aloud Time
• RAR#73: What your kids can do while you read aloud (they’ll probably listen better than ever)

These kinds of activities can make family read alouds more enjoyable for both children and adults. And, enjoying the experience is an important goal of reading together.

If you’re worried about the activity detracting from the story, just remember all the activities that adults do while listening to and enjoying audiobooks.