How to Keep Kids Busy While Working at Home

Working from home, whether full-time or part-time, presents its own set of difficulties and problems. Working from home with kids is even more difficult. The ways you engage your children or arrange your schedule will decide how productive you can really be in one day. Some quick tips will have you well on your way to a cohesive work day at home with the kids.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Decide exactly how much you want to accomplish each day of the week and how long it will take.

2. Write in your calendar the hours that your children are napping, at school, or otherwise consistently occupied. Block those hours out for work and nothing else.

3. Create a space in your office or near your desk for your kids. Toddlers will especially enjoy their own desk and work to do along side mom or dad.

4. Assign chores for bigger kids to do during times you need to work. Even little ones can take half an hour to clean their room up, giving you time to answer important emails or make phone calls.

5. Work at night when your kids are busy sleeping.

6. Schedule cleaning. Daily cleaning, like picking up toys, can be done after work or by your children. Household cleaning tasks can be assigned as chores to bigger kids.

7. Take time to play. It may seem strange to stop work to play a game, but it will entertain you kids, give you time with them, and make it easier for them to find something solo to do when you get back to work.

8. Get a babysitter. Having a babysitter even just one whole day per week can help you get a lot of work done, play catch up, or just focus on work without distraction. A babysitter can be an invaluable investment.

Tips & Warnings

• Working from home with kids is a balancing act, but so is working out of the home. Remind yourself that the time you get with your children is priceless and take a breather sometimes.

Who Can Help Sponsored

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[jull14]

on 7/10/2009 This article is so interesting and helpful. I really love this article. Thank you for sharing this information with us, the steps are very easy to follow and please keep up the good work. Thanks and have a bless weekend.