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Keeping The Kids Occupied When You Are Working

Being a work at home parent isn't easy, but there are many rewards. First (and foremost) is the time you get to spend with your children. Granted you are working, but you are still raising your children by being there for them during your workday.

However, as wonderful as it is being a work at home parent, it's not as easy as some may think. There are constant interruptions to deal with, the sounds of children fighting, or the disruptions caused by loud horseplay.

While some may begin why they decided to work from home when they have to begin dealing with these challenges, there are a few simple ways to keep sane and productive. Following are a few suggestions for helping your children stay occupied while you try to make your clients happy:

Give them some entertainment. What sort of entertainment your child will prefer varies greatly depending on their age and their ability to remain focused on one task. Some good choices include movies, video games, educational television, coloring books and other self-sufficient art projects. Playing board games or cards with siblings work well, and if they're old enough, let them run around outside in the yard or ride their bike up and down the street.

Make compromises with your children. While bribes are not the answer, offering to provide your child with rewards for good behavior while you're working is a good idea. Studies show children will respond better if you use positive reinforcement instead of threatening a consequence should they act up.

In other words, it is better for the parent to offer a trip to the ice cream store after dinner instead of threatening to take away toys and/or other things special to the child.

Establish a time for peaceful activities. Schedule a time of the day when the television and radio are off and when playtime means finding a quiet activity. Make it a routine occurrence. Draw the blinds and eliminate any distractions.

Examples of peaceful activities include reading, writing, playing with puzzles, coloring, or just playing quietly. Quiet toys such as building blocks are great for "quiet time." A nap may even be in order.

Take advantage of community resources. Many are hesitant to use help when it comes to taking care of their children, but community programs are there for a reason.

Enroll your child in a fun summer camp or in a sports program. Girls Scouts, the YMCA, and the Boys and Girls Club are good ideas as well.

There are certain work at home jobs and careers that are quite impossible to work if there are small children at home. Such jobs include telemarketing, telephone customer service, and certain art disciplines since as painting.

In addition, depending on your child's age, or your personal ability to deal with distractions, you may have a hard time being accurate with detail-oriented jobs such as bookkeeping, writing, and proofreading. In these cases, finding an in-home sitter, parent's helper, or outside daycare may be the best option for you or your kids.