Thrifty Mommy

Top 10 Ways to Keep the Kids Busy While You’re Working

by Karen on August 20th, 2007

If you’re a WAHM or WAHD, you know how hard it can be to be productive, especially if your children are very young.  My kids are 2 and 4, and somedays it seems like I’ll never get anything done.  Here are some tips to help you get through the day.

 1.  Have high speed internet - You know how slow dial up internet is.  You could fall asleep waiting for a page to load.  Having wireless allows you to be more productive.

 2.  Get a laptop with wireless internet - I confess that I do not have a laptop.  I sit here in my chair and work each day.  My husband has a laptop though and I have often used his to move around the house (or yard) as needed.

 3.  Pick a fun place for them to play - If you have a laptop with wireless internet, then head to McDonald’s or some other fun place that has access.  You can gets lot of work done while they’re playing.

 4.  Pick a central location to work - In order to properly supervise your children, you may have to camp out at the kitchen table.  My computer sits at a small work station where I can view the living room and kitchen. 

 5.  Try to keep your kids focused - I tell my kids that now it’s time to play with legos.  Then when they’re done with that I’ll tell them it’s time to play kitchen.  Then they can have a snack, watch 2 tv programs, etc.  It keeps them from getting bored when they have an assigned area.

 6.  Set up play dates or swap babysitting - Find a friend or neighbor that would be willing to trade off play dates or babysitting.  Unfortunately, I have yet to make this connection, but I can only imagine how great it would be if I did.

7.  Set aside time for your kids - This can be scheduled or you can listen to your children’s cues.  Kids are thriving for our attention.  It is important to not just let them entertain themselves all day.  They need us to teach them.  As you know, I call my son Cuddlebug.  Needless to say he likes to cuddle, so sometimes he just sits in my lap while I browse and comment other blogs.

 8.  Get kids involved in chores - If I can get the kids to help me sort the laundry and load the dryer, then we’re spending time together and it makes for a teaching experience.  It also keeps them from being bored. 

 9.  Take advantage of naptime - Sometimes I can get more done in 30 minutes while the kids are napping than 2 hours while they’re awake.  You know how that goes.

10.  Save the good toys for last - When all else fails, be prepared to have a stash of toys that the kids don’t normally see.  For me, this is my linking cubes and other expensive things that I used while I was teaching.  If this doesn’t work, I can always get out the V-Smile or :GASP!: the playdough and paint.

Whether or not you’re a WAHM or WAHD, there are times when you need to get things done.  Hope these tips will help.  Wendy from eMoms At Home has some tips and links too.

Do you have any secrets to share of how you get your work done?  We’d love to hear them!

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POSTED IN: Top 10 lists, parenting, time management