Tips On How To Keep Your Child Busy For The Work-At-Home Parent

eMoms At Home:

Home Business Productivity Tips for All Ages

1. Get the kids their own computer - when you can get a new CPU and monitor
for less than $500 total, it’s hard to say no - plus, they will need it for school eventually, anyway!

2. Have high speed internet access - so you waste no time when you actually can get work done.

3. Own a laptop with wireless internet - so that you can move around the house or yard as needed.

4. Get a Blackberry or PDA - so you can stay connected even when you’re at the zoo.

5. Use a Chore Chart - give the kids some structure and responsibility during the day.

6. Schedule play time just like you do your work time - I try to stay off the computer on Fridays to ensure we get to enjoy the summer months together.

7. Use the Future Post option (for bloggers) - you can maintain a regular publishing schedule by future-dating your posts(when you’re likely writing in the middle of the night!!)

8. *Find other parents in the neighborhood and swap play dates* - critical to the sanity of both of you!

9. Make it easy for your kids to be independent - set up an area for them to do their own thing, and keep it well stocked with projects and games.

10. Buy grab food or make healthy snack packages - that way they can feed themselves when they get hungry.

11. Set up a schedule for ordering out - both you and the kids can look forward to it!

12. Segment and schedule your days - the younger the kids, the more you want to ‘chunk’ you days into activities, downtime, work time and TV time, but it’s a great productivity tool no matter what the ages of your children.

13. Load up on popsicles - it always keeps them quiet for a few minutes for an important phone call and there are plenty of healthy kinds to choose from (or make your own).

14. Get cheap movie rentals - most older titles can be rented for way less than new releases.

15. Buy a pool pass - you won’t get anything done at the pool, but you’ll wear your kids out and they will nap longer!

Photo from morgueFile.