Keeping the Kids busy while you work

If you know any work at home moms (WAHMs), they’ll often tell you that the biggest challenge about working from home is keeping young kids occupied while you work – whether it’s a call you need to take, or a task you need to finish in order to meet a deadline.

There’s limited screen time of course, so you can’t plonk your kids in front of the television just because you need to finish something urgent. Here are some great way to keep the kids occupied while you work:

Reading / Assisted Reading Activities

If your child is old enough to read on his or her own, give them their favourite books to read. There are also the assisted reading books, like this one, where your child can practice on his or her own. Even young ones, in the company of their siblings, will stay put with a few books.

Bubbles

No matter what age your child is, blowing bubbles and popping them is an activity that is bound to keep them busy for a good while. Set them up where you can see them and let them have some fun. If you live in an apartment, spread some newspapers on the floor, and let your kids go crazy!

Special Toys

Set aside a ‘special toys’ box for the times when you need to work undisturbed for a while. This is a great strategy for the younger ones, because they will be fascinated with the toys they don’t see very often. Keep adding some new ones every so often.

Crafts

Set the kids up with paints, play dough or crayons. Give them shapes to color, glitter, glue and a pair of child-safe scissors and you will forget you have children in the house. You could even set them up with something like this and let them get creative!

Mazes and Jigsaws

Kids of every age love mazes and jigsaws. I bought some jigsaws from Daiso and my 3 y.o. stays busy. Mazes are another great hit. This website has some great printables for all ages. Younger kids can be kept busy with stacking cups or rings.

Activity Sheets or Books

Pre-K up, children love doing activities. Set them up with an activity book or with sheets from here,  or here. Besides keeping them busy, they’re learning something and learning to learn independently as well!

Some of the other things that have really worked for me is impromptu play dates with neighbors’ kids and during the summer, bubble baths, assuming you have responsible help on hand to keep a safe eye on them.

What are the some of the ways you keep your children busy while you work at home? Share your tips in the comments section.