How do you keep your children safely entertained while you work at home?

Question

I give my children lots of love and attention. I try to work while they sleep or nap. Sometimes, like today, I have to get some work done and don't really want them to be watching TV all day. What are some things you do for your children to keep busy that require little supervision?

Answer 1

1. Hire a neighborhood pre-teen to come over for roughly $2 an hour to "babysit" while you work. The pre-teen will feel grown up and have fun, your child will be entertained, and you'll be right there if any problems arise. Just make sure that the sitter knows exactly what you expect of them.

2. Give your children work to do that looks like yours. They will probably still interrupt you occasionally, but it should keep them relatively busy for short periods of time while you get work done.

3. Give them rags and tell them to "dust" the house (no cleaners obviously). Kids love to feel responsible and all grown up. Dustbusters are also great for entertaining little ones, my daughter helps me "vacuum" all the time. She does the edging for me with our dustbuster. Everyone wins.

4. Coloring books or Play doh make for hours of entertainment. Sure, you'll have to occasionally look up from what you're doing to admire their work, but it will likely buy you half an hour or more.

5. For summer days try taking your work outside and give them a bucket full of water and a paintbrush. Ask them to paint the house, the deck, the sidewalk, whatever while you work. They'll love trying to "paint" the whole thing before the first part dries.

6. Let them go through old pictures if they're over 4. They might get a little dog eared, but your kids will love looking at pictures of you when you were younger. Tell them if they have questions about the pictures to set them aside and then you'll tell them all about those pictures when you're done working.

7. Have them string macaroni on a string for the Christmas tree. You can make a "needle" out of masking tape and that'll keep them busy while enhancing their fine motor skills. Toddlers love that kind of stuff. Plus, if they decide to eat it, raw macaroni is good for them.

8. Crayola Color Wonders!!!

9. Give them some bath paints and have them paint the bath. Don't put any water in the tub and stay close by so you can hear if they added water. Give them things like crazy foam or shaving cream, bath paints (Crayola makes some), sponges, brushes, stamps, bath crayons, etc... Then, when they're all done they can wash away their creations and get a bath.

10. Buy a photo album and take pictures of them doing different things as well as their family doing different things. Then put those pictures in the album and ask them to make up songs about the pictures. You'll have to keep an ear open, but at least you'll get a few minutes here and there.

11. When all else fails, TV is a viable option so long as it's not an all-the-time thing. Kids love TV as well as computer games.

Answer 2

I homeschool my 12 and 10 year olds and have a toddler (she will be 3 later this month) and a 4 month old infant. I have a box of toys that are only brought out during school- that keeps them new and exciting for her. She usually plays with items from that box while I am giving direct lessons. And, she also is allowed to watch a couple of toddler television programs while we are doing school in the morning- so Bob the Builder and Ni Hao, Kai-Lan keep her somewhat occupied while they are doing independent work. She also participates somewhat- she will sit and listen when I, or they, are reading out loud or sit at the table/counter and color. She joins us on field trips, and can do a lot of the activities we do to some extent- arts and crafts, music, science projects. They are free to do some of their lessons in alternative locations, as well- this morning, my daughter was laying on the trampoline outside reading (the weather was beautiful). They can go in their rooms, if necessary, but it usually works without us having to MAKE the older children or the toddler leave the area they are in. I try not to alienate her during school time, because she actually picks a lot up just from being in the same room we are in. And, for us, education is not limited to certain ages, times and places- I try to instill a lifelong love of learning in my children.

Answer 3

It really depends on the age of the child and the type of work you have to do from home. I work from home too and my 11 month old daughter goes to day care because there is no way I can get any work done and try to ensure that she is safe and happy. It would drive me crazy and I would probably get fired. I have to be on the phone and send emails in a timely manner. I am a technical sales rep, so there are times when I must visit the customer as well. On the other hand my son, who is 7 goes to school each day but I pick him up around 3 PM and I still have at least 2 more hours of work to do. So we have a snack together and he comes to my office and his does his homework and I do my work. We talk and interact and have a great time. He knows that when I am on the phone he can't talk to me or make a lot of noise. So he writes notes to me and I write him back, he still gets attention and I get my work done. Then around 5:30 PM we stop and start to prepare dinner for my daughter and husband when they come home at 6PM.
We eat and I don't have to feel guilty about spending more time with my daughter in the evening because my son and I have already had our special time together and he gets to play with is dad before bedtime.

But having your children "pretend to do work too" keeps them from watching too much tv and you are right next to them. Give them some jobs, have them play games. But again, it depends on what you must do for your job. If you are like me and have to be on the phone, hearing children playing in the background is not appropriate nor professional.

Answer 4

Well my daughter has her playroom. It does have a TV, but She has a tea set and all sorts of sets in there to play with. I also have a craft box that has Popsicle sticks, cotton, glue, glitter, ect... it keeps her busy for hours. Some of the stuff she does need to be supervised with, but most of it she is fine and she uses her imagination! You can also try the computer, my 3 year old loves to play on www.playhousedisney.com Educational and entertaining. Of course these aren't all day activities but they will work for a few hours. Good luck.

Answer 5

try putting your kids in a room that they can't get out of but you can still watch them. Give them safe toys and maybe some music or an educational cartoon in the backround. give them opptions to play with differnt things this will keep them entertained longer

Answer 6

There's no substitute for interaction. Hire a mothers' helper or wait til they're older.

Answer 7

Tv is not always bad. they can watch educational shows. Let them color pick up there room or maybe help you out a little around the house.

Answer 8

We have a play room. That I send my child too. Also video games. They have these really good educational one. Let them paint or color. They have the no mess ones.

Answer 9

I have this real sleezy creapy guy from next door come over and play with them.

Coach