Spark An Idea: 8 Ideas to Keep the Kids Busy

Sparkplugging is starting a new tradition called ‘Spark an Idea Thursday’.  Each week we’ll be sharing some great ideas for a topic of interest to our readers.  We invite you to grab our image and carry the tradition through to your own blog!  If you do, please link back to this post so we know where you were inspired!

The theme of this week’s Spark an Idea Thursday is Spark an Idea to Entertain the Kids While You Work.

If you work from home, and you have children you’re already familiar with how difficult it can be to keep the kiddos busy.  When I started my business, my son was only 3.  Here’s some things I’ve done over the last few years to keep him entertained (and keep an eye on him) when mom was busy workin’ it in the home office.

1. Be realistic. If you have small ones in the house and you’re working, be real with yourself about what you are (and aren’t) able to do.  Probably meeting clients at your office is not going to be possible for most.  When I started working from home, my son was in preschool for about 3 days a week.  I knew I had about 8-10 hours a week to work with.  I scheduled client appointments during those hours, and on Saturdays.  I also got myself a laptop and parked myself at the coffee shop down the street from the school.  I could get in some writing and administration tasks this way.  Be realistic about your time and the season of your life.  You’ll stay saner that way.
2. Make your home office work for you. If you haven’t picked out a location for your office, put it somewhere centrally located.  Mine overlooks the cul-de-sac so I can look out at my son while he is playing in the sunshine (don’t worry, he’s not a toddler anymore).  It’s also in the main traffic flow of the house so I can keep an eye on things. I also have a small bistro table and chair on my patio.  Add that to my wireless router and my office moves with me where I need it to.
3. Schedule a playdate. I have an only child, so playdates are great fun for him.  Added bonus?  It keeps him entertained and busy while mom gets some work done.
4. Hire help. This year I am employing some help at the house during the summer.  We’ve got about 10 weeks of summer, and on the weeks where we don’t have a trip or an activity planned, I will have a helper about once a week.  This makes it easier to schedule client appointments and keep an eye on things.
5. Trade with a friend. Do you have a friend who works from home?  Consider trading playdates.  A friend of mine once had a mom’s group that allotted a specific number of poker chips for babysitting.  It was a small little co-op and everybody won!  Each time someone needed babysitting, they subtracted a chip.  I thought it was a great idea!
6. Read Wendy’s post. Have you read Wendy’s post, “94 Ways to Keep Kids Busy for the Work At Home Parent”?  No?  Well, get on over there and read it!  She has more ideas than you can shake a popsicle stick at!
7. Workbooks. My local warehouse store has a great selection of activity workbooks.  I usually pick a couple up every few months.  They are great for conference calls or those times when you need quiet.  Bonus: they are also great for the car and the kiddos are learning something too!
8. Planned activities.  Playing with a tub full of beans or rice, a box of tissue or crayons and paper are all great ways to keep little ones entertained.  I also found this book to be a complete lifesaver.  It’s got a wealth of creative ideas!

You’ll notice I haven’t included television in this list, and I won’t even begin to preach about that.  I have employed a movie or two when I am desperate.  However, I’m the type of girl who doesn’t want my child in front of the boob tube all day long.  That said, in a pinch, a movie works great! 

What do you do to keep your kiddos busy?