Learning how to work from home with young children is essential to any stay-at-home parent with a baby, toddler, or preschooler. Finding a balance between work and family will make you more productive and efficient in your work, and leave you with more time to spend enjoying your family.
If you work from home and you have young children, try these tips that not only allow you to raise your children, but also allow you to enjoy a successful work life.
The Best Work-from-Home Jobs
Many stay-at-home parents are looking for jobs that allow them to work from home while still being able to raise their children. These are some of the best jobs for work-from-home parents like yourself, that will help you with balancing work and family life.
- Freelance writer and/or blogger
- Ebay seller
- Virtual administrative assistant
- Internet search guide
- Graphic designer
- Web developer
- Avon independent eRepresentative
- Child care provider
- At-home travel agent
- Customer service representative
Consider Your Type of Employment
Working from home with young children is completely possible, as long as you choose a career that is the right fit for your situation. For example, you may not want to be an inbound customer service representative working a 9 to 5 schedule if you have just had a new baby. Babies tend to cry more when they are younger, and they also require more constant observation and attention. These factors are not conducive to answering inbound customer service questions on a telephone.
If you have young children, think about the following factors when you consider which type of work from home employment is right for you.
- Find a company that allows for a flexible work schedule.
- How many hours a day you are able to work?
- What time of day you are able to work?
- Find a job that suits your level of distractions.
Work While Your Children Sleep
While it may be tempting to take your own nap while your children sleep during the day, you should utilize the quiet time and get to work. If you have a young child at home, or especially if you have more than one, quiet moments are few and far between. Time without the distractions that accompany raising small children, is the perfect time to complete your work. You can focus on the tasks at hand, and be more efficient.
As an additional tip, you can map out a sleep schedule for your children, to help you plan your work day. Young babies take several naps a day, while toddlers may take one long nap or a couple of short naps. Depending on your own sleep schedule, you can also wake up an extra hour before your children, or go to bed an hour or two after your children.
Add an Activity Center to Your Home Office
This tip is especially useful if you have toddlers and preschoolers in your home. While you are working, your children can become bored and antsy. This behavior can be especially distracting while your children play in and around your home office. Try establishing an activity center or designated "play zone" that your children can access while you are working. Include some of their favorite toys, activity books, and puzzles .
Another great tip for you when you create your own activity center is to only include toys and games that your children can easily access. Use a small bookshelf with canvas bins, plastic crates, and other lightweight or soft storage devices to house your children's toys. This will not only ensure your children's safety, but also keep you from having to get up and walk away from your work to go find a specific toy for your children.
Working from home with small children is completely possible if you try these tips. These ideas will improve your work productivity, and make room for more quality time to spend with your family.
