Juggling a Home Office and Kids

Television gets a bad rap - and rightfully so sometimes. If parents don't monitor what their children watch, kids can be exposed to an endless stream of negative influences. However, quality programming can be entertaining and educating for a youngster - and helpful to a parent trying to make some business calls. Know what time quality shows come on at, and plan for things such as phone calls for that 1/2 hour or hour interval. It's also a good idea to buy a videotape or two if you need to get something done and nothing appropriate is on t.v.

Another idea if your child is at home, is for a playmate to come over, or allow your child to visit him/her at the friend's house. They can occupy each other, enabling you to focus on running your business. If the children are at your house, provide them with healthy snacks, plenty of materials to make crafts, or whatever you think will keep them busy. This will minimize the number of interruptions to your work.

It makes it easier for everyone in the household if you develop a routine right from the start. If the child comes home from school at 3:30, and you like to work continuously until 5:00, you can set rules for your child to do homework, or some other activity until you are finished. Or if your child must stay home due to illness, they should know what to expect - you have work to do, but perhaps explain to them that you will check on them every hour, or whatever works for you.

See how many adults you know, whether friends or relatives, that are willing to help on an occasional basis. An aunt, a grandparent, or an adult friend can take them out for ice cream if you're expecting a client or customer to drop by at a certain time. Be reciprocal with favors, and you'd be surprised at how often people are willing to help out.

Plan games or activities for your children if you must attend to a phone call or task. You know what their favorite games and activities are, and can estimate how long they will be entertained. Some examples are: coloring, puzzles, board games (if there is more than one child), etc.

Be flexible and allow for interruptions. You will endure endless frustration if you think that children aren't going to need you for one reason or another.. They are little people, and need supervision and attention on one level or another. Of course, the older the child, the less they will call out for you or be knocking at your office door.

Ask your children for their cooperation, and reward them for it. If they let you work for the amount of time you requested, without causing "trouble", sit down and read their favorite book to them before they settle down for bed. Rewards need not be food or money, but an enjoyable activity you both can share.

Search around to see what resources there are in your community. Consider music lessons or an after-school program. For those of you that have babies or toddlers, a daycare (private home or licensed) can be ideal.

Not all of these suggestions can apply to everyone. Most of the ideas reflect a certain age group. For those with babies and toddlers, running the home office with them in the house will be more difficult, and a great deal of patience and flexibility is required to be able to cope! But you can take advantage of sporadic opportunities: make those important calls when the baby falls asleep. Write that email when the toddler is enthralled by his foam puzzle pieces.

The older the child, or children, the easier it will be for you to work in a manner suitable for you. Until they can get by with little supervision, make use of these helpful tips, and invent some of your own. Be creative, patient, and most of all, adaptable. nnn