Only those who have children can understand how challenging it is to keep children busy while working from home. Being a single parent is one thing but being one who works from home is another.
Sometimes, working from home and taking care of the little ones at the same time is more than a full-time job. If your children are still young, chances are they don’t really know how to entertain themselves and will want your attention all of the time.
It almost seems like when the parent is busy the child needs all the attention it can get from them. In order to help you keep your child busy and your work under control, here are some of the best ways to keep them entertained.
Give them an Art Project
The very first thing most parents will do when they need to keep their children busy is to make them work on an art project. You cannot only give them something to draw or paint but you can also give them different colored papers and have them make a collage.
The good thing about this is that there are so many options to choose from and you can even find various art project ideas on Pinterest and use them to keep your little artists busy while you get your work done.
Invest in a Complicated Puzzle
If there is one thing for certain it is that children love puzzles. This is actually a both educational and fun way to keep your children busy while you work from home and it can keep them occupied for hours.
The only thing you need to keep in mind is that each puzzle you chose should be according to your child’s age so they are actually able to make progress and solve it.
You can find puzzles with many pieces both online and in toy stores. Just make sure that you have enough space, a puzzle matt and some good wood glue so your little ones can frame their big puzzle when they are done with it.
Adopt a Pet
Whether you have just one child or more than one kid, you will definitely come to find that adopting any sort of animal will give them something to be busy with. Not only will a pet teach your children how to be responsible but they will also have a loyal friend who is always happy to play with them.
If you decide to adopt a dog, you can always also allow your kids to take it for a walk and spend some time outside during the day. As long as you live in a safe area or have a backyard, you should have nothing to worry about.
Play Cartoons on the TV
Every child loves to watch their favorite cartoons on TV. The good thing in our day and time is that we don’t have to wait until our favorite show plays on the TV.
Instead we can choose what we want to watch with just a few clicks on the internet and easily connect every device to a TV screen. If your child has a favorite cartoon they love to watch, be sure to give them a little treat and let them watch for some time during the day.
Just make sure that you work in another room as this option can sometimes get a little noisy.
Keep them busy with a Book
Children love stories and there is nothing better to spend time with than a book. If your child is old enough to read, you should invest into getting them an interesting story book which is appropriate for their age.
There are even books with just pictures for the smaller ones which can still keep them occupied and teach them something at the same time. Books will not only keep your children busy, but they will also teach them a lot of things about life and even practical things like correct grammar and spelling.
This can even prepare them for school and help you educate them about certain topics, even if you have no time to do so because of work.
Provide some Educational Games
Many parents think video games aren’t the best option for young children. However, studies have actually shown thvideo games can sharpen a child’s mind and help them develop critical thinking. On top of that, they can also help them do better in school.
There are a plethora of educational games on the internet which can help your children stay busy and also learn new things. This way you can both be on the computer next to each other and your child will not feel left out when you need to concentrate and work on the computer.
Have them take a Nap
Last but not least, the most effective thing you can do to make some time to work without any disturbance is to have your child take a nap. A good idea about this tip is to find a way to work around your child’s nap times and either work during the night while they sleep.
If you have to work particular hours, leave some hard parts of your job for while the kids are napping during the day. This is the only time where the house will be completely silent.
Use this precious time to your advantage and finish everything requiring a lot of concentration while your kid is still sound asleep.
Keeping your Children Entertained can help you Work more Efficiently
There’s nothing that a parent wants more than to know that their children are having fun. No matter how much work you have to do, you’ll always be worried you’re not giving your children enough attention. You’ll always wish you had more time to spend with them.
The only thing you should really worry about is making enough time to get your work done on time in order to be able to provide for them as a single parent. There are many ways for you to keep your children busy.
As long as you take breaks to check up on them, they should never feel neglected. Besides, every kid wants to feel a little more mature and many of these ways will help them feel a little more responsible and free.
