If you’re a parent that has a job that allows you to work from home, you know the many perks associated with that position. One of the most important is that you’re able to spend more time with your children. However, while their antics may fit into your work schedule on most days, there are times when you need projects to keep them busy.
Scavenger Hunt
In order to get your work completed on time, you should try to implement a schedule. This can include activities for your kids, meetings, phone calls, breaks, etc. If your children are at an age where they can understand that you need quiet time to tackle specific duties, you can arrange projects that can keep them busy. A scavenger hunt can be a fun activity that uses random items around the household. From paper clips and pens to spoons and paper cups, the list of safe choices are endless. If you can take your laptop outdoors with you to work, you can have your kids hunt for items outside such as a leaf, acorn, flower, grass, branch and more. If you have more than one child at home, you can divide them up into teams. Those who aren’t able to read yet can be paired with the ones who can.
Helping Out with Chores
If you’re a work-at-home parent, your list of duties are probably endless. You can involve your kids in the cleaning process by making the chores fun. Children are typically more motivated in a task when you make it competitive. You can offer them a challenge to clean up their room in a specific amount of time. As they accomplish the various jobs, you can up the competition by making them more difficult.
Build a Tent
Allowing your children to use their imagination can instill important skills. It can also be a great way for them to learn to play independently or in a group. If you have old sheets, comforters or blankets, try draping them over chairs and tables to form a tent. Instead of them running around the house scuffing up your wood flooring, this play fort can be a special refuge where they go to read quietly, eat snacks or play together with their friends.
Play Dough
This colorful dough can make an artistic project that is ideal for children of all ages. If you’re tight on a specific deadline for work, set up a craft station where you kids can let their creative skills soar. Whether you give them an old table to work on or you place a covered cloth on top of your kitchen table, your children can have fun molding the pieces of dough into a variety of creations. You can also use cookie cutters to cut out shapes, stars, snowmen, dogs, cats and people. If you don’t have play dough on hand, you can easily make your own by mixing together 4 cups of flour with 1 cup of salt. To make the dough pliable, you’ll want to add ½ cup of water and 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil. You can get your kids involved in the process by having them combine the ingredients into a plastic storage bag until it comes together. You can separate the dough into baggies and mix with food coloring. When they’ve finished making their own unique design, the play dough can be left out to air dry or baked in the oven at a low setting.
Board Games
The latest technological advances such as smartphones, tablets and laptops may be great for getting your office work done, but it doesn’t allow children to interact anymore. If you’re looking for a way for your children to keep busy and bond together as a family, have them pick out a board game. From Candy Land and Kerplunk to checkers and Boggle, there is a wide selection for them to choose from. You may even be able to add something educational into the mix such as Scrabble.