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Working from home generally means you need some sort of designated home office space. Having that space means you can be more productive when you have all of the supplies that you need right in front of you. You don’t need a whole room to devote to a home office either. It could all be contained in a cabinet or an armoire depending on what your need is. One of the most important features of your home office should be making it kid friendly.

Most of your work time will probably be spent with children underfoot and if you can keep them happy, you are much more likely to get work done. Plan to devote a small space to your children. Several things should be considered when planning their part of the home office. How old are your children? What do they like to do?

If your child is an infant they may be perfectly content to be in a sling or bouncy seat while you work. With a sling your child will be close to you and your hands will be free for working. A bouncy seat can be a great solution for an independent baby. They don’t take up much room and some babies will nap in them for brief periods.

As your child gets a bit older and starts to sit up, then a blanketed area with a mirror and some toys can provide great entertainment. An exersaucer or stationary activity center is super useful when your child is around 4 months old. They can take up a bit of room, so look for a collapsible one, if space is an issue, for when they are not in use.

After a child become mobile, crawling or walking, then containment can be an issue. You may want to set up a play yard in your office space. Or if your office has a door, then you can shut the door and keep them contained in the same room you are in. Baby proofing is always important but it becomes an absolute must at this age. Make sure plugs have safety covers, covers are placed on surge protectors, computer cables are tucked away and sharp items are out of reach.

Before your child is two, it may be tempting to keep them entertained with the television. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend tv viewing by this age group and I don’t either. According to a press release:

“While certain television programs may be promoted to this age group, research on early brain development shows that babies and toddlers have a critical need for direct interactions with parents and other significant care givers for healthy brain growth and the development of appropriate social, emotional, and cognitive skills,”

There are many other ways of entertaining older children. It may mean taking frequent breaks to play with them. And really that is the whole point of working at home. If they occasionally get to watch television though, don’t sweat it. My mantra is everything in moderation. Over the age of two the AAP recommends no more than two hours of television viewing a day.

A great way to entertain an older child is by setting up their own little desk complete with office supplies. Make sure they have coloring book, crayons, colored pencils, and play dough. The best way to keep them occupied is if they are items they only get to use when you are working. It can help them feel just like Mom if they get to “work” while you do. Another idea is to keep a toy box full of toys they get to play with while you are working. Rotate the toys in the box so that there is always something “new” to play with.

If you have an old computer or laptop, consider setting it up with some games for your child to play. They may want to imitate you as you work on your computer. Likewise give them an old phone that is not hooked up in order to make phone calls on too.

Speaking of phone calls, it can be difficult to talk on the phone with a client if your child is yelling or crying in the background. Either you need to let your client know that you work from home or you need to find a solution to make your house quiet. While locking yourself in the bathroom with a towel over your head may work for some people, it isn’t the best solution. I have found that cheerios can be a great quiet time activity. Other suggestions may include fruit leather, cheese crackers, or when you are really desperate M&Ms.

I hope that some of these suggestions help you out in planning your home office. Tell me some of the techniques you use in your home office that help you get work done. I’m always looking for new ideas.

Warmly,

Mia