Smart Moms Tips for Working at Home with Preschoolers

Many women have decided to forego careers outside the home and stay at home with their children. While this provides wonderful opportunities to be with your children every day, it makes it very difficult to carry out your work related tasks.

More moms are working from home. It is a fast growing trend with many options. Some employers allow women to do the same job at home that they would have at the office and ‘telecommute.” Some women join a direct sales company and make additional income by hosting parties or selling products and services. Some women begin an internet based business of their own to make additional money. It is having the best of both worlds: providing additional income for your family and being the primary person in your child’s life.

The main problem is scheduling your work time and time with your preschooler. If you are working from home so you can be with your children more often, you want to ensure they are not spending most of the day in front of the television. With a little scheduling and some easy tips, you can efficiently get work done and have quality time with your child.

One simple solution is setting office hours and sticking to them. Announce these on your website and your voice mail. If you preschooler child goes to a morning school program, that is a great time to get some work done. Naptime is the perfect time to return phone calls and emails. You can also work after bedtime or before they get up. Try not to take work related calls or get on the computer during none work times. Create a daily schedule so you are spending time with your child and accomplishing your work also. It will take some time to adjust, but you will get in the schedule as will your child.

Even though you are working from home, you may still have reasons to find childcare in order to get something done. You may schedule someone to come in 2 times a week for a few hours so you can schedule a meeting, research a new project, or have some thinking time. You may also be able to swap playtime with other work from home moms. Find someone in your area that is willing to swap out child care. Switch days and times each week. And do not feel bad if you have to have a babysitter or have someone else watch your child. A mom that works outside of the home would not be able to complete projects and goals if they had a preschooler running around them all morning. Take the time you need to get your work done so you are able to accomplish what you need to accomplish.

Organization is the key to working from home with a preschooler. When you get the time to do some work, you do not want to be scrambling for the right materials and tools. Have an office area set up with all of your file folders and information in one spot. The moment your child is playing quietly napping, you will be ready to go. You will be able to easily access the right resources in a moments notice. Do not waste precious time searching for your work supplies. If you do not have a separate room, make sure you have a special area to keep everything localized. Purchase a small filing cabinet or portable file folder case to keep important papers. Designate a section of a cabinet or closet to keep everything in one location. A few minutes organizing will allow you to have more time to work when you have the opportunity.

Moms working from home are fortunate to have the privilege of staying home with their children. The importance is to not lose your sanity in the process. Keep hours, find someone to help out, and stay organized and you will have the time to build a successful business from home and be the primary caregiver for your preschooler.