As a work-at-home mom, keeping your kids engaged and entertained can be challenging while you focus on your work. Summertime can be an especially challenging time for a work-from-home parent juggling a full-time job while having young children home full time.
To keep up with a regular work schedule while having young kids around, I’ve come up with the best ways for work-at-home moms to keep younger children occupied throughout their work day. And I also have tips for free time activities for older children. Fill your to-do list with fun activities for the whole family without ruining your work time for a memorable summer.
Tips for the Working Mom to Keep Kids Busy
If you want to keep your regular work hours while your kids are home for the summer, it’s a great idea to get things in order and establish systems.
As a 20-year veteran of working from home, I’ve discovered several helpful tips for planning kid activities that can help keep them busy while you work.
Create a Daily Schedule
Developing a daily schedule is a great option for helping establish a routine for your children. It gives them a sense of structure and predictability, reducing anxiety and making them feel more secure.
Include specific time slots for work, breaks, meals, social time, and activities with your kids. This way, they know when to expect your undivided attention and when they should engage in independent activities.
For school-aged children, dedicating quiet activity time is an excellent way to create set times for educational activities. By implementing a daily schedule, you can provide your children with a reliable framework for their day-to-day activities. It helps them develop a sense of discipline and responsibility, promoting a healthy work-life balance.
Moreover, having designated time slots for individual tasks allows your children to focus and concentrate more effectively. This improves their productivity and helps them achieve better results in their educational endeavors.
Additionally, the inclusion of social time helps foster connections and friendships, promoting social and emotional development. Overall, a well-structured daily schedule not only provides stability but also encourages growth and self-improvement for your children.
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Set Up a Designated Workspace
Designating a specific area for your children to engage in independent activities while you work nearby is important. This area should be well-stocked with age-appropriate materials to keep them engaged.
Include books, puzzles, coloring books, art supplies, board games, building blocks, or any other toys or activities that your children enjoy. Train sets, sidewalk chalk, watercolor books, and materials for art projects like pipe cleaners, paper airplanes made from a piece of paper, and sensory bins are some favorite toys for younger kids.
To ensure a rich and stimulating environment for your children, you could consider adding additional items to the designated play area. Some suggestions include educational toys like sorting and stacking games, musical instruments such as xylophones or tambourines, storytelling props like finger puppets, and science kits for hands-on experiments.
Furthermore, you might also want to include interactive technology tools like tablets or educational apps, which can provide educational opportunities while your children have fun.
Additionally, consider including outdoor play equipment like swings, slides, or a small trampoline to encourage physical activity and exploration. Remember that the purpose of this space is to allow your children to explore their interests and develop their creativity.
By expanding the range of materials and activities available, you can further facilitate their cognitive and physical development, while also fostering a love for learning and independent play.
Encourage Independent Play
Independent play is crucial for your child’s development as it fosters creativity, problem-solving skills, and self-reliance. It provides them with an opportunity to explore their own ideas and interests, develop their imagination, and learn how to entertain themselves.
Encourage your children to engage in independent play by providing them with open-ended toys and materials that allow for limitless possibilities. These can include building blocks, dollhouses, play kitchens, art supplies, or even simple household items such as a large cardboard box that can be transformed into forts or imaginative play props.
By engaging in independent play, your child will gain the skills and confidence necessary for their growth and development. So, make sure to create an environment that promotes independent play and encourage your child to unleash their creativity and curiosity!
Provide Supplies for Arts and Crafts
Arts and crafts activities can keep your kids engaged for hours. Set up a designated craft station with various materials like paper, crayons, markers, glue, scissors, stickers, and glitter. You can use common household items for creative ways for a homeschool mom to do science projects and DIY crafts that your kids can sell to make their own money.
You can provide them with specific craft project ideas or let them explore their own creativity. Popular crafts can include drawing, painting, collage-making, origami, or even simple sewing projects depending on their age and interests. Cardboard boxes can hold craft materials or serve as a base for making projects.
Include Educational Games and Apps
Educational games and apps can be both fun and educational for your kids. Look for age-appropriate apps that focus on subjects like math, reading, science, or problem-solving skills. ABC Mouse is a great resource for young kids. Prodigy is a good resource for older kids. CreativeBug is a great resource for home mom job ideas and high school kids looking for fun ideas to do.
SkillShare is a great opportunity to learn new skills that can turn into a new remote job. For first-time sign-ups, you can try SkillShare for free!
These apps often incorporate interactive elements, making learning engaging and enjoyable. However, it’s important to ensure that screen time is balanced and you supervise their usage to maintain appropriate content and duration.
Need some educational printable activities? Check out some of my favorites for younger kids:
- Cursive Practice Worksheets
- Money Counting Printables
- Printable Math Activity Book
- How to Draw Cartoon Characters
Take a Break and Enjoy Outdoor Activities
Outdoor activities provide opportunities for physical exercise, fresh air, and exploration. Take breaks during the day to engage in outdoor play throughout your summer vacation.
This could include going for walks, visiting local parks for play dates, riding bikes, playing catch, or engaging in backyard activities like gardening or setting up a small obstacle course.
Outdoor play helps children burn off energy, improve their mood, and promote healthy physical development. You can also teach your kids about doing something good for others by getting involved in a community service project.
Some days, the best time for me to work is when we’re hanging out at the park. It can be hard to get much work done when you’re stuck in the same environment on a regular basis. Freelancing is the perfect job to enjoy summer break without interfering with my income source.
Encourage Quiet Time for Reading Time
Reading is a fantastic way to engage your children’s imagination and foster a love for books. Set aside dedicated reading times where you and your children can enjoy books together. You can often find summer programs at your local library for little kids.
On a given day, you can spend your time working in a new setting while your little person enjoys exploring new worlds through books. I love to listen to audio books while I’m working on a new thing.
Choose age-appropriate books that align with their interests and reading level. You can also create a cozy reading nook with comfortable pillows, blankets, and a small bookshelf to make the experience more enjoyable. Track your kid’s reading progress with this printable reading log.
And grab these bookmarks for only $0.99 to inspire your kids to read while giving them a fun coloring activity.
Engage in Pretend Play
Pretend play allows children to develop their creativity, social skills, and problem-solving abilities. Provide them with costumes, props, and accessories to encourage imaginative play. It can be even more fun and interactive – plus occupy extra time that you can use for working or relaxing – for them to do their own work to make props and costumes.
They can create their own stories, act out different roles, and engage in make-believe scenarios. This type of play helps develop their language skills, emotional intelligence, and cognitive abilities.
As a side note, if your kid makes up their own story, you have a great opportunity to start their freelancing career as a published author early.
Teach Your Kid Cooking and Baking
Involving your children in simple cooking or baking activities can be a fun and educational experience. Assign them age-appropriate tasks like measuring ingredients, mixing, or decorating.
Not only does this keep them engaged, but it also teaches them valuable life skills like following instructions, measuring, and understanding basic cooking techniques. Plus, they get to enjoy the delicious outcome of their efforts.
You can also involve your young family member with meal planning, creating grocery lists, and grocery shopping. Buy this meal planner bundle to get started!
Involving your older kids is a good idea if you want to impart crucial cooking, budgeting, prepping, and planning skills. There are different ways you can involve your kids in the kitchen, besides gathering around the kitchen table to eat.
Explore Virtual Activities
Virtual activities can be a great way to engage your children and expose them to new experiences from the comfort of your home.
Look for online classes, storytelling sessions, or virtual museum tours that cater to your child’s interests. Many organizations and websites offer virtual activities designed for kids, ranging from art classes and music lessons to science experiments and virtual field trips. These activities can be both educational and entertaining.
By implementing these tips, you can create a balanced environment that keeps your kids occupied and engaged while you attend to your work responsibilities as a work-at-home mom. Adapt the activities based on your child’s age, interests, and abilities, and remember to prioritize quality time and communication with your children throughout the day.
Remember to adapt these activities based on your child’s age and interests. Finding the right balance between work and quality time with your kids can be challenging, but with some planning and creativity, you can create an environment that keeps them occupied while you tackle your work responsibilities.
