Working at home can be very difficult for moms at times. One of the things that make this difficult is having a very active, busy toddler. I have found that there are tasks that I can easily do during wake time. There are others that need my full focus. I suggest saving those activities for nap time. So, how can you be productive while your toddler is up? Here are some ways to keep your toddler busy, so you can be productive.
1. Arts and crafts – When I am creating things for the website, my daughter wants to be right in the mix. I have created things that are just for her to use while I am working. One of her favorite things I have created are paint dot dabbers. This is not even to mention her love for crayons, pencils and markers.
2. LeapTop – This is a laptop created by Leap Frog that my dad purchased for her. It is not much smaller than my netbook. She loves it and pulls it out when she sees that I am working on the laptop.
3. Work close to where she can play – If I work in our dining room she wants to be right there with me. I can usually keep her entertained with arts and crafts, but not always. If I take a few hours where I might be surfing for inspiration or writing articles and do this right in the room she is playing, she will play with her toys.
4. You Tube – There are times that I need to use our desk top. I have created a You Tube playlist consisting of things my daughter loves (Wiggles and Elmo). I will set up a chair next to my desk and turn You Tube on our netbook. She will sit there and watch videos while I work on the computer.
5. DVD’s – There is a love of the Wiggles at our house. We have tons of DVDs to choose from. There are plenty of times she will sit and watch the whole DVD without moving.
Being productive during wake time is going to be easier on some days than others. With a little thought and flexibility you will be able to be as productive as you need to if your toddler is awake or asleep.