Entertaining the Kids
From Henry and Devon 2008 |
Trying to get work done is hard enough as it is. Having the kids at your ankles wanting your attention non stop isn't going to help make anything any easier. Instead of letting the kids try to find things around the house to do to keep busy, come up with some ideas of your own that they can do. Setting the kids up with things that they can do on their own with limited help from you will give some extra mostly quiet time that you can use to get more work done rather than waiting for the blessed nap time. Just because the kids are awake and running around the house doesn't mean that you are doomed to being completely stagnant with your work.
Think about what your kids like to do as far as arts and crafts. What are they in to? What season is it? If it is close to a holiday season, especially if it is one that they are excited about coming, there are a ton of crafts that most kids can do pretty independently. Get you materials ready a head of time as well as all the prep-work. If there are projects that require cutting or gluing small things together that your child won't be able to handle, do that part for them. Have it all ready to go and plan out what time you are going to get the crafting going so you are prepared to take the time out with the kids until they are well on their way to doing it on their own so you can make your break for it.
When it's getting within an hour or two for that time of day we all get a break for at least 30 minutes or so, aka nap time, set up a movie that you know will keep their attention even if it is one that you have seen repeatedly. You're not going to have to sit through it with them because you'll get to use this time to escape back into work. Pop up some popcorn or their favorite snack that isn't going to make too much of a mess and set them up in the family room. To encourage them to stay with the movie, and if you don't mind, let them use the couch cushions on the floor with blankets to make a fort to watch the movie from or maybe even a giant bed. The more creative you let the be with activity you give them, the more interested and content they'll be.
Those of you out there with kids that thrive on learning, why not encourage it and work with them. Set them up with their own work space near yours. Get them some age and learning level appropriate work books and get them started. Break out the crayons and colored pencils and they can start learning their shapes and colors. Allowing them to have their own work space next to yours they can pretend that they are just like you working hard and doing important stuff and since you have them right next to you, it won't take out too much of your time to stop and help them when they have questions and to give praise when they are doing really well.
I will soon have up some great links that you can use to find quick and easy arts and crafts projects as well as some of the projects that we do here at home. I find that the more of a creative outlet I give my daughter and the more I include her in what I'm doing, the easier my day goes and I really do get more work done before it's my quiting time.
