This article is one of the most popular ever written on Sparkplugging. It then grew into it’s own blog, and now it has grown into a whole new network of kids activities websites here at Woo! Jr.:
Craft Jr.
Crafts for Kids, Paper Crafts, Easy Crafts & Craft Ideas
Animal Jr.
Animal Printables, Games and Teacher Worksheets
Fantasy Jr.
Mythical Creatures, Princess and Fairy Coloring Pages, Printables, Games and Puzzles
Space Jr.
Space facts, teacher resources, coloring pages, and science fiction for kids
I’ve had a couple of readers bemoan the fact that summer break is coming soon. I must admit that though I love my children dearly, I’m not exactly jumping for joy that I will have 3 rambunctious, screaming kids + a friend posse running around my house for the next three months.
But regardless, I have run a home business 3 times now from when my first daughter was 5 months old to today, when she is almost 13 and can do a little babysitting herself.
So here’s the good news:
You CAN run a business from home no matter what age your children are.
The bad news?
The smaller your children are, the smaller your business To Do list should be.
Plain and simple, until your kids are 3-4 years old, don’t expect yourself to be super-mom. Kids this young just need too much attention and the business will have to fit in between nap times and play dates – oh, and get used to starting your most productive work at 10:00pm. 
Home Business Productivity Tips for All Ages
- Get the kids their own computer – when you can get a new CPU
and monitor
for less than $500 total, it’s hard to say no – plus, they will need it for school eventually, anyway!
- Have high speed internet
access – so you waste no time when you actually can get work done.
- Own a laptop with wireless internet – so that you can move around the house or yard as needed.
- Get a Blackberry or PDA – so you can stay connected even when you’re at the zoo.
- Use a Chore Chart – give the kids some structure and responsibility during the day.
- Schedule play time just like you do your work time – I try to stay off the computer on Fridays to ensure we get to enjoy the summer months together.
- Use the Future Post option (for bloggers) - you can maintain a regular publishing schedule by future-dating your posts(when you’re likely writing in the middle of the night!!)
- *Find other parents in the neighborhood and swap play dates* - critical to the sanity of both of you!
- Make it easy for your kids to be independent – set up an area for them to do their own thing, and keep it well stocked with projects and games.
- Buy grab food or make healthy snack packages – that way they can feed themselves when they get hungry
- Set up a schedule for ordering out – both you and the kids can look forward to it!
- Segment and schedule your days – the younger the kids, the more you want to ‘chunk’ you days into activities, downtime, work time and TV time, but it’s a great productivity tool no matter what the ages of your children.
- Load up on popsicles – it always keeps them quiet for a few minutes for an important phone call and there are plenty of healthy kinds to choose from (or make your own
).
- Get cheap movie rentals – most older titles can be rented for way less than new releases.
- Buy a pool pass – you won’t get anything done at the pool, but you’ll wear your kids out and they will nap longer!
- Download and print ’78 Parent Child Activites’ – formatted for 3×5 index cards!
Summer Activities for Children Age 1-4
If your kids are in this age bracket – I feel for you! Really, I had a hard time getting anything done without a part time sitter or a “mother’s helper”. If you really want to have a successful home business and you have very little kids, I would really recommend you consider hiring some help.
But for the days that you have to work and the little ones are right there with you, here’s a few ideas:
- Buy age appropriate computer games – my kids started at the age of 2
- Set up easy to find bookmarks for kid-friendly sites – I have my kids’ sites set up with the rest of my shortcuts right on my FireFox toolbars:
- Stock up on workbooks and coloring books, along with crayons, markers, stencils, etc. and plenty of plain paper
- Create an activity ‘station’ where the kids can go to make a mess whenever they want
- Create a baby-proofed room and barricade yourselves in - baby plays while you answer emails!
- Rotate toys – kids get bored quickly, so once or twice a month, hide the old and bring in the new!
- Get a baby sling
or baby backpack
– my kids never made a peep when they could sit in their backpack and watch what mom or dad was doing
Summer Activities for Children Age 4-7
- Keep the kids moving and active (in my house, I have a harder time keeping them still!!)
- Take trips to the Library – and do business research while you’re there!
- Download fun worksheets and sneak in some learning.
- Make or buy
a flower press and let the kids weed the garden for you.
- Get a sandbox – just make sure you also get a lid so that it doesn’t turn into the neighborhood litter box!
- Order cheap craft project kits from Oriental Trading
(they have great stuff for older kids too)
- Teach your kids how to make a fortune teller.
- Buy a cheap digital camera
for your budding photographer
- Let them create their own scrapbooks
- Teach them to create their own PowerPoint presentations
- Download a free screen saver maker and let them create their own slideshows
- Throw the images into Photoshop and create ink jet t-shirt transfers
- Keep on hand at ALL TIMES:
- Bubbles
- Sidewalk chalk
- Water balloons
- Board games (with all the pieces!!)
- Working sprinkler or kiddie pool (preferably both)
- Art supplies
- Bookmark these activity web sites:
- Lest I miss stating the obvious:
Summer Activities for Children Age 8-13
- Get a metal detector
and let the kids explore the yard
- Cut up some wrapping paper and let your kids loose on this Origami site
- Keep common ingredients in your pantry for kid friendly cooking projects
- Bite the bullet and get them their own phone in their room
- For the brave parents, let the kids do science projects
- Buy a cheap sewing machine
and make kid’s sewing projects
- Turn your junk mail into a recycled pulpy mess and make paper
- Bookmark these sites
- SingShot - online Karaoke
- Summer.About.com
- National Geographic Kids
- NASA Kids Activities
- DIY Network Kids Page
- The EPA (yes, the Environmental Protection Agency!) Kids Club
- Animal Planet
- Discovery Kids
Craft Project Resources for All Ages
- EnchantedLearning.com – extremely comprehensive list sorted by holiday, theme, materials, or topic
- AllCrafts.net – free crafts listing
- FamilyCrafts.About.com
- ChildParenting.About.com – Summer arts and crafts
- CraftForKids.com
- The Best Kids Book Site – also has a huge crafting section
- OneHourCraft – for older kids (and, erm, their moms!)
Craft Supplies
- Michaels | Store Locator
- Hobby Lobby | Store Locator
- JoAnn Fabrics & Crafts | Store Locator
- Flax Art & Design | Only one store location in SF
Find Local Family Activities
- ActivitiesForKids.com - National US
- KidsGuide.co.uk – UK
- Families with Purpose – National US
- GoCityKids – all major U.S. metropolitan areas
- Australia for Kids - For my friends down under
- Scribbit on her hometown Anchorage, Alaska
Thanks for the great list and insight. I struggle with this daily with my four year old and 16 month old at home. I find myself working late at night like you mentioned. Of course by morning I regret it but believe it will all pay off in the end. When my husband is home he is very helpful as well, so he will do a lot of the childcare so I can get some work done, including my new podcast support show for moms at http://mamastimeout.com. I did have to cut back to every other week because of the time involved in getting guests, preparing for the show, etc.
Thanks again for the info and sharing your experiences with other moms who are striving to work at home and make it work with little ones under five.
Pattys last blog post..A Place for Mom Bloggers to Socialize
This is such a nice find. I am expecting my first child and I work at home. These suggestions are definitely going to come in handy! Thanks.
Kim Sawyers last blog post..What is Really Going On?!!!!!!!!!!
I finally got my 11 year old to mow the lawn this summer – best time saver ever and gets him out of my hair for an hour!
Peter Answerss last blog post..Why Doesn’t Peter Answer Me?
This is such a great list you’ve got going! I love the idea of a separate computer! I also liked how you mentioned inexpensive ideas such as movie rentals, activity stations, and sidewalk chalk. There’s something for everyone to do!
Jennas last blog post..Prescription Drug May Cause T.B.
Those are a ton of fantastic suggestions! I like that you emphasized educational activities. It’s certainly better than sticking them in front of a tv.
Here’s some weather-related science projects for children. Fun!
Sheas last blog post..Fun Projects for Children and their Parents
Excellent resource! I like the idea of having a laptop, this way you can work where ever you choose.
Tom.L HomeBusinesss last blog post..The Importance Of Good Copywriting
Great list.If you work at home you´d better have something to do for the kids while you are working if you are going to get anything done.
Tommy – Work From Home Informations last blog post..Want To Work At Home? Become Self-Employed!
Thank you THANK you for the ideas! I have a laptop as well and couldn’t live without it.
Super Moms last blog post..Rabbit Reno’s!
Great ideas! I’ll definitely be visiting some of the listed resource links.
I just posted an article on keeping preschool kids busy while you work on Examiner. I’ll be sharing 80 ideas:
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-15855-Huntsville-Education-Activities-Examiner~y2009m7d15-Preschool-activities-101-TVfree-ways-to-keep-kids-busy-while-you-work-part-one