Tips for Working at Home When You're a Parent of a Toddler

I am really looking forward to preschool.  The thought of having a few hours before 9 p.m. to work uninterrupted sounds very appealing, especially right now as I try to type with my daughter clamoring for the keyboard.  But alas, we are at least two years away from that.  In the meantime, I am learning to work at home with a toddler which, I am discovering, is a feat in and of itself.

Working at home with a toddler requires excellent time management.  The most important thing for moms (or dads) to do is to establish is a schedule of some sorts.    Having a schedule will allow you to take advantage of pockets of time here and there for your work.  Of course, having a toddler also means there is a lot of unpredictability in your household.  So any schedule you set up should be flexible.  Having a set routine does two things for you and your toddler; you can plan your day and your child knows what to expect.  Even at this young age, children respond better when they have a sense of pattern and routine to their day.  Using a schedule can help prevent tantrums too.  Tantrums are often the result of your child feeling that they have lost control.  So if they know what to expect and what is coming next in their day, they are more likely to approach the activities with less resistance.

Once you have your routine in place, take advantage of naptimes!  I used to clean house during naptimes but that has quickly gone by the wayside.  I think that it is better to focus on your business during those quiet times in the day.  You may not get as much housework done when your child is up as you would during naptime, but you are setting an example for them and teaching them housework duties.  As they grow, they can help with sorting laundry or putting away dishes.