Home Office Kit for Kids: Keep them Busy While you Work

Not only are children not going to understand that mommy or daddy has a deadline to meet but trying to get some time away to complete our responsibilities can also make us feel pretty guilty. The solution is to give your little ones something to keep them occupied while you work. Maybe it’s an activity that can do in your home office so it seems like you are both “working.” Here are a few suggestions.

Children of all ages love to color. When the back-to-school sales start up for the new school year, invest in all of the crayons, colored pencils, and non-staining markers you can find. Put these together in a plastic container in your office, along with a nice supply of coloring books or activity paper for drawing. If your child wants to spend time in your office while you work, whip out the kit and let your child be as creative as he or she wants.

Jigsaw puzzles are a good choice for children, too. They come in versions which are appropriate for many different age groups, and they come in handy boxes which can be easy to slide away in your office for extra room. You can either let your child pick out a few puzzles themselves or you can surprise them by selecting designs and pictures they would enjoy. Some puzzles, such as maps of the United States, can be educational as well as fun. If you have an older child who wants to work on a larger jigsaw puzzle, invest in a small table you can have folded out in the space where the puzzle can stay while he or she completes it.

Go into any office supply store or most retail stores and you’ll find a selection of educational workbooks. These might teach your child handwriting, math, spelling, or other useful school skills. While you’re both in the office, assign some of the pages to your child. When he or she completes all of the assignments, take a break and grade them. Be sure to give your child a reward for doing good work. These books are great because they keep your child occupied while also teaching him or her something useful.

Different children express their creativity differently. While some love coloring, others would prefer throwing blocks all over the floor and building some amazing creation. While blocks can be pretty messy for this reason, they can also keep children preoccupied for hours and can be a good way to teach youngsters the importance of cleaning up their mess. Consider purchasing a storage container full of building blocks for your child and keeping them in your office.

One of the most important determiners of a child’s success in school is his or her ability to read. You can encourage good literacy habits starting at a young age by providing lots of books for your little one and by making trips to the bookstore a fun experience. Consider creating a small reading area for your son or daughter in your office along with a small bookshelf and comfortable reading chair (bean bag chairs can be a great choice). While you work, your son or daughter can read quietly. After work is over, make time for your child to tell you everything they’ve read, too.