| There is no doubt that the benefits of being a | | | | she hears from you, the more your child will want to |
| work-at-home parent outweigh the drawbacks. | | | | keep creating special drawings for you, or Grandma |
| However, some days can prove to be difficult when | | | | and Aunt Jeannie and Uncle Timmy etc. Either take a |
| your two year-old is determined to climb on top of | | | | brief time out or make it a routine at the end of the |
| your filing cabinet while you're trying to participate in | | | | day to hang your child's masterpieces in your office. |
| an important conference call. | | | | He will feel like he accomplished something that made |
| Here are ten tips that can help make your life easier, | | | | you proud. Let your child help you tape his work on |
| and your little ones happier, while you work at home. | | | | the side of your desk or up on the wall. You may be |
| Set up a little desk for your tiny assistant in your | | | | surprised by how intrigued your toddler is with tape! |
| home office, close enough for you to keep an eye | | | | A chalkboard is an easy, inexpensive addition to your |
| on him, but far enough away for you to focus on | | | | home office that you may never need, but your |
| your work. | | | | assistant-in-training will probably use it every day. If |
| Tell your child that he is your personal | | | | you buy the big sidewalk chalk, your toddler will be |
| assistant-in-training and emphasize what a big deal it | | | | less likely to decide to taste the bright colored sticks. |
| is for him to have this title and his own work area. | | | | If he or she does try to take a bite, the chances of |
| Provide your child with some tools similar to those on | | | | choking are reduced with these fat pieces of chalk. |
| your desk. Carefully select only the safest items that | | | | Make a production out of adding this new item to |
| are virtually indestructible. Your child's active | | | | your office. Pretend you need it to use it to record |
| imagination and natural curiosity can easily lead to | | | | your daily business reminders. Your child will be more |
| disaster if he gets his hands on the wrong gadget. | | | | eager to get his little hands on something he sees |
| Assign your new assistant with important job | | | | you using. One little warning: Although this cheap |
| responsibilities. Young children love to imitate adults, | | | | addition to your office may offer a new outlet for |
| especially their parents. Depending upon what type of | | | | your child's creativity, it will usually lead to the need |
| business you operate from home, you can dream up | | | | for a quick bath at the close of the business day! |
| duties that mirror what your child watches you do | | | | There are a few items that are actually "toys,'' but |
| every day. | | | | may be able to pass for "tools" (similar to the |
| One duty that may delight your toddler is opening | | | | machines you use every day) to be added to your |
| mail. Give the child junk mail, advertisements or | | | | new assistant's desktop. Various toy companies |
| anything else you don't want to read. Provide a little | | | | manufacture mini-versions of adult products, like little |
| trashcan or place for him to pitch the envelope if | | | | battery operated computers, designed to teach your |
| that's what you usually do. | | | | child the alphabet or animal sounds; play telephones |
| Another job that may thrill your child and can | | | | that ring by themselves and talk back to your child; |
| potentially occupy him for more than an hour is | | | | and musical keyboards that perform tunes |
| organizing your out-dated files, old business cards, | | | | automatically and also allow your toddler to make his |
| duplicate copies, rough drafts and any other | | | | own melodies. Your toddler may be content to |
| impertinent papers. The key to this little task is to | | | | imitate you with toys, like these, that look similar or |
| place files to be organized in a basket or file bin and | | | | sound the same as your desktop devices. |
| provide an empty desk drawer or old briefcase for | | | | Depending upon the location of your office, layout of |
| your toddler to transfer the papers to and from - | | | | your house, and your child's level of independence, |
| possibly repeatedly. If you can manage to | | | | you may be able to designate duties that require him |
| concentrate on your work and coach your new | | | | to leave your office to go find a phone book for |
| assistant at the same time, you may stimulate their | | | | you, or to locate that big envelope that came in the |
| thinking by beginning to count the papers he or she is | | | | mail the other day. You can purposely forget to |
| moving from the basket into the desk drawer. | | | | collect all the items you will need to complete your |
| A must-have for your new little employee is a | | | | job that day or you can ask your little assistant to |
| notepad or notebook similar to the type you use for | | | | seek out objects that you don't really have to have |
| taking notes, and crayons (if he or she will accept | | | | immediately. Toddlers usually like to look for things, |
| such a "childish" writing implement.) Encourage your | | | | especially when they think they are helping mommy |
| child to draw a picture for you and make sure you | | | | or daddy. Be sure to thank your child and compliment |
| praise the final product. The more compliments he or | | | | him for being able to find exactly what you wanted! |