Including Children in Your Home Business

Including Children in Your Home Business

It can be quite difficult to juggle working from home with taking care of young children. It can be challenging to balance the demands of running a business with caring for a young child. It's common for stay-at-home mothers to have to choose between their business and their child's excessive television viewing. How can you make your business successful while caring for your children?

As someone who runs their own business out of their house, I can attest to the fact that sustained concentration on work for extended periods of time is next to impossible. Nap time provides some relief, but it's usually just temporary.

Kids of all ages are constantly coming and going from the house throughout the summer, which can provide a number of issues, even for parents of teenagers and preteens.

Discuss Business Ethics With Your Kids and Set Ground Rules

Your children should be cognizant of the fact that you run a business from home and behave appropriately. Plan out the fundamentals of running a successful home-based enterprise, such as how to greet visitors, handle phone calls, and interact with customers. Rules like "don't touch Mommy's desk" and "don't disrupt Mommy's office time" can help you get more done during the time you devote to your home company.

However, it is ideal from a business and human relations perspective to have a clear understanding with each of them as to what kind of tasks they will and should do (answer the phone, open mail, pack and ship items, etc.) and what they are not to do (make payments to people without your authorization, make agreements, deals, or contracts without asking you). Such in-advance arrangements can spare a lot of stress and make the process go more smoothly.

Get the Kids Involved in the Home Business Venture

Whatever kind of home business you're doing, your kids can help out in some way. This gives you a chance to bond with your kids on a deeper level and provides them with valuable life lessons, such as how to manage money.

One woman I know who runs her business out of her home employs her children, ages 7 and 9, to help her with everything from counting and organizing change to stocking the products in the vending machines.

I think it's fair to compensate children for their labor in a home-based business. Your business may be eligible for a tax break if you teach your children the value of hard work in this way.

Incorporate your children into your home-based enterprise in inventive ways.

In the event that the customer is on board with the idea, a business meeting might be held at McDonald's or another eatery with a children's play area. If a customer is visiting you at home, she may want to bring her children so that they can play with yours throughout the meeting. Bring the kids along the next time you have to rush out and get extra office supplies for work.

Set up a Little Desk for Your Kid in the Office

Most mothers report that their young children strive to closely emulate them. So, place a small chair and table in close proximity to yours for your youngster to use. Make sure they have access to high-quality office materials. In addition to the obvious pencil, paper, crayons, and coloring book, you'll also need a couple sheets of paper. Play equipment, such as a fake computer and phone, would be great for use in the workplace. Then, plunk down next to your kid at the office desk. Keep in mind that toddlers need lots of compliments, so check in on your child's efforts every so often and provide your admiration. Take into account the fact that they have a short attention span. One half-hour every day is plenty of time for your kid in the office. As a result, your kid will be able to play the "game" for longer without growing bored. After your child has helped you out and allowed you to get some work done, spend some quality time with them as a reward.

You will be up to your neck if you have two or three children between the ages of three and five. Toddlers may be fidgety and unable to sit still for more than a few seconds, but that doesn't mean you can't teach them to help you out. Someone I know handled these so-called "coyotes" during "business hours" with great success.

A friend of mine set up three compact workstations next to her own desk. These cubicles had a little desk, a pretend phone, a stack of paper, and a variety of children's publications, including coloring books, storybooks, and Bibles. Their food and beverages are prepared and put in the refrigerator for them to go and pick up whenever they are hungry. When mom is sitting at her desk working, the kids are instructed to work discreetly at their own workstations. Everyone must show the "assignments" to mom during breaks. The kids get a half-hour break every hour to go around and play with Mom and their peers. After two weeks of strict implementation, the youngsters automatically reported to their own small office space after breakfast, and everyone silently did their own portion of what mom had assigned them to accomplish.

I've learned a few things that might help you keep your home office running smoothly, even if you have kids running around. Since I recognize that the needs of children of varying ages vary, I will organize my advice accordingly.

Intermediate and advanced levels (kids and teens)

Since older kids are less of a disruption to our productivity at work, we will initially focus on them.

Children who are old enough to grasp the concept of time management and household duties can also grasp the requirements of your at-home enterprise. Explain to your children that you are working from home because you want to be close by in case they require your assistance.But also make sure kids know how important it is for you to work to provide for your family's basic needs, including housing, food, and entertainment.

Your children will be more accepting of your work schedule once they see its importance. Make sure they know that you will understand if they need to interrupt you for an emergency. Then make sure they realize that during hours x and y, you will be working, and then hold them accountable for honoring your schedule.

Infants

Infants will never comprehend your requirements for employment. But fortunately, babies do well with a schedule or routine. Instead of expecting your child to conform to your work schedule, plan your days to accommodate your child's routine.

It is simple. Babies eat, sleep, and defecate. Occasionally, they engage in play. Babies, thankfully, spend the majority of their time sleeping.

Nap time offers the finest edge for getting your work done. Establish a regular schedule of feedings, naps, and playtime for your infant, and you will find yourself surprisingly productive.

Toddlers

Create a schedule for your kids that includes eating, napping, and playing. Work these times into your work plan and adhere to them. If you fail to make appointments with your children, they will have less regard for your work and do more to block you from the completion of your task.

Don't be hesitant to let your children sit on your lap while you are working. It makes them feel included and appreciated in your life. Sometimes having kids on your lap is fine, but when you need to focus on anything else, they need to move. Don't be scared to tell them to get down and go play or read a book so that you may resume your work.

Permit your children to have their toys in your office. They will frequently sit contentedly and play while you work.They'll be content as long as you're nearby.

Plan on taking a break every hour to deal with your child. You should use your hourly break to go to the bathroom and get more drinks. Your home-based business and the development of your child's routine will both benefit from this. Spend some time during each break cuddling and conversing with your kid about whatever is on his or her mind.

Because toddlers aren't always good at sticking to routines, you should be ready to pause whatever you're doing to offer your child the one-on-one attention he or she needs right now.

Finally, in summary,

With any luck, you'll find these hints useful as you take on the difficult task of running a profitable home business.

Due to the success of my at-home venture, I am able to meet all of my financial commitments and also be present while my children grow up. I could never imagine giving up my home-based business for another field. The advantages of working from home, despite the fact that I have to deal with toddlers, outweigh the disadvantages.

Growing my own home business with children around has definitely given me a new respect for all people who successfully run a home business with kids in the work environment. To you, I raise my cap. Have it, since you've earned it!

If you run a home business from the comfort of your own home, it might be easy to let work take precedence over family life.