Working from home is an amazing opportunity for many parents – but how do you get work done when you have your kids hanging around?

Unless daycare is a viable option in your situation, you have to find ways to keep your little ones busy so that you can focus on your work.

Yes, you can easily put them in front of a tablet or TV so you can be productive, but there are other ways you can keep your kids busy while you work from home.

(In fact, I’m going to talk about the detriments of screen time at the end of this article!)

If you’re looking for some ideas so you can get your work done, check these out:

1. Busy Books and Sensory Bins

Busy books and sensory bins are perfect for younger children!

Busy books are simple books you can make yourself that have different activities in them, like velcro numbers, matching games, and lacing.

Sensory bins, on the other hand, are bins of child-safe objects that your little one can dig around in. Think pom-poms, beans, and macaroni!

Simply give them spoons and cups, and they are good to go.

2. Cardboard Box and Crayons

Use up that pile of Amazon boxes by letting your kiddos decorate them with crayons!

You can use larger boxes and cut out holes for windows so your child can create their own little clubhouse.

Or tape boxes together to make a robot they can decorate – the possibilities are endless.

3. DIY Ball Pit

Take a plastic kiddie pool and tons of plastic balls and create your own DIY ball pit!

Your little one will have a blast jumping, sliding, and digging around. Think of it as an oversized sensory bin!

Ball pits are great for younger children since you can keep them contained and within sight while you are focusing on your work.

4. Playdoh

Playdoh is a fun and developmentally beneficial activity – and you can make it yourself!

Check out this simple recipe that uses flour, salt, cream of tartar, water, and oil.

5. Scavenger Hunt

Scavenger hunts are a great way to keep your kids busy while you work from home!

You can control how complex the game is and how long it will take.

For instance, you can set up a scavenger hunt based on the colors of the rainbow or the letters of the alphabet.

6. Sorting Activities

Sorting is a challenging and educational activity that will help your little one learn organizational skills.

Set up a sorting activity by using small objects and a muffin tin. Your little one can sort by shape or color.

Or give them a deck of playing cards and have them sort the cards by suit or place the cards in order.

7. Puzzles

Kids at any age can enjoy doing a puzzle to stay busy!

Just make sure you choose age-appropriate puzzles that aren’t too hard or too easy – you don’t want your little one to become frustrated or bored.

And you can always have your child make their own puzzle by drawing and coloring a picture on a piece of thick cardstock. Cut it into pieces and let them put it back together.

8. Blanket Forts

Kids of all ages (and adults, too!) love to make blanket forts. This is a creative and time-consuming activity that will give you the much-needed space to get your work done.

Provide your child with as many blankets, pillows, and chairs as possible, and let them create their own cozy space.

And hopefully, they’ll want to spend some time in their fort doing a quiet activity – giving you more time to work!

9. Pretend Play

Pretend play is a form of imaginative play that helps children learn and develop.

This can include things like setting up a zoo with their stuffies or using household objects to create a musical band.

Provide your child with lots of props and let their imaginations go wild!

Sometimes it can be hard to get kids to engage in pretend play on their own, so you may have to play with them for a bit to get them started.

(Keep reading to learn how to encourage independent play with your little ones!)

Or, you can always have your child set up a pretend play “story” and perform it for you later on.

10. Dance Parties

Turn on the music and let your little ones dance the day away!

YouTube is a goldmine for kids’ dance music, and you can even find videos that will play “Freeze Dance” games.

Or check out videos from the game “Just Dance” for your little one to follow along and learn some new moves.

11. DIY Car Playmat

Using masking tape on the floor, create a racetrack for your little one to play with. You can also create car slides by taping cardboard tubes to the walls and furniture.

You can extend the fun of this activity by allowing your child to create their own racetracks!

Stay, Play, Walk Away

Of course, you can set up the most fun and exciting activity for your child so you can get some work done, but it’s no good if they won’t play on their own!

While independent play is highly beneficial for your child’s development, it can be hard to get them to play on their own.

To get your child to play by themselves, use the “Stay, Play, Walk Away” rule!

This means that you sit with your child and play with them for a few minutes before leaving to go do your work.

Start by staying and playing with them for a few minutes. If you find they are more focused on the activity than you, take that opportunity to walk away.

Otherwise, let them know that you are only staying for a couple of minutes but that you’ll be back later to play.

Avoiding Screen Time

I know how tempting it is to plunk your child in front of a screen just to get some work done – I am in no way innocent of this!

While moderated and limited screen time is not horrible for your child, using tablets, TVs, and phones all day can be detrimental.

Too much screen time at a young age can inhibit a child’s ability to engage with the world and learn.

In fact, studies have shown that children under two learn far less from videos than they do from observing the real world.

So as tempting as it may be to give your child a screen when you work from home, do your best to encourage other activities and use the screens as a last resort (with rules and time limits).

Keeping Your Kids Busy!

Keeping your kids busy while you work takes a lot of work, but if you prepare some fun activities each day, your little one will occupy yourself while you do what you have to do!

How do you keep your kids busy while you work at home? Leave your ideas in the comments!