When you first start working on the phone from home, keeping the kids quiet can be a bit of a challenge. There is a fine line between keeping your child quiet and stifling the fun that kids should have every day. Here are some age-appropriate ideas on what you can do to make sure you get at least some quiet phone time in each day.
For Babies:
1. Keep them busy with some soft toys that make little or no noise. Fabric dolls and stuffed animals are a good choice. You can also use the stackable plastic rings. I found a soft, fabric covered box that came with a set of 4 finger puppets. The box had different openings and a mirror on one side. My baby spent hours putting the animals in and taking them back out.
2. Wear your baby in a sling. You will be able to nurse her while you work and she can take a nap in mommy’s lap. Get her used to the noise of everyday life in your house from the day you bring her home from the hospital. Don’t keep everyone in the house quiet. The baby will get used to hearing your voice and will be able to sleep even when you are talking on the phone…in fact she will find comfort in it.
3. Work while your baby naps. Try to get your baby on a good sleeping schedule that works for you and your job. Make sure you have something around that will sooth her quickly – like a favorite stuffed animal – should she wake up early while you are on the phone.
4. Work when someone else can watch the baby. You can get a few hours of work in while your husband is home. Ask a relative if she would be willing to watch the baby a few hours a week. You can also trade babysitting with a friend or neighbor. Offer to watch her child for a few hours a week, if she will do the same for you.
For Children:
1. Get your children on a sleeping schedule and work while they nap. Don’t let them sleep too late in the afternoon, or you will have a hard time getting them down at night.
2. Work while you husband or significant other is home, or ask a relative if she would be willing to watch your children for a few hours a day. You can also look for a Mom’s morning off program in your area. Your child will get to play with other kids while you work. Trading babysitting or arranging play-dates will work as well.
3. Give your kids a special game to play. Many board games work well, or if you have an additional computer you can pick up some age appropriate software. The key is to find something that doesn’t make a lot of noise and will keep their attention for a little while. Make sure you don’t use any given game too often, or your child will get board with it quickly.
4. Use a noise-quieting headset. If your kids do get loud from time to time – and believe me they will – the headset will cancel most of the noise. It’s well worth the small investment. Be sure to invest in a good quality headset though.
5. Work in short intervals while the kids are around. Kids can only be good and quiet for so long. Make sure you take frequent breaks to play with them. Have a tickle session, take them out to the yard to play catch, play hide and go seek for a few minutes. Just let them be kids and get rid of some of that build up energy.
6. Teach them that they need to listen to you when you ask them to be quiet. They will learn to respect your need for some time to work. Make sure you give them something interesting to do and pay them lots of attention when you are not working. This should work as long as you don’t ask them to stay quiet for hours at a time. Just be firm and stick to your guns when they do get noisy while you work.
Always remember that kids will be kids. Keep your sense of humor. It’s not the end of the world if you have to excuse yourself from a phone conversation to break up a fight or attend to a child that needs you. Your kids will get noisy from time to time. Try your best to keep them quiet, but not at the expense of stressing yourself out or expecting too much from your kids.
