How do you entertain your kids when at home?

[neshi]

My Ds is 2.9 and DD 8 months old! I'm a SAHM but have started my own business and therefore need some "focus" time everyday.

Ds goes to school every morning, from 8.30 to 1pm and has lunch there but DD is with me 24/7
I'm finding it very hard to find the little time I need to dedicate to my business and was wondering how others out there juggle things! Ds is very demanding, always asking me to turn off my pc and play with him, or jumping on top of his sister just to get my attention.
Sometimes I feel guilty I don't have mire play dates organised for them... mainly we spend the afternoons at home, going to the local park for 30/45 min and then just me trying to work and take care of the house and them playing around. We have one fixed play date a week and occasionally one more but that's it!
How do you entertain your kids during the week while doing some work and taking care of the daily tasks of the house??

Hi,
I have DS who is 6 and DD who is 3 with ASD and home with me all day. I take DD out on 3-4 mornings a week (music group, jungle gym group and playgroup where I stay). The other 1-2 mornings I do stay in and try to get housework done or occasionally visit the shops. I use the 2 or so hours left in the afternoons to get stuff done.

I find that if DD has done an activity with me (in or out) I feel less guilty about leaving her to potter and play. She has a huge box of duplo, happyland toys, dolls house, cars and a garage, jigsaw puzzles, etc and she asks me to get them out for her. In an ideal world I'd get time at night but as she's suuch a poor sleeper that just doesn't happen . At 8 months she had her jumperoo and also some foam tiles I put on the floor with various toys on to entertain her.

Sorry, not a lot of help!

I try to do at least one activity per day with mine (4.2, at pre-school each day 9-12 & 23 mo, at home all the time). So, Monday & Wednesday we go to toddler groups, Friday we usually meet up with a friend & Thursday we meet up with a friend some weeks or just go to Tesco then for a Costa afterwards/go to the park (I work on Tuesdays so don't have them). This way I find they are satisfied that they have done something & will play happily at home with duplo, trains, cars, books puzzles etc. As strike says, it also makes you feel less guilty that you've done something!

On days when we don't go out, we try to do a baking/craft activity at home. This only needs to take around 30 minutes, but satisfies everyone again. Also, on days like this, I find both boys will nap after lunch from say 1-3.

When DS2 was 8 months, he was generally happy just watching DS1 or on the floor with a basket of toys or in his activity centre.

Lastly, after their dinner (usually finished by 6), I put CBeebies on until it finishes at 7, then we'll do bath & bed.

Tbh I think trying to sit and do some work is fruitless unless they both nap at the same time. I have a 1.5yo and she will keep gerself entertained while I do chores but I couldnt sit and focus on work u less she was asleep.

Could you do the work part after theyve gone to bed or see about an AM nursery place for the youngest while the eldest os at school?

I don´t really see that you can get proper work done with kids around. I couldn´t. Could you get a local teenager to come and play with them while you work in another room?

Regarding working at home: I disagree that it can't be done, I think rather that it depends on your DC. I worked from home (transcription) from when DS1 when was 18m to when he was 2.10 (DS2 was born in the middle of this & I worked at home until he was 6 months, taking just 1 week off to recover from my EMCS). I usually did about 2 hours a day, but this could be split into say 3 chunks of 40 minutes. I only stopped because the contract ended.

I have been very lucky that both DC are happy to entertain themselves, with me in the room, for 40 minutes or so. I would just explain to DS1 that Mummy had o work now, why don't you do X then I'll play with you when I'm finished. I also worked while they napped. In the summer, I was able to have them in the garden, occupied with a water table & ball & work then.

Your older DC may like to 'work' alongside you for half an hour or so (drawing, sticker books, reading, puzzles), while your younger DC is perhaps in a jumperoo or similar. If DC2 is mobile, it becomes a bit trickier as they always want to be on the go! It is definitely easier if you can break the work down into 30-40 minute chunks, then follow this with a spell of playing with them.

It's not easy, but it can be done, IME!