One of the questions I get asked most often is how I manage to work from home with two young kids around. The honest answer? Some days go smoothly, and some days don’t. Working from home with children isn’t always easy, and I’ve learned that perfection isn’t the goal. It takes a lot of patience, flexibility, and sometimes a little creativity.
Over time, I’ve found a few things that help keep my kids entertained long enough for me to get important work done.
1. Set Up a “Work Beside Mom” Space
This is probably the thing that has worked best for us. My kids have their own little workspace right next to mine—a small table with chairs where they can do their “work” while I do mine.
I keep a few activities nearby, such as puzzles, coloring books, play dough, building blocks, and sensory bins. If they were school-aged, this would also be a great time for homework or quiet learning activities.
They love feeling like they’re working alongside me, and it definitely helps reduce the number of interruptions throughout the day.
2. Rotate Activities
Instead of leaving every toy available all the time, I like to rotate activities throughout the week. I’ve noticed that when something disappears for a few days, it suddenly becomes exciting all over again.
Some of our favorite activities include:
Keeping things fresh helps hold their attention much longer than having everything available at once.
3. Save Screen Time for Important Tasks
I’m not against screen time, especially when I have an important meeting, deadline, or project that requires my full attention.
Rather than using it throughout the day, I save it for the moments when I truly need uninterrupted focus. I’ll usually get the kids a snack, some popcorn, and a drink, get them settled on the couch, and let them enjoy a favorite show.
When used intentionally, screen time can be a lifesaver during a busy workday.
4. Keep Snacks Ready
This may sound simple, but having snacks ready ahead of time prevents so many interruptions.
I try to think ahead when grocery shopping and keep easy grab-and-go options available. That way, I’m not stopping every 20 minutes to find something for the kids to eat.
Some of our favorites are:
- Cereal bars
- Popcorn
- Trail mix (kid friendly)
- Fruit pouches
- Crackers
A well-timed snack can sometimes buy me another 30 minutes of productive work time.
5. Lower Your Expectations
This has probably been the biggest lesson for me.
Working from home with young children doesn’t look the same as working in a quiet office, and that’s okay.
Some days are incredibly productive. Other days involve answering messages while someone is asking for a snack, showing me a drawing, or climbing into my lap. That’s simply part of this season of life.
The sooner I stopped expecting perfect productivity every day, the easier it became to enjoy both my work and my time with my kids.
Final Thoughts
If you’re trying to balance working from home while raising young children, know that you’re not alone. There isn’t a perfect system, and what works one week may not work the next.
For me, the biggest help has been creating simple routines, keeping activities ready to go, and accepting that some days will be messy.
At the end of the day, if you’ve managed to get some of your work done—or, on the really good days, all of it done—while still being present for your children, that’s a win worth celebrating.