Keep Kids and Work from Colliding Keep your home business running smoothly with effective scheduling, even with the kids out of school.

By Lesley Spencer Pyle

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

As a mom or dad who runs a business from home, scheduling can be tricky when kids aren't in school. Whether your children are too young for school or are teenagers home for the summer, a work-from-home parent has to make sure the children are being taken care of and not getting into trouble. Here are a few ideas on how to do that:

  1. Work while they sleep. Get in a couple of work hours before the kids even roll out of bed, or use nap time with younger children. "My 1-year-old sleeps anywhere from one to three hours every afternoon," says Sarah, a freelance writer. "It's nice having that time to finish a short article without having to 'clock in' while I'm taking care of her."
  2. Go in shifts. If you have a spouse who also works, trade off working hours. If your wife comes home at 5 p.m., shut your office doors after dinner and work for the evening. Work whenever your partner isn't.
  3. Hire a baby sitter. For kids young enough to need one, a baby sitter can come over and play with them for a few hours and even get them out of the house to burn energy at the park.
  4. Trade baby sitting or other services. This worked great for Dianne, a financial advisor/tax preparer in Wyoming, whose kids are now grown. "I found a friend who did a baby sitting-for-piano-lessons swap when my kids were 1 and 2 years old. I taught four of her kids piano and she watched my children for 25 hours a week, which allowed me to add more hours to my work week," Dianne says.
  5. Take advantage of camps. They can be fun for the kids and increase productivity time for you. Even if it's just a day camp at the local zoo, it can really help when you've got a deadline to meet. "I have found camps to be an excellent option," says Jessica, a virtual assistant in Wisconsin. She mixes things up by sending her 5-year-old to two different part-time camps each day.
  6. Use the YMCA, recreation center or public library. Your kids need to be old enough, but you may be able to drop them off for a couple hours of swimming or a crafts class. Libraries, especially, offer many free activities.
  7. Look for employment for your kids. Some places, with limitations, will hire young teens. Or they can mow lawns, wash cars, walk dogs, etc. Pass on the entrepreneurial spirit.

Along with the methods you use to entertain and provide care for your children, it'll help to have the home necessities wrapped up before you begin your work. "Having things like house chores or grocery shopping planned or finished when I sat down at my desk allowed me to be more flexible and less frustrated when my kids had needs," Dianne says. Plan your schedule as well as you can: Then take it one day at a time.

Lesley Spencer Pyle is the founder and president of HomeBasedWorkingMoms.com and HireMyMom.com , and she is the author of The Work-at-Home Workbook: Your Step-by-Step Guide on Selecting and Starting the Perfect Home Business for You. Pyle has been working from home for more than 13 years.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

They Started a Side Hustle Producing an 'Obvious' Food Item. It Hit $300,000 Monthly Revenue Fast — On Track for Over $20 Million in 2025.

When Jason Rosenbaum and Hailey Swartz couldn't find the product they wanted to see on grocery store shelves, they took matters into their own hands.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.

Business News

Here's How Much Google Software Engineers, Product Managers, and Data Scientists Make in a Year

Data revealed in federal filings shows how much Google is compensating its employees.

Business Ideas

What My First Failed Startup Taught Me — and How I Finally Got It Right 20 Years Later

Launching a startup two decades after a failed first attempt brought clarity, humility, and a deeper understanding of what it really takes to build a sustainable business.

Business News

Here's When the New Apple iPhone 17 and MacBooks Are Being Released

Apple also has a home device in the works. Here's when to expect a new lineup of Apple products.

Business News

Microsoft Executive Says Using AI Has Saved $500 Million in Productivity Costs, as the Company Conducts Mass Layoffs

Microsoft is leveraging AI tools for cost savings in various departments, including customer service.