| A home based business plus children can be a recipe | | | | when your attention did not have to be shared. As an |
| for success or a recipe for disaster. The outcome of | | | | infant normally spends most of the day sleeping, you |
| the experiment depends not on the ingredients but | | | | will have plenty of quiet hours in which to get your |
| rather upon the techniques you use to combine them. | | | | business up and running efficiently. A three month old |
| The key to successfully combining the running of a | | | | baby will be perfectly happy to entertain him/herself on |
| home based business with caring for young children is | | | | an activity mat in a corner of the home office with you |
| to create an environment where the children don't feel | | | | in sight while you work. |
| that they need to compete with the business for their | | | | Things get trickier when baby gets to the crawling, |
| mother's attention. The simplest way to do this is to | | | | standing and climbing stages. For several months, your |
| ensure that the child feels welcome in mom's home | | | | day will be a series of rescue missions: either rescuing |
| office and not shut out. The way this can most easily | | | | your adventurous tot from precarious situations or |
| be achieved depends upon the age of the child when | | | | rescuing your treasured possessions from your little |
| the mother decides to become a work at home mom. | | | | treasure's ever extending reach. Keep a box of toys |
| The older the children are, the easier it is to reassure | | | | in your office and encourage your child to play within |
| them that they will still get as much of mom's time, | | | | sight while you work. Working while baby is awake will, |
| care and attention as they need. At the same time, | | | | however, be impossible except for very short spells, |
| they can be made to understand that the new home | | | | so make the most of nap times. |
| business is important and that they can help make this | | | | By the time your child reaches two years of age, |
| time easier for their mother. Don't be afraid to lay | | | | independent play will last longer and demands on your |
| down some rules, children respond well to a structured | | | | time will lessen. A toddler will enjoy sitting at his/her |
| existence where they know what behaviour is | | | | own little desk in your office and crayoning works of |
| welcomed and what is forbidden. | | | | art or making collages while you get on with the grown |
| Make sure any timetable includes spells of "together" | | | | up version of office activities. If you can provide little |
| time when you will give undivided attention to each | | | | jobs for your child to do, this will encourage growth of |
| child individually. This could mean helping an older child | | | | the child's self-esteem and feeling of being an |
| with homework or reading a story to a toddler. Also | | | | important part of your home business. A two year old |
| slot in time for family activities when you will all get | | | | will be delighted to be trusted with the important job of |
| together to watch TV or go to the park or play a | | | | helping to take out the waste paper at the end of the |
| game all the children can enjoy. | | | | day. |
| Although caring for tiny infants is time consuming and | | | | Making your child feel welcome in your home business |
| tiring (especially if they are wakeful during the night), | | | | environment is the first step in getting this recipe to |
| when your baby is very young is a good time to start | | | | work well. A set of simple rules and a workable |
| your home based business. Your child will grow up | | | | schedule are all that you need as finishing touches to |
| with the business and not have any memory of a time | | | | enjoy your recipe for success. |