Easy Tips To Keeping Kids Quiet While You're On The Phone
One of the easiest ways to get into the telecommuting industry
is to get a phone job. These phone jobs are more readily
available than other telecommuting jobs and usually pay pretty
well.
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.