Life Hacks for Kids and the Mom Who Blogs

I might be crazy but how does 30 days of blogging tips and mom hacks sound? I have a ton of awesome content about how to become a blogger while also being a stay at home mom or a working mother. It’s not easy but it’s totally possible. And it’s time for Day 16, where I share a fun and simple tip to keep your kiddos busy so you can have some quiet time to work.

Today's tip is not just a great mom hack, it's also a great life hack for kids.  And, to be honest, this wasn't my own idea, it came from my mother. It's a really effective way to provide your kid with something to keep them busy so you can work on building your blogging business. And, I promise it's not sitting them down in front of the television or handing them a device to occupy their time. I'm not at all against children watching TV or using technology, but it's great to have some other options to keep them busy while you work. That's where the "while mommy works" box comes into play.

What is a "while mommy works box"?

Whether you are a working mother or a stay at home mom, you have a busy schedule. Your to-do list is long and includes both personal responsibilities and tasks to help you grow your blogging business. I get it. I'm so busy I don't even have time to come up with a better name for the "while mommy works" box! In fact, I'd love your suggestions. Feel free to leave ideas in the comment section over on my channel and don't forget to subscribe while you're there. 

All of the things that are fighting for our attention can make it tricky to find the time we need to work. But, creating this box can make life easier for you.  A "while mommy works" box is simply a box full of toys and activities for your child to sit and use while you work (thus the name). It doesn't have to be a certain box and the items that you put inside are 100% up to you. There's a great chance that all of our boxes will look completely different and be filled with different things.

The purpose of putting the items in the box is so they are off limits in the normal course of the day. The only time that you get this box out is when you are sitting down to work and need to keep your child busy. That way these toys and activities stay new and exciting. Your child will actually look forward to playing with these things because they can't just get them out whenever they feel like it. They become special because they're in the "while mommy works" box. 

What goes in the box?

Simply fill this box with things you already own or affordable toys, games, or activities. When I was putting my box together, I ran to the local dollar store. I actually bought the box that I use there as well. While at the store I took my son to the craft and toy aisle and had him choose a few items for the box. I try to keep the items in the box things that are easy for my son to use on his own and easy for us to clean up when work time is over. 

Here are some examples of what we have in our box:

  • Rice box - This is just a $1 Tupperware with $1 worth of rice and several small toys inside. This is more of an outdoor activity or at least an area that's easy to clean up, but my son loves it. He digs around for the toys and it keeps him interested in a quiet activity while I work. 

  • Coloring Books - Nothing special here, just basic coloring books. 

  • Sticker notebook - This is simply a regular notebook and then some sticker pads that my son chose. He likes to put them in the notebook.

  • Audio books - Instead of buying these I pick them up at the library to save money.  This is a great way for him to get some quiet time listening to the books while I can focus on my work. 

  • Spiral graphs

  • Flashcards - These are not anything that's too hard so he can use them on his own. 

  • Chalk - This is for outside use. 

My son is only four right now so the things in our box are geared towards his age. But, this idea can still work if your child is older. Some ideas could be things like BrainQuest, puzzles, or craft items. Just think through the things your kid really enjoys and add them to the box. 

Don't overthink it

You don't need one more complicated thing on your list, so don't overthink this. You don't even need to run out to a store to buy anything. Look around at the toys that you already have in your house. One thing that works great with kids is to split their toys up and put a portion of them in storage out of reach. Every so often rotate the toys that they have out to play with. This does wonders at keeping toys feeling new. Your kid will be excited every time a different toy comes out of storage. This is the same concept as the "when mommy works" box. It works like a charm every single time! When you do this toss some of the toys into this box 

Make your work time fun for your kid

As a mom who blogs you are going to need some time when you can work without being constantly interrupted. But, you don't want your kids to be frustrated every time you sit down at your desk because they don't get to do anything. This box helps fight that because they have something to look forward to when you work. It creates a win-win!