By Lis Garrett

Keywords: working from home, toddler, freelance writer

For the freelance writer working from home, the addition of a toddler adds a new dimension of challenges. Unlike a baby who may sleep much of the day or be happy in a swing or bouncy seat, or a child who is old enough to entertain herself, a toddler is a highly mobile, pint-sized purveyor of damage and destruction. A toddler requires constant supervision and an endless supply of patience, making it difficult for a freelance writer to complete her assignments. If you are a freelance writer working from home with a toddler underfoot, the following suggestions will help you meet your deadlines while being an attentive parent at the same time.

Encourage your toddler to imitate you. Every toddler loves imaginative play, so set up a small table and chair where she can pretend to be a freelance writer, too. Give her an old typewriter and a supply of paper so she can type her article, or provide her with a phone so she can conduct an interview.

Arrange an art station. Keep bins and baskets of art supplies handy so that your toddler can be creative while you work. Have plenty of white paper and crayons available for drawing. Hand her a glue stick and a box of fabric scraps, pom-poms, dried pasta, and other supplies to make a collage. Give her watercolors and a paintbrush.

Set up a sensory area. Put a dollop of whipped cream on the table and mix in a few drops of food coloring to give it a slight color while not staining her hands. Give her an assortment of dried beans and have her transfer them between cups. Let her wash dishes in a sink full of water.

Take a time out. Working from home requires a freelance writer to shift priorities, and occasionally that means knowing when to stop working. Give your toddler your undivided attention. Read a book. Go to the park. Bake cookies together. If your toddler feels like she has your attention, she may be more cooperative at times when you really much spend some time working and can't be her playmate for a block of time.

Lis Garrett is a work-at-home writer living in Upstate New York with her husband and three children. In addition to her work as a contract writer for Writers Research Group, she writes site and product endorsements, maintains a blog for novice freelance writers, and edits a school newsletter.

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