My Accidental Assistant

After becoming a virtual assistant, I encountered a slight snag that many VA's may run into. While working from home, I had to try to keep my little one entertained. Here are a few things helped me that kept interruptions to a minimum.

1. Make your preschooler your little business partner
Make a few changes in your workspace to accommodate your preschooler. I set up a small desk and chair for my "new assistant" right beside mine. I provided drawer space for my preschooler's "office supplies" complete with crayons, pencils, safety scissors, and a toy cell phone.

2. Pack Your Gear
My preschooler has a backpack (courtesy of Grandma) that we pack each morning with a few favorite toys (each day I hope it will be the more quiet ones) and it is carried into the workspace as a briefcase would be. These toys provide hours of learning and play for my preschooler while I work. Occasionally, it gives me a chance to get on the floor and play too!

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3. Get dressed!
While it is so easy to wear sweats, bunny slippers, or pajamas while working, make sure you and your preschooler get dressed and ready for the day as if you were heading out to work and day care. It is amazing how different your attitude and your little assistant's attitude will be! In addition, it makes field trips that much easier! (See the next tip!)

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4. Schedule "meeting" times with your little assistant
I schedule meetings that include daily snack times, lunches and small field trips. This will give the preschooler a change of scenery to help with boredom while giving you an opportunity to take a break as well. It could be as simple as a trip to the post office, to a local park, or to pick up office supplies. Maybe you could check the schedule at your local library or bookstore for story time. If your preschooler is like mine, any car trip is welcomed!

5. Find activity sheets and workbooks that will give your preschooler something to do
My local teacher's supply stores and Wal-Mart carry many workbooks and activity books that I used to keep my preschooler occupied while preparing for Kindergarten. This time I used to complete a task or two, or reply to an email. In addition, there are many free resources online that provide a variety of age/grade-appropriate materials in subjects from reading or writing to science or bible study. A few minutes once a week planning and printing those resources may give you back hours of productivity each month!

6. Include a reading area in the workspace
A small bookcase with your preschooler's favorite titles will provide the preschooler a chance to read while you work. In my workspace, I constantly hear "Green Eggs and Ham" in the background. If you can work with a little reader reading out loud around you, this will be a great way to keep your preschooler busy and it re-enforces the importance of reading to your little one.

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7. Make sure you have snacks readily available
If you have a small fridge in your workspace, make sure you have space for juice to refill that juice cup or some juice boxes. Save a little space on top of your filing cabinet or in your bookcase for a little basket of snacks. Small boxes of raisins or an apple or two in your workspace will save time with less frequent trips to the kitchen. Just like how you make sure you have your office supplies each day, make sure your little assistant has all the supplies he or she may need as well!

8. Be flexible!
As you know, a child's needs constantly change. Be ready to reschedule a few tasks to match nap times or to avoid doctor's appointments. Prepare back-up plans for when you need more quiet time to complete a project or to talk to clients. My local parks and recreation has half day programs that provide a little socialization for about six to 12 hours a week for an economical price. One option that is increasing in popularity is the drop-in care center. Without a reservation, you can drop off your preschooler for a few hours of play with other children while you meet with clients or make cold calls. Organizing a babysitting co-op with other home-based entrepreneurs you know and trust will also give you a few hours each month to handle business tasks.

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9. Participate!
The most important task I have is to take care of my “little assistant”. Be willing to make time for your child first. Schedule your tasks with your clients if possible. My clients have recurring projects. While they have definite deadlines, I always know when they have to be completed and I can schedule the time to complete the projects around spending time with my “little assistant”. This will help elevate the stress that comes with quick turnaround projects. Also, it will help you maintain a high quality of work if you are able to defer any work until a better time.

Working from home with a child (or two) may make things a little more difficult. With a little planning and flexibility, the experience may be more enjoyable than you ever thought! The tips listed here are some that I used. Please note that the tips did not work all the time (remember tip #8 - be flexible!) Hopefully, this article will help home-based business owners find tips that work best in his or her own home.