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What are Some Tips for Parents Who Want a Work at Home Job?

Sheri Cyprus
Sheri Cyprus

Having a paying work at home job is desirable for many parents. They can be there at home with their children while also earning an income. Finding and keeping the right work at home job may take some persistence and effort, but it is usually well worth it to many parents today.

Finding the right job working from home doesn't just mean discovering a legitimate one. There are scams to be aware of such as those that ask for money for training for a work at home job. However, once found the legitimate work at home job must fit in with the family's schedule. For example, if the job requires that you make phone calls in a quiet atmosphere and you have several children, this may limit your suitability for the job. If you have an infant and can keep him or her in a crib and have a baby monitor handy with the volume just so you can hear it, but the customer can't, then maybe the job could work for you.

Setting a regular work schedule can help when working from home.
Setting a regular work schedule can help when working from home.

An extreme attention to each detail is necessary when parents work at a paid job while caring for children at home. At an onsite job, the exact tasks and when they need to be done aren't usually that large of a concern, but it's much different when a parent needs to look after children and complete paid work to certain standards. Parents should think about what they can be flexible on and what they can't. For example, a child's nap time may be able to be adjusted, but the time when the parent must leave to pick up older children from school usually cannot be changed.

Working at home must fit in with family duties.
Working at home must fit in with family duties.

The good news is that most work at home jobs are quite flexible in when tasks need to be done as long as they are done properly. If a parent can set a schedule that meets the employer's needs as well as the family's needs, a work at home job can work out well. Setting a schedule may also mean putting household chores on hold during work hours since divided time can reduce productivity. Parents who work at paid jobs from home should also add additional time to their work schedule to allow for extra time to deal with a sick child or one who may need more attention on a particular day.

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    • Setting a regular work schedule can help when working from home.
      By: auremar
      Setting a regular work schedule can help when working from home.
    • Working at home must fit in with family duties.
      By: michaeljung
      Working at home must fit in with family duties.
    • Parents need to adapt their work schedules to allow for things like taking care of sick children.
      By: Thomas Perkins
      Parents need to adapt their work schedules to allow for things like taking care of sick children.