Get one of the geographic maps that is textured and let him feel the mountains, tell him about the different regions.

Get him a sandbox and keep it inside, fill it with different things like shredded paper, or flour, or sugar, or sand, or jello……..Yes, it’s a big mess but it’s fun.

Get him a wading pool.

Walk around the neighborhood and pick up different sized sticks and let him break them. Talk about it. Rocks let him play with them…..dig hands in dirt, pour some water on dirt and play in mud….

Put him in his high chair and place about 2 tablespoons of, cottage cheese, or pudding or jello, or anything….Let him play. Not too big of a mess on this one. Talk about the textures and smells and taste…

Blow bubbles, inside and outside

Play chase…..chase him around the house and you say ‘i’m gonna get you’

Take your child to a local zoo or aquarium. It’s not free, like being outside, but still very entertaining. Become a tourist of your own city.

Learn a new language together! Buy some flash cards with pictures on them. When you’re out about identify the things you see in the new language.

Exercise. Take baby to baby gymnastics or even at home you can play “airplane” and things like that while giving yourself a little bit of a workout.

And my daughter loved this one. If your youngster knows how to jump already, yours probably will too. Have the child sit down on the floor, and then you sing:
“Jack, Jack, Jump up and Down! Jack, Jack, Jump up and Down. Jack, Jack, Sit back down!”
Do it over and over again; they never get tired of it, until they’re physically exhausted!

A great way to keep your son occupied is to set up little play stations in your home. I’d look to Montessori play books for ideas: kitchen stations, cleaning stations, grocery store carts and pretend food. These ideas would probably work better when your son is a few months older but it is always great to think ahead.

Blocks are great at this age — you can talk on the phone while helping build tall towers. Little wooden train sets are also fun too — your son can crawl around on the floor pushing a train while you help him build a track. I love the pots and pans idea. We have a tupperware drawer for stacking and pouring water from bowl to bowl.

The most important tip is to time your computer time around his naps and time your phone calls around when he is awake. You are more flexible when you are on the phone than when you are sitting at a desk.

You also have to accept that the occasional video or Noggin television show can be your best friend. I am so NOT a TV person, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do in order to get something done on deadline.

Another idea is to find a mom in a similar situation and trade off babysitting duties for an hour or two a day so that you have some alone time to get done what you really need to get done that requires 100% focus.

It can be done — I’ve been working at home for five years now and have an almost five year old and a two and a half year old. Some days I get more done than other days, and other days I get nothing done at all. Flexibility is key. Also make sure that you have YOU time too outside your work, your children, and your home. I felt very socially isolated for the first few years working at home with an infant — so make sure that you have a social outlet outside the home.

Good luck to you!

I would also suggest purchasing a digital piano. If you are willing to dish out $2,000 or more, you can get one that will suit you nicely. You can get a lot more features out of a digital piano than on an acoustic. This is a great benefit for teaching your children and entertaining friends. Many digital pianos have learning tools that are great for beginners. Some even have very realistic one touch chord accompaniments that are simple enough for a novice to sound great.

Keep in mind that no digital piano will sound exactly like an acoustic piano, but many are very close. I think that Roland digital pianos are the most “authentic.” If you do go shopping for one, just try to play as many models as possible. Find one that has the feel, sound, and features that you would want.

Hope this helps.