4 Must-Have Toys to Help You Work from Home Without Childcare

It is hard to work from home without childcare. To successfully work from home without childcare, try to rotate your toys, have a realistic childcare budget, create a safe play space, encourage independent play, and have fun educational toys!

Work from Home without Childcare

Rotate your Toys the Easy Way

Decide your Childcare and Toy Budget

Encourage Children To Play Independently

Provide A Safe Play Space

Must-Have Toys to Help You Work from Home Without Childcare

1. VTech® Drop & Go Dump Truck™ (6-36 months)

2. VTech® Pop-a-Balls™ Push & Pop Bulldozer™ (12-36 months)

3. VTech® Smart Shots Sports Center™ (1-3 years old)

4. VTech® Explore & Write Activity Desk™ (2-4 years)

Have fun!

Work from Home without Childcare

Learning how to work from home without childcare is hard. You need some tricks up your sleeve to make it fun for your kids.

I have worked at home with kids for over 5 years. Often my days are full of juggling toddler tantrums, grocery lists, hours in front of my laptop, trying to be a “clever Pinterest mom with all the mom tricks”, stale coffee, bath time, re-watching episodes of White Collar at night – and if I’m lucky – actually having time to myself each day.

The key is to constantly find toys, distractions, and activities for your kids. Here are my tips for working from home with kids, and my favorite must-have toys for you while you work from home without childcare.

Rotate your Toys the Easy Way

If you search “toy rotation” on the internet, you will find hundreds of websites talking about cubbies, cabinets, charts, and rotation schedules.

That COMPLETELY overwhelms me.

If you are looking for an easy way to accomplish this same thing without changing your home organization, try this easy toy rotation solution.

Categorize your toys in your head, and every week choose 3-5 toys your kids will play with.

Your categories might be:

● Building toys (blocks, stacking toys)

● Cars and trains (train sets, cars & trucks, pull toys)

● Animals/ People (baby animals, role play sets)

● Craft activities (coloring, stickers, paint)

● Other (puzzles, books, card games, etc.)

Every week pick one idea from each category, and rotate those toys with your kids!

Decide your Childcare and Toy Budget

When I talk about your childcare budget, I’m not just talking about your full-time care budget. I mean anything you can put aside per month to help with your children.

Even if you can swing only $50 per month, set that aside and use it for new toys or activities! I constantly find myself finding new learning toys per age, and telling myself that a new toy "is cheaper than a babysitter!", which is always true.

Encourage Children To Play Independently

I am a huge fan of teaching your kids to play independently.

Around six months old (yes, even before they can sit up!), I put my babies in their rooms with some toys and leave them to “play” for maybe 10 minutes. By the time my babies are around one years old, they are able to play by themselves for 30-40 minutes. By the time my daughter was two years old, she was able to play by herself for an hour.

I am always right next to my kids during this whole independent-play process. I check on them, watch them on the baby monitor, and encourage them with new toys. This is the best way to introduce new toys to them, and teach them how to play by themselves.

Provide A Safe Play Space

When my kids are mobile (think the wandering two-year-old!) I create a gated-in baby play area where they can walk around and play with all their toys. It’s right by my desk, and my toddlers honestly love this area and look forward to playing in it. Again – they have everything they need and it’s completely baby-proof.

Now that my daughter is 5, she often will move her "work desk" beside my desk to work with me. She colors, draws, does her activities, but enjoys the quiet time near me.

Must-Have Toys to Help You Work from Home Without Childcare

As a mom, I have always loved VTech® toys for my kids. I love that their toys are educational, and give countless hours of fun to multiple ages. My daughter learned her colors using the VTech® Sit-to-Stand Learning Walker™! These are my favorite VTech® toys for working from home without childcare.

1. VTech® Drop and Go Dump Truck™ (6-36 months)

This dump truck is the perfect "first truck" for your little one! It is brightly colored, and has 3 buttons that play melodies, phrases, and colors. But it also develops your child's motor skills by lifting the dump truck bucket and feeding the rocks into the truck.

My son is 2, and loves this toy! I can only imagine how much fun it would bring to a little one-year-old who is learning to walk.

2. VTech® Pop-a-Balls Push & Pop Bulldozer™ (12-36 months)

This bulldozer is so fun! When you push the toy, the balls pop out of the chimney and into the bucket. The buttons teach colors, numbers, phrases and music. And pushing the truck develops motor skills and coordination.

If you are trying to work from home without childcare, I would recommend using this toy in their rooms (or playroom) for independent play. It is remarkably engaging, and will give your child a lot of ways to be creative.

3. VTech® Smart Shots Sports Center™ (12-36 months old)

If you are working at home in a small house or apartment, this is the ideal toy. It is extremely compact (as a mom, I appreciate that!), but it also is engaging enough for my 2- and 5-year-old. They play with this alone, together, and with their babysitter!

Toddlers and preschoolers can shoot free throws into the basketball net or kick goals into the soccer net. The LED scoreboard counts baskets and goals up to 10, and is perfect for friendly (competitive!) play. I love that they can get their energy out, while playing right near my desk.

4. VTech® Explore & Write Activity Desk™ (2-5 years)

I don't know about you, but my kids love crafts and learning activities. This desk is perfect and gives them their own “activity station”, and they sit at this desk for HOURS. My kids pull this up to my desk and say "I'm doing my learning, mom. I'll talk to you later!"

The VTech® Explore & Write Activity Desk™ is an interactive desk and includes activity pages to learn colors, the alphabet, animals, parts of the body, and so much more. As a mom, I'm especially thankful for the writing pad that teaches the correct direction to write each letter. My kids have learned so much with this!

Have fun!

Finding new ways to bring toys into your home can be the perfect solution for working from home without childcare. Make sure you create a safe play space, rotate your toys, encourage independent play, and find new fun ways to play with your kids. These VTech® toys can help while you work from home, and will give your kids new and fun ways to play, learn, and be creative. Have fun working from home with your kids!

Ginny Hurst is a work-at-home mom to a 5-year-old daughter and a 2-year-old son. She works full time 8-5 for a remote company, and also juggles watching little ones, spending time with her husband of twelve years, and writing the blog Modern Work at Home Mom at modernwahm.com. She started blogging seven years ago, and now uses Modern WAHM to connect with other work-at-home moms. She loves to be outdoors, read a good mystery, and binge Gilmore Girls. But, really, she just loves an empty dishwasher, an inbox with no unread emails, and walking around the cul-de-sac a hundred times.

Baby Registry Checklist: Don’t Forget the Toys!

Creating a baby registry can be one of the most exciting times of pregnancy. This is the time to think about and plan for all the baby gear you will need to help your little one grow and thrive over their first years of life.

Most parents-to-be know to stock up on newborn necessities like baby clothes, diapers, and burp cloths, but oftentimes forget to include fun items like toys. As a mom of three, baby toys are one of my favorite baby registry items!

Why Include Toys On Your Baby Registry?

Toys should be a must-have on your registry because they can benefit you and your baby! Some benefits of playing with toys include:

1. Adding some fun to your baby’s day. At first, babies spend a lot of their time eating and sleeping, but as they get older, they will spend more and more time awake each day. Toys designed for babies and infants can help to properly engage your baby without being overstimulating, and can be a great way to add some fun into your baby’s daily routine.

1. Baby bonding. Toys can also be a great way to bond with your baby as you help them engage with different features and teach them how to use the toys. Show your baby how to reach for and swat items, push buttons, sing songs, or simply laugh and have fun together!

1. Helping your baby meet milestones. Toys can also help your baby meet important milestones like tummy time, rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, or walking. Some toys will even grow with your baby, which is great when you have multiple kids, and help them progress through milestones and different stages of development.

Baby Registry Toy Must-Haves

As a mom, here are my picks for fun VTech® Baby toys to add to your registry! These toys can provide hours of engaging play, help you bond with and have fun with your baby, and can also help your baby meet developmental milestones.

1. VTech® Tummy Time Discovery PillowTM (age 0–24 months)

The VTech® Tummy Time Discovery PillowTM is great for baby sensory play and reaching those tummy time milestones! My babies don’t always love tummy time, but having a fun and engaging pillow can make a huge difference in getting your little one to tolerate and actually enjoy this important time.

This pillow is shaped like a cute giraffe and helps to keep your baby propped up on their tummy so they can fully experience the different textures, patterns, and colors while they strengthen their neck and core muscles. As your baby grows, they can also use the Tummy Time Discovery PillowTM to practice sitting or remove the toy attachments for take-along play.

2. VTech® Kick & Score PlaygymTM (age 0–24 months)

The VTech® Kick & Score PlaygymTM is perfect for interacting with your baby as they lie on their back and reach for, swat, and kick the different toy features. I also love that it can be used as a soft and engaging surface to lay your baby during tummy time, while they play with the dumbbell, kettlebell and the other fun attachments.

This toy grows with your baby too! Once your baby is able to sit, they can use this toy to develop colors, shapes, and languages skills with the interactive learning panel or take it with them once they are on-the-go.

3. VTech® Turn & Learn Ferris WheelTM (age 6–24 months)

I love that the VTech® Turn & Learn Ferris WheelTM can suction to any smooth surface (like a highchair or tabletop!) so you can take this toy on-the-go or use it while your baby is propped up or sitting. Your baby can reach out, press the buttons, and grab and spin the wheel to play songs and hear interactive animal voices.

The Turn & Learn Ferris WheelTM also teaches your baby animals, objects, and numbers as the wheel spins and lights up to keep them entertained and engaged.

4. VTech® Sit-to-Stand Learning WalkerTM (age 9–36 months)

The VTech® Sit-to-Stand Learning WalkerTM has been a favorite in our house since my kids were just babies! I love that it can be used for so many different stages, from sitting, to standing, to walking, so it will be used for many years!

Start by having your baby play with the activity panel seated on the floor, while they practice spinning the gears, listening to fun songs, and learning about shapes, colors, animals, and more. Once your baby is mobile, have them use the walker to pull up, stand, and eventually take those first steps!

Conclusion: Don’t Forget the Toys!

Creating a baby registry can be a fun part of your pregnancy; however, it can also be challenging if you aren’t sure where to start or what toys to include to help your baby grow and thrive. These VTech® Baby toys can add some fun to your registry, lead to increased baby-bonding, and can help your baby meet important milestones. So, take it from me, don’t forget the toys!

Jessica is a blogger and mom of two (almost three) who loves sharing all things motherhood! Her primary blogging interests include realistic toddler meal ideas and parenting hacks. Her website, pinecones-and-pacifiers.com, shares her life in motherhood plus tons of things she’s learned along the way from pregnancy to preschool life.

Easter Baskets for Every Bunny

Spring is right around the corner and that means the Easter Bunny will be hopping into town! Take a look at my VTech Easter Gift Guide for kids to find tons of fun Easter basket ideas and inspiration.

It is almost time for one of my favorite holiday traditions: filling my kids’ Easter baskets! Along with some colorful eggs full of sweets and other treats, this year I will also be putting together some egg-stra special baskets for my kids to share with you in this Easter Gift Guide!

I always build my kids’ Easter baskets around a theme whether it is based on a current interest, favorite activity, or just something I know they will love. VTech offers a wide variety of products so I know I will be able to find just the right thing for each of my kids that will provide them with endless fun while simultaneously giving them the opportunity to learn and excel at new skills!

I start filling each Easter basket by choosing an item to be the main gift. This Easter Gift Guide will include baskets featuring the following VTech products: the Write & Learn Creative Center™️, Sort & Recycle Ride-On Truck™️, Drop & Go Dump Truck™️, Drill & Learn Toolbox™️, and Stroll & Discover Activity Walker™️.

I continue to incorporate the theme when filling the rest of the basket through my choices of fillers like books, art supplies, stuffed animals, candy, or other small toys.

Let’s hop to it and check out the Easter Gift Guide and inspiration baskets I put together below!

For the Little Artist

My oldest daughter is my little artist, and her creative juices are always flowing. As soon as I saw the VTech® Write & Learn Creative Center™️, an interactive toy with a screen for animated demonstrations, I knew it would be perfect to add to her Easter basket!

The creative center’s activities will help her learn drawing skills that progress from simple lines and shapes to 26 different objects. She can practice proper stroke order for uppercase and lowercase letters. I am even able to customize it to help her practice writing her own name with step-by-step on-screen directions.

To continue the theme of art and creativity, I am also planning to add some chalk eggs, a wooden spring craft, spring stickers, colorful candy, and a paint set to this basket. I am adding it all to a decor basket so that she can later reuse to store her art supplies along with her creative center.

For the Little Engineer

Whether he is stacking blocks or standing by to assist with a DIY project, my middle child is always building something! I will be adding the toddler friendly VTech® Drill & Learn Toolbox™️ to his Easter basket. The toolbox includes a variety of tools like a working toy drill, hammer, wrench, nails, and screws to use with the electronic fix-it tray. The engaging instruction cards will guide him through making pretend repairs while learning about colors and numbers! I know he’ll be so excited to help with our next home project!

Along with the toolbox, his basket will include neutral ABC building blocks and I even found some building block candy- so fun!

For the Little One on the Go

I will be filling another basket with “Things that Go” for vehicle lovers! All of my children love to run to the window and watch the trash and recycling trucks go down our street. Now they can hop on their own VTech® Sort & Recycle Ride-On Truck™️ and drive it around while learning about recycling! Just like sorting recyclables at home, kids can sort shapes representing plastic, metal and paper into the correct bins on the truck.

How cool is it that the truck is an eco-friendly product made from 90% reclaimed plastic?

You can learn more about VTech’s eco-friendly products here: https://www.vtechkids.com/cares

The VTech® Drop & Go Dump Truck™️ is another fun basket filler that will bring joy to any vehicle lover! Whether he or she is filling it with Easter eggs or adding colorful rocks to its bucket, they will be practicing counting and learning colors. Pushing and pulling the truck as well as lifting the bucket to unload rocks is a great exercise in developing the motor skills that they will need for the Easter Egg Hunt and beyond!

Pair this gift with basket fillers like a spring truck book, toy cars, and road tape. My favorite find to go along with these fun trucks is the wooden Easter Bunny Stop Here sign!

For the Animal Lover

My toddler is always bouncing along to her own beat and giggling as she hears new sounds in the world around her, especially when they come from cute little animals! The VTech® Stroll & Discover Activity Walker™️ introduces new ways for her to explore animal sounds and fun melodies. Along with different animal sounds and voices, she can learn colors and numbers by pressing the light-up piano keys to create her own music! Once she is done playing with it on the floor, we will attach the learning panel to the adjustable two-speed walker so she can join her big siblings during the egg hunt!

She will also find plastic eggs filled with animal finger puppets and animal cracker treats in her basket so that she can practice all of the engaging sounds she learns from the friendly animals on the activity panel!

I hope that this Easter Gift Guide provides you with plenty of egg-citing inspiration as well as fun and engaging ideas to fill your little one’s Easter basket! Whether you are building a creative basket featuring the VTech® Write & Learn Creative Center™️, a vehicle basket that includes the VTech® Sort & Recycle Ride-On Truck™️ and Drop & Go Dump Truck™️, a little builder basket with the VTech® Drill & Learn Toolbox™️, or putting the VTech® Stroll & Discover Activity Walker™️ in your little music lover’s basket. I am sure you will find a VTech® product that is just right for your little one this Easter!

Jessica Grant highlights a joyful and creative childhood, motherhood, and home through her social media and blog, JessicaEtCetera.com. With a background in preschool education and now a mom to 3 young kids, Jessica enjoys sharing all kinds of fun including crafts, DIY, and learning through play with the goal of creating a magical and memorable childhood!