Being a work at home mom can be a great way to bring in some extra money and still be around for your children but it can also be challenging. All it takes to be successful is forward planning and good organization.

Finding time to work at home

With a young family your day is already jam-packed. How do you go about finding those extra hours you'll need for work?

• Choose work that fits in with the hours you are free. Working for companies such as Cookie Lee, Avon and various other party plan companies, for instance, can sometimes be done in the evening, when your partner might be around to take care of the children.

• What time of day is your brain at its sharpest? If you're a natural night owl, go for jobs that can be done after the children are in bed.

• Many work-at-home jobs have the potential to grow as your children get older, and you get freer. You might be able to start gradually, and increase the number of hours in future.

• Even if you've held down a stressful job pre-kids, consider going for something less demanding when you start out working at home. Pressurized jobs with tight deadlines can leave you over-stressed.

• Keep an open mind about how you're going to work, particularly if you're pregnant and planning to work at home after the baby's born. All babies are different, and there's no guarantee that yours will obligingly settle for a 3-hour nap every morning, leaving you free to work.

• Don't allocate every spare minute to working. It's important to build in time for rest and relaxation for yourself.

• Can't see how you could possible squeeze anything else into the day? Keep a note of how you actually spend your time for a couple of days. Could you cut back on watching TV, Internet surfing, phoning friends or emailing?

• An occasional "work retreat" can be highly productive. Take yourself off to, say, your parents' house, armed with a laptop, and work uninterrupted for a day or even a weekend.

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Working from home isn't a soft option, and it makes all the difference if you can get good support from the key people in your life - your partner, family and friends.

• Involve others in your plans for work, discuss your goals with them, and share your successes.

• Work out a simple plan, with realistic aims: "In six months time I will have organized eight parties". Then show others your plan, and ask for specific support to help you achieve your goal.

• It's much easier for other people to commit to supporting you if you make a definite request. Say, "I need you to take the children swimming for a couple of hours every Saturday morning," rather than "Can you look after the kids for a bit some time?"

• Be flexible, and offer to help others in return, but be firm about the amount of support you need to attain your working goals.

• Don't take help for granted. Showing others how much you appreciate their support, even just with a simple "thanks", can really help to keep them onside.

• Remember to check regularly that systems you've set up are still working, and that everyone's happy. Problems? Approach them flexibly and be willing to compromise.

Making decisions about childcare

To tackle most work at home jobs you'll almost certainly need some regular childcare.

• There are lots of different childcare options, so take the time to explore what's available. The right childcare decision frees you to concentrate on work, knowing that your children are being well looked after.

• Childcare that happens in your home while you work elsewhere in the house can be distracting. Only do this if you're sure you can ignore any noises off.

• Even with childcare in place, you'll probably do some jobs while the children are around. Be prepared, and keep a stash of toys and puzzles (charity shops are good sources) so that you can produce something unfamiliar to occupy kids for a few precious minutes. If you have regular work to fit in around your family, it might be a good idea to allocate television, video or computer time to give yourself an undisturbed half hour.

• Review your childcare arrangements regularly. Children change all the time, and options which wouldn't have worked earlier on can become viable just a few months down the line.

Getting a work/housework balance

You might find it helps to organise housework and meals to take up the minimum amount of your time.

• Try cleaning for a set time (use a timer) each day then stopping, or tackling just a couple of jobs each day.

• Consider buying in help with cleaning or ironing if you can afford it.

• Some housework is essential, but other tasks can wait. Don't add more stress by trying to get everything done at once.

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• Have a regular tidy-up every day. If the house looks reasonably neat, it doesn't matter if it hasn't been dusted for a while.

• Rope in others, including children, to help. Give everyone jobs and perhaps offer little rewards as an incentive.

• Plan meals ahead, make good use of your freezer, and cook enough for two days.

• Shop online for food and give up lengthy supermarket sessions.

Setting up a work space

It's hard to work effectively unless you have your own space. Even a small area will do.

• Look around the house to find yourself a place. If there isn't anywhere obvious, think whether you could you set up in the hall, on the landing, in a bedroom, conservatory or utility room.

• Equip yourself with the essentials: a comfortable chair, good light, a desk or flat surface to work on, boxes or files to organize paperwork, shelves or plastic crates to store work, a computer if needed with an Internet connection and up-to-date anti virus software, access to phone (a dedicated line can be useful), basic stationery supplies.

• Ideally, find a place where work can be left out, so you don't have to clear away each time. If necessary, store work items where children can't get at them - on high shelves or in lockable cupboards.

Dealing with other people

• Tell friends what hours you'll be working, and ask them not to contact you at those times.
• Take your work seriously, and other people will do the same. Have a separate phone line for work if you can. Alternatively, screen calls, and use voicemail or an answering machine. If a friend rings while you're working, don't down tools and settle into a chat, but offer to call back when you've finished.
• Isolation can be a drawback to working at home. Try networking with others who are doing the same type of work.