Stay-at-Home Moms and Dads Looking for Income

If you are needing more income and just not ready to put your children in a child care center, there are jobs for stay at home parents. You could do computer work at home, find a part time job when your partner isn't working, take your children with you, or start your own business. Here are a few options in all of those areas.

Computer Work from Home

Former teachers with teaching certificates can apply for work at Sylvan Online: www.sylvan.com. Not a teacher, try www.hiremymom.com. How about a job with 401K and health benefits? Try www.alpineaccess.com. Like to shop? Are you a real computer geek who can do web design or software development? Then, try www.odesk.com. Maybe you are an exceptionally good typist and good at transcribing, then try www.workingsolutions.com. To work at www.1800flowers.com you will need a phone headset to be able to work with customers. Aetna offers a variety of online positions that it fills: www.aetna.com.

Get free business cards from www.vistaprint.com. Printing up flyers and distributing yourself or using a neighbor child is a fairly inexpensive way to advertise. There are also websites that offer free advertising.

Resume writing is a good way to earn money. People seem to be always looking for new jobs. The trick is to know what type of resume to write for each profession. A sales person who can’t sell herself in a resume isn’t worth hiring.

Take Your Children with You

My daughter became a secret shopper but gave it up because she felt it was a little hard with children tagging along. However, it might work for you, so try www.nationalshoppingservice.com.

Not everyone likes taking their children to a child care center. How about becoming a child care provider yourself? Set your fees lower than the centers in your area, or offer more than the centers and charge a little more. Put a cleaning products and sprays out of reach, remove all breakables and easily ripped items from children’s reach, get a fire extinguisher, and plan meals, napping locations, and activities. Once you are established, get registered through your state.

• Include Painting in Your Preschool Lesson Plans. All parents love to hang their children's paintings on the fridge, and all children love to paint. Busy hands stay out of trouble and help children learn to express their creative side.

Another option would be afterschool care or evening and weekend care since most parents have trouble finding care if they have to work odd hours. If you don’t want to turn your home into a full child care center, you may consider running an inexpensive preschool, half-day program. You could always apply for a job at a child care center that will allow you to bring your own children, or, for part time work, look for work as a substitute care giver at one or more centers. Tutoring is another good option if you excel in some area like math or English or an instrument. I have a friend who makes a pretty good income tutoring students in playing chess.

Do you like to cook? Martha Stewart started her career as a caterer. How about starting a party planning business? Parents are always looking for ways to hold creative parties for their children. Do a few home parties for your children for practice, take pictures to show your talent, figure your costs, add some mark-up, and you’re on your way!

A friend of mine used to love doing crafts, so she would look for all of the craft shows in the area where she could sell them. Think of where your talent and interests lie and work on a plan for yourself.

Dog walking is a good way to get exercise yourself and earn extra money. My son paid $75 a week for his tiny dog to be walked. You could also help out with pet or plant care for people who go on business trips or on vacation.

If you are looking at this site to find a job because you are a stay-at-home parent, then begin your search by thinking of your interests, then coming up with a plan and following through. Once you’re up and running, you can easily get a DBA (Doing Business As) and become a real business. Have fun and make money!

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