Web Worker Daily has a great article on working at home when you have kids.

Particularly with younger kids around, you may have to give up some of this flexibility to their needs. If there’s a part of your day that requires the utmost concentration, schedule that part during their nap time, or after their bedtime, or while they’re off at school

The site’s readers jumped in and started handing out their own advice and home working stories. The result is a good list of suggestions on how to handle children around the home office. My favorite is John Engler’s backyard clubhouse.

Other good ideas center around making kids feel welcome in your office but making sure they understand the limits.

One unexpected thing I’ve learned throughout the years is not to treat the home office as an off-limits spot or someplace that’s not for children. I discovered that reverse psychology works well. The more I tried to keep her out, the more she wanted to come in! The more I set up the office to make space for her, the less she came in. The challenge, it seems, was gone.

…and…

We have it that if the door is closed, she can’t barge in unless it’s an emergency (once we worked through being out of hot chocolate is not an emergency, it’s worked fine.), but she has to knock before she enters.

Another reader pointed out the importance of helping your children understand why you’re working at home.

They are 5 & 8, but understand the benefits and downsides of me working from home.