Being a parent is one of the most rewarding jobs there is, and staying home with the kids is a gift many moms and dads get to enjoy each day. While ensuring our children grow up healthy and safe is definitely a full-time gig, some stay-at-home parents are in the market for an additional role. Of course, when you’re in charge of meal making, nap times, and cuddle sessions, flexibility is key when you’re searching for a job, and it can be tough to know where to start.
The good news is that there are a variety of options for stay-at-home parents looking for their next career move. Whether you’re looking for something full- or part-time, these job options can be adjusted no matter what you and your family’s schedule looks like so you can work from home efficiently with kids — and they don’t require you to leave the house.
Daycare or Babysitting
Watching other kids is a great way to earn an income while giving your little ones some company. Keep in mind that most states have licensing requirements as well as laws about your home environment and how many children you can watch at once. If you want to minimize the hoops you have to jump through, watching one or two friends’ children is a great way to bring in some extra money each week.
Writing and Editing
If you’re an experienced writer or editor, there are always job postings searching for remote freelancers to provide their services. While you’ll have to adhere to deadlines, you can work whichever hours are easiest for you.
If you’ve got an entrepreneurial spirit, you can even start your own website with your own content. It takes some time to make this type of venture profitable, but many parents have turned this part-time gig into full-time income. A lot of them even focus on their parenting journey, which is a great way to help other moms and dads from afar.
Fact Checker
Self-proclaimed nerds will enjoy doing research to ensure newspapers, professional journals, and corporations are publishing accurate information.
Graphic Designer
Graphic design is a broad term, and there are remote opportunities in this field for all kinds of parents. If you’re artistic, you can create images for websites and print publications. If you’re tech-savvy, you may enjoy building or updating websites for your clients. Either way, these positions are extremely flexible on working hours and time commitments.
Pet Sitting
If your family loves animals, there may be no better way for stay-at-home moms and dads to earn some side income. Pet parents can drop off their fur babies at your home and pick them up at the end of the day so you don’t have to commute. Of course, if you have dogs in your care, you will need to leave the house to take them on walks, but it’s a great excuse to enjoy some exercise and fresh air with your kids.
Online Teacher or Tutor
Whatever you’re knowledgeable about, online lessons for children and adults are always in demand. Whether you offer after-school math tutoring for teens or guitar classes for adults, you can set your teaching hours according to your schedule.
Teledoctor or Telenurse
Many healthcare providers are expanding their books of business by providing telehealth services. If you’re a doctor or nurse, you can set up virtual appointments with ailing patients on the phone or over the web at times convenient to you.
Virtual Assistant
Entrepreneurs and even corporations are often very open to hiring assistants who work from home. Plus, scheduling tasks, making appointments, and keeping things organized is a natural fit for any parent.
Brand Ambassador
Many of your favorite companies will pay you for your enthusiasm. You may be asked to write blog posts, review products, or record videos touting your loyalty. As a bonus, most brand ambassadors receive free products along with monetary compensation.
Travel Agent
Parents know all too well the struggle of needing to take a vacation, but not having the time or energy to plan one. You’re in good company, and many would-be wanderlusters will pay you to plan and book their accommodations.
Translator
Many companies need multilingual employees who can translate written, video, or audio material from one language to another. Depending on the project, these gigs can pay significant money.
Seamstress
If you’re a master on the sewing machine, turn your skills into a full-time role or side hustle. Your customers can drop off clothing they need tailored, or if you’re really crafty, you can create custom clothing for your clients.
Accountant
Many certified public accountants (CPAs) work from home. While you may be especially busy for a few months of the year to meet tax filing deadlines, you can set your own hours. If you’re math-minded but don’t have a CPA license, working as a bookkeeper for small businesses is a great option.
Crafter
If arts and crafts time is your favorite part of the day with the kids, you can turn it into a lucrative pursuit. Sites like Etsy and Shopify make it easy to post and sell your creations online, or you can take custom orders to add more variety to your hours as an artisan.
Online Survey Taker
There is no shortage of options to get paid for taking online surveys. Whether you have 10 minutes to answer questions about your favorite coffee or an hour to watch a new TV show, your opinion can count (dollars).
Whatever field you’re passionate about and no matter how much time you have, there are lots of great job opportunities for stay-at-home moms and dads. Parenting will always be your number-one priority, but if you’re ready to take on a new role, try taking on one (or even a few!) of these gigs.