There’s no greater fear for a work-at-home parent than when the school year comes to a close. Kids spend the days fighting, asking for popsicles and moaning about how bored they are, which makes for a miserable writing environment.

I’ve been there! Here's some tips for writing during the summer break:

• Take your kids to an indoor playground, like the ones at McDonald's, and let them play while you work using a laptop, your phone or a notebook.

• Write during naps.

• Set the kids loose in the backyard while you work at a picnic table or in a lawn chair.

• Write after the kids go to bed.

• Grab a waterproof notebook and jot down ideas while everyone plays at the local splash pad.

• Hire a babysitter to take the kids to the park for a few hours each day.

• Make your child a mini office (a little table and chair) and give them paperwork to fill out (coloring pages) while you work.

• Get older kids to help you with your research. One summer I “hired” my teen to help me research interesting animal facts for an article I was writing. She loved it and she made some spending money.

• Set up a reading time every afternoon where all the little bits have to read a book while mom or dad writes.

• Take advantage of library story times and activities. While the kids are entertained you can sit back in a chair and type away on your phone or laptop.