Keeping Kids Occupied When Working, Playing: Tips Anyone?

OK, working mommies! How do you keep your little ones busy when you have a big project you need to work on when they’re home or when they’re at the dance studio and you just have to watch daughters dance for just a few more minutes?? Yesterday afternoon, I stuck my 5-year-old son in front of my laptop playing a Star Wars game he loves on Legos.com for more than an hour while I watched my 7-year-old rock out to “Love Shack” and chatted with other moms (this is my “happy place,” where I can relax for a bit before starting the work/mom tug-a-war again!) Anyway, he loves the game and I’m sure there are plenty of benefits to computer games, but I felt guilty that he barely moved away from that game for an entire hour. It sure was a relief that he wasn’t running around the studio, though!

So, what do you do to keep your little ones occupied when you need (or want) just a few spare moments of peace? Yes, I know I could hand them a book, but any other suggestions? And if you do hand them your computer or phone to play with, what do you have them play??