Working from home can be a new experience for some people.
Being a parent can also be challenging, particularly as it’s a role you can’t necessarily quit or take a day off.
When you combine these two, it can be quite an interesting experience.
Before the idea of working from home was a norm for many people, you would typically be a parent from 6:00am to 8:00am. You would be an employee from 9:00am till 5:00pm and resume your parenting hat again, from 5:00pm onwards.
Now with schools closed and people are working from home, you’re faced with the task of getting your work done as well as taking care of your children.
Tips on Working From Home with Kids
Juggling how to successfully act as an employee (or boss), parent, teacher, coach, cook, nurse and guardian all at the same time can be a task. Given these circumstances, you need to develop a clear idea of how you’re going to navigate this new normal, especially if you’re a single parent.
- Schedule Your Priorities
These days, it’s not about prioritizing your schedule, it’s about scheduling your priorities. Each day, you must know exactly what you’re going to get done and how the kids will be preoccupied. There is no room for merely waking up and then wondering what to do. Once that workday starts, your plate is even fuller, so it is imperative you organise ahead of time so you can hit the ground running.
- Rise Early
Let’s face it, you have far more hats to wear now, and more work requires more time. Rising early gives you the advantage of more time to knock those high priority items off your daily list. Trust us, every second counts.
- Parallel Scheduling
Two roles are being executed at the same time – career and parenting. The last thing you need while you’re having a zoom call with your colleagues or trying to finish a report is unnecessary distractions, requests and problems. Therefore, it would be beneficial to adopt a project management technique called parallel scheduling.
This essentially allows two activities to be performed at the same time without there being a conflict of interest or disrupting each other. Children may be home from school, but they still have their schoolwork to catch up on. While you are working, they should also be working. When you’re on break from work, they should also be on break.
When the kids are preoccupied while you’re working, you will receive the much needed time to concentrate on your work activities. When your work and play schedule mirrors that of the children, it will be easier to manage your workload as there are minimal distractions.
Parallel scheduling also gives you the added benefit of taking a recreational break along with your kids. That way, everyone gets their work done and also gets to enjoy some family time together as well.
- Set Boundaries
Have clear boundaries with both your kids and office, so that your attention is not divided. When everything on your list gets completed, you don’t feel overwhelmed.
When working on that project report for example, let your kids know you are not to be distracted unless it’s absolutely important and urgent. Similarly, when you’re on break, let your colleagues know that you’re offline for a bit so it does not compromise their work flow.
- Plan Ahead
To make this arrangement easier for you, it would be in your best interest to talk to your boss about any concerns you may have. If you’re a single parent or have a newborn baby for example, special measures should be put in place if you are working from home to allow you the time to manage your responsibilities. You can perhaps negotiate with your boss about more convenient working hours, less demanding deadlines or a flexible schedule to make your working from home experience less challenging.
Ways to Keep Your Children Occupied at Home
While you’re home, there are multiple activities you can use to keep your children engaged. These activities will not only keep them preoccupied but also make their stay at home enjoyable and productive.
- Academic Activities –
This Covid-19 pandemic is not the time to have your child’s education suffer. Though schools are closed, you don’t want your child having to re-learn everything or lag behind in their class. Whether through online classes from their school or coursework you provide, ensure their studies don’t suffer. This might be the best time for them to get extra assistance from you with any of their weaker subjects.
- Social Activities –
Kids nowadays can use the technology and social media to keep in touch with their friends and family. Schooling is important but it’s also healthy for your child to keep the interaction with their peers. Being at home is not everyone’s idea of fun, but there are ways to make it less mundane.
- Physical or Outdoor Activities –
We often hear how kids these days don’t go outside and play. While this is true to some degree, you can break that trend. You can choose outdoor games, gardening, cycling or just walks around the neighbourhood. Physical activities offer a great way for families to spend time together and get some exercise in.
- Creative Activities
There’s a variety of activities to get your child’s creative juices flowing. Drawing, painting, puzzles, music and creative writing are all ways to express their creativity and have fun at home.
- Household Activities –
Older children especially can feel included in the home by helping out with home projects, cleaning or just general work around the house. Not only is it an extra pair of helping hands, but you spend some quality time together as well.
Regardless of the activities you select, keep in mind every child is different and the activities you use to keep them preoccupied at home should be often aligned with their interests. As parents, find out what your child’s interest is, nurture any talents they may have and allow them to engage in activities they enjoy to make their time at home fun, safe and productive.
