10 tips to keep youngsters on task
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Balancing work and childcare isn’t always a walk in the park, but don’t lose hope, because it can be done. You’ve got to manage expectations, keep everything moving, all while not losing your cool and staying on top of your workload. Here are ways you can make working from home with kids easier.
1. Create a daily schedule: Creating a schedule for your household can provide some stability and structure when you’re working from home with kids, and, most importantly, manage everyone’s expectations for a productive day.
Start planning your schedule at the time you wake up each day, blocking off time for meals, activities, and when you’ll be working and in meetings. Many kids thrive on a routine to help them know what’s up next on the agenda.
2. Stock your pantry full of easy-to-eat snacks: Snacks are crucial to surviving working from home with kids. Pre-packaged snacks are an easy way for kids to grab their own when you’re on-the-job. I keep acrylic storage bins on the bottom shelf of our pantry stocked with grab-and-go goodies.
3. Make sure to have the best tablet for kids on hand: During these trying times, our usual screen time limits are going out the window. Everyone is sure to have different feelings about this topic, but I’m not above letting my 7-year-old play on her tablet for an extended period while I get some work done. However, I am making sure that she’s not rotting her brain, watching endless hours of Youtube videos.
Apps like Epic Books, Go Noodle and Cosmic Kids Yoga are options you can feel good about letting your kids spend extra time with while you work.
4. The best headphones for kids so you can tune out the noise: Of course, if your child won’t leave your side while they’re playing on their tablet, make sure to have a pair of the best headphones for kids on hand to save your own sanity while you’re working. The Puro Sound Labs Puroquiet Kids Headphones come with noise-cancellation to help reduce the urge to crank the volume to the absolute max.
5. A subscription to Disney Plus: Disney released “Frozen 2” on Disney Plus ahead of schedule, knowing that many kids are home from school right now. If you don’t have Disney Plus yet, there’s no time like the present to sign up for Disney’s streaming service so they can watch their favorite Disney movies like “Coco,” “Finding Nemo” and “Toy Story 4.” Younger children can enjoy their favorite Disney Jr. shows like “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse,” “Puppy Dog Pals” and “PJ Masks.”
6. Outdoor play toys to keep them busy: Summer is coming — and if you live in a warm weather climate with some backyard space to spare, ordering water play toys can buy you hours of time to get things done while your kids frolic. Toys like inflatable kiddie pools, water slides, sprinkler pads, and bubble machines are big hits with my 7-yearold and 21-month-old children.
7. Continue educational learning opportunities: Online sites like Scholastic, Khan Academy and Outschool offer online resources that can provide selfguided educational enrichment to elementary, middle, and high school students. Set your child up with an online learning website so they can “work” alongside you.
8. Arts and crafts that kids can do by themselves: I’ve seen lots of talk about doing arts and crafts with kids during the coronavirus shutdown, but that isn’t practical for many parents who’ve unexpectedly found themselves working from home. However, not all arts and crafts require parents to be hands-on at every step. Kids can use toys like premade slime, Playdough sets and string art with little to no help from you. Additionally, construction paper, glue sticks and kid-friendly scissors are ideal for kids who want to make their own arts and crafts.
9. Puzzles and board games: Have more than one kid at home while you’re trying to work? Puzzles and family board games are easy ways for your children to play together and remain occupied for a period of time while you get some work done.
10. Bust out materials to make blanket forts: Building a homemade fort is a rite of passage during childhood and there’s no better time to encourage your kids to create their own than when school is closed. Chances are, you’ve probably got some spare sheets and blankets stashed in a closet. Items like large binder clips can help secure blankets to chairs, tables and more to make the ultimate at-home fort, leaving you time to work while your kids play.