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How to Work from Home with Kids: 6 Tips for COVID-19 Quarantine

working-from-home-with-kids-mother-laptop-late-nightWorking from home isn’t a new concept; in fact, for many, working remotely full-time is completely normal. But over the last few weeks, huge numbers of companies across the globe have rolled out mandatory work-from-home policies in response to the spread of COVID-19, vastly expanding the number of employees who work away from the office. 

In addition to a more globally-remote workforce, school districts and child care centers across the nation have shut down until further notice. As a result, many parents are finding themselves in two new roles that don’t tend to play well together: full-time remote worker, and full-time parent.

If you’ve now found yourself suddenly being a stay-at-home parent and stay-at-home employee, and are trying to find a way to make these conflicting positions work together, we’ve got you covered! Here are a few ways to make this transition and experience less stressful on you and your little ones. 

1. Communicate Openly and Honestly

This one shouldn’t surprise you since communication is, of course, an essential part of any job and relationship. Because of the current situation facing us, it’s likely your employer already knows and assumes that you probably have children in the background while you’re working. However, it’s still important to proactively communicate with your employer when you are having trouble getting your essential tasks done so that they can work with you to find a resolution.  

Communication between you, your spouse or partner, and your children are also important. Communicate with your spouse or partner about what your days are going to be like. If you have deadlines you need to meet, let each other know so that you can be proactive about childcare needs. To your children, it may seem like a regular weekend, school break, or vacation, so explain to them as best you can that working from home means you really have to work. It may also help to plan family meetings so that you are all on the same page for the day. 

2. Get Creative with Non-Supervised Activities

Non-supervised is a term we use generously - obviously, as a parent you will be monitoring what your children are doing - but we encourage you to come up with creative activities that your kids can manage with you in another room. 

Different activities apply to different age groups and only you will know which activities are feasible for you and your children. Babies and toddlers typically have scheduled nap times, which allow you to have some breathing room to get work done. Toddler and grade-schoolers can practice their sports, do puzzles, play outdoors, watch educational videos, etc. Older kids will more than likely be busy with their online schooling. 

3. Plan your Schedule

When kids are in the mix, you have to get more aggressive about your schedule and the tasks you need to complete each day. Set your day up proactively around the times you need to be the most productive, using time blocking or another time management approach to keep you organized. 

Once you know when you need to be the most productive, schedule children’s activities that require minimal supervision accordingly. If your work permits, you can even work earlier before your children are awake or later in the evening when your children are getting ready for bed. 

If you have a spouse or partner, and your work has flexibility, consider taking shifts where you take turns working and with the kids. Shifts would guarantee at least some hours where you focus on work. 

Another option is to break up your day. Children have a very short attention span, so instead of working a few hours straight, you can break up the day to spend some hands-on time with your kids. And, this gives you nice breaks and resets in your day, too!

4. Create a Routine 

Similar to planning your own schedule, establish a daily schedule and routine for your children. Structure works at home for the same reason it does at school: it lets kids be in their comfort zone and know what to expect. 

Build your schedule around the following: 

  • Meals
  • Family time 
  • Screen time 
  • Physical activity 
  • Activities 
  • Free play

Just like with individuals, the ideal routine for one family looks completely different than the ideal routine for another - don’t be afraid to try different things in this transitional time. Once you figure out what is best for your family, write out the schedule and put it up on the fridge or wall so that the whole family can know what to expect.

5. Designate an Office Space 

If you don’t have an office space in your home already, try to find a space with a door that can close. Creating a designated office space reinforces the message that you are working, and helps you put some boundaries between work time and family time. Communicate with your children that if you are in that space, you are working, and if you have the door shut, it means you are on an important call or meeting. 

This can be challenging if you don’t have an area with a door that can be used as an office space. If you have to be in a common area with your family while you get work done, try to establish other cues that make it clear that you should not be disturbed, like big headphones or even a “do not disturb” desk sign. If you’re in a common area with your family, it becomes even more important to create a routine and schedule, then to carry that through with your family.

6. Build in Some FUN!

One of the hardest things about working from home can be getting into a slump; it’s very tempting to hide indoors and spend more time than you usually would on the couch. And, it can be an extremely challenging time for parents - you are suddenly balancing two conflicting roles as your new full-time reality, and it’s natural that your productivity might shift a bit in response.

So, take a breath. Give yourself some forgiveness, and remind yourself that you’re doing a great job. Then, plan a fun activity for all of you to mix up the day or week and get everyone smiling! 

Some ideas on indoors FUN:

  • 10 Minute Dance Party - Put on the most energizing songs you have and everyone - parents included - shake it out! 
  • Have a Family Karaoke Sing-Off - Download a Karaoke App through your phone or TV and go head-to-head. You can let the dogs be the judges...or if you’re really brave, send your videos to your friends & family to be the judges.
  • Camp in the Living Room - Take the fort to the next level with s’mores on the stove, a scavenger hunt, and blanket-tent-building competition. 
  • Have a Foam or Slime Party - This one can get messy but is guaranteed fun -- kids NEVER get tired of Slime, and there are endless varieties to make
  • Do an At-Home Paint Party - use paper or canvas and paints + YouTube tutorials to pull this one off. 
  • Plan a Family Movie Night - Get the popcorn ready and check out the new releases on Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime. 

Check out how our Payroll Link team and their kids have gotten creative during this COVID-19 Pandemic. 

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