Are you suddenly finding yourself working from home and your kids out of school? Here are 12 suggestions to graciously handle these new changes from a work-at-home, homeschooling mom of 5.
These are anxious times. With the outbreak of a global pandemic, we find ourselves full of anxiety. Fearful of getting sick, worried about our children and parents and friends. We worry about food and other necessities. We wring our hands when we see the economy struggling and people being laid off.
For many families, there’s the added wrinkle of suddenly working from home – while the kids are home, too. This is like summer vacation amplified because most kids are not fans of “social distancing.” So, now you have antsy children, work responsibilities at home, and worries about everything from finance to health to education as your kids lose schooling time.
Phew. These days are not for the weak at heart.
But I truly believe that God gave us a heart strong enough to handle anything. For many, this new way of life – staying home, working at home, kids out of school – is chaotic and stressful. But this is the perfect time to tap into a group that’s been doing this for years.
Homeschoolers
Many homeschoolers have been navigating the teaching of our children, while working from home at the same time, for years. And while some of us are more social than others, we all have our ways of keeping kids entertained and engaged at home when we can’t do a meet-up or join a group event.
As a mom of five kids, four of whom I homeschool (ages 4,7,9, and 11), and who works at home as a freelance writer, social distancing and self-isolation aren’t as disruptive for us. In fact, they could easily describe a calm, stay-at-home Saturday. We already have routines in place to make it work.
So, how do I get any work done? How do my kids learn? And how can we keep a sense of calm and normalcy during these trying times?
Here are my tips as one work-at-home mom to another…
12 Ways to Successfully Work at Home with Kids
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1. Set a routine
Kids need stability and routine, just like we adults do. Especially when things are scary and uncertain in the world. Setting a routine right away will help you both settle in to the new normal of home life.
Just as they had a schedule in school, have one at home. Set a lunch time, a quiet time, a time when they can play outside. I noticed when we weren’t schooling during the summer that my kids were incredibly antsy and it was because they felt at odds with the entire empty day ahead of them. Sometimes they like it, but most of the time, they want to know what’s happening next.
2. Create office hours
If you’re able, set aside certain hours for your work. Whether it’s during screen time or when the kids are playing in the backyard, try to block out time that will be devoted specifically to deep, focused work. When you work for a limited amount of time, you focus better than when you have an entire day at your desk.
Try the Pomodoro technique of short bursts of productivity, followed by a break. Stretch, read a book to your kindergartner, or watch a funny YouTube video. Then do another round.
And if possible, try to do your work in a room with a locked door. Especially if you have phone calls to make. Trust me, I’ve had more video conferences interrupted than I care to mention.
3. Combat learning loss
Some schools are going online, some are offering curriculum to take home, others may not be able to do anything for the time being. If you’re worried about learning loss and your kids falling behind, first, stop. Really, relax. For the vast majority of kids, a few weeks out of school will not greatly delay their learning or cause slippage.
However, not knowing how long this will go on, I would say definitely consider some resources that are either cheap or free to keep your child engaged and learning. At the very least, this will cut down on the “I’m bored” whines that are bound to happen.
Check Pinterest for activities and printables on subjects your child is interested in or recently covered in class. Join a local Facebook group for homeschoolers (you basically are one right now) and ask for suggestions on what they use. If you don’t mind investing a little money, I like Ed Helper ($14.99 for full access), which has tons of fun and educational worksheets.
4. Invest in books
We are whole book learners for the most part, so books are super important in my family. Not only will they entertain and occupy your kids, they will also help teach them. If your local library is still up and running, grab as many titles as you can to get you through.
If you’re worried about borrowing physical books right now or going out, then borrow e-books. Invest in subscription services like Epic! and Amazon Kindle Unlimited (both of which have 30-day free trials right now!). There are so many great books that will help your child continue to learn even while they are enjoying themselves.
And if they’re hooked on a book, you can work quietly and freely. #winning
5. Trade time with your spouse
If your spouse is working from home or just works a different shift, trade time with them. Take turns on kid duty for a couple of hours while the other parent holes up with their laptop, getting work done.
If they work a late or early shift, when they’re home, have them take over meal time or entertaining while you work – sort of like what you’d do if you were going into the office. For years, my husband and I worked opposite shifts (me on midday, him on graveyard) and we did this switch-off to make it work.
6.Not all screen time is bad
I know a lot of people are afraid of falling into the “TV babysitter” routine because they don’t know what else to do – and let’s face it, our kids would love it. Well, for a while. But watching endless hours of Disney Channel is not going to make anyone happy in the long run.
So, instead of TV being a babysitter, make it a tool. Streaming services with high-quality biographies and documentaries abound. Netflix, Hulu, National Geographic, Curiosity Stream, and YouTube have so many options (and many also offer free trials). PBS Kids is great for little ones, as is Minno. If you can, watch these shows and documentaries with them. It’s not just about learning, it’s about engaging and interacting.
7. Work in the mornings and night
If you need uninterrupted work time, consider waking up earlier or staying up later when the kids are asleep. As I write this, it is 6am. My kids are sleeping and I am working with a delicious cup of coffee at my side. I do most client meetings at 5am. I am a morning person, but if you’re a night owl, this can work for you, too. Once everyone is asleep, you can get to work.
Grab those fringe hours of your day and make them work for you. Yes, it’s unorthodox, but these are the times. Be flexible and willing to experiment. You might find that your peak productivity hours are entirely different than they used to be in the office.
8. Snacks. Never forget snacks
Kids at home all day are like passengers on a 12-hour flight across the world. If they are not fed every two hours, they get stir-crazy.
If your kids are grazers, leave out a tray of crackers or pretzels, cut veggies and fruit, and some hummus or ranch. Go for healthy treats that you won’t feel bad about them eating all day.
Try snack bags. We do this on road trips. I fill a gallon-sized ziplock bag with an assortment of healthy snacks and the kids can eat them all day. But there are no refills so they have to ration. (Younger kids aren’t as good at this…)
Or just fill the fridge and pantry with easy snacks that the kids can grab while you work. Keeping blood sugar steady is just as important for kids as it is for adults. The last thing any of us need is a house full of hangry kids.
9. Get outside
Even if you are self-quarantining, if you have a fence and are healthy enough, get some fresh air. If the weather is good, let the kids play outside to their heart’s content. Isolation is hard, but imaginative outside play can take them to another place and time.
Go outside and toss a ball with them. Draw with sidewalk chalk. Play red light, green light. It doesn’t matter. Most of us parents lament that we don’t spend enough time with our kids when they’re young. Now’s your chance. Take a 15-minute break from work and get outside for family fun.
Even sitting and eating lunch on a small apartment patio works. Sunlight will improve your mood and give your kids a boost, too. Working at home with kids means you get the best coffee breaks.
10. Do a project together
If you are one of the workers who has found themselves on a furlough or laid off, I know this is especially hard for you. But this time can still be spent doing things that will encourage you and keep your family’s spirits up.
Look around and see if there are any home projects that you’ve been unable to do. Car repairs, organizing the pantry, fixing the leaky sink. Ask your kids to help you while you take on these projects. Your home is going to become your command center for a while, so it makes sense to improve on it where you can.
My husband, whose work hours are currently being cut, is working on his car with some of my kids. I’m decluttering the kitchen and children’s clothes with my daughters. I don’t want to look back on this time and only see the anxiety and reactivity. I want to see how we made changes for the better and did it together.
11. Go ahead, offer screen time
When you’re working at home with kids, sometimes you just have to accept the fact that you need some work time right now and the only way to guarantee it is with some screen time. Don’t feel guilty about this. Hand over the iPad and dig into your work.
With five kids, mine are constantly rotating so no one is staring at the screen endlessly. Try timers if you want to keep their use limited. But just give yourself grace as you navigate the waters of suddenly being a work at home parent with kids in the house. (Here is a list of some great online resources that you can feel comfortable with your kids watching.)
12. Be flexible
In all things, be flexible. You have to be. This entire situation is new for all of us the world over. Be willing to experiment and try different routines and meals and activities. Things are going to be out of sorts for a while and you may have to change things mid-stride to accommodate them.
My one great hope is that from all of this, we learn things. The recession in 2008 was hard, but it changed the way people spent money and dealt with credit. I think that this crisis will make many of us see through new eyes the way we are as neighbors, community-members, parents, and workers.
Change is hard. But when change is forced on us, we are highly adaptable creatures. We will adapt and mold ourselves to meet every new challenge. God made us this way on purpose.
Now take that gift and let’s go out and make our world, even if it’s only within the walls of our own house today, a better place.
God bless you all.
What are some tips that you use to make working at home with kids a success? I’d love to hear your suggestions in the comments!
Looking for more posts on family and trying times? Check out these:
Scripture Verses That Combat Anxiety
Why We Need to Do Our Best and Let Go
10 Best Books for 3rd Grade Boys
[Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own and I never recommend anything I haven’t used myself and loved.]
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