A few tips for working from home with kids
It can be challenging to suddenly find yourself working from home with kids. Julie Potter, Associate Director in Community and Government Relations, shares some tips and tools she’s picked up from her community.
Keep to regular wakeup times and morning routines.
It’s easy to spend all day in pajamas, but at some point life will go back to ‘normal’, so to ease with the transition, we’re trying to stick to the regular schedule as much as possible.
Set regular snack times (10 a.m., 2 p.m.) and lunch times (12 p.m.).
Time can fly by when juggling many priorities. Scheduled snack breaks help us prevent a hangry child and give us time to connect.
Set expectations and plan for interruptions.
I give my daughter a heads up when I won’t be able to be interrupted for a certain amount of time. If she needs to tell me something she writes me a note, unless it’s an emergency.
Use a physical symbol like clothes or accessories to signal when you are working so the kids are less likely to interrupt.
My daughter made me a lovely headband which brings us both joy (and laughter).
Keep kids entertained.
Here are some tools that have been working wonders for us:
- Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems
- PE with Joe
- Audible is providing free listening for kids while school is out.
- Rotate toys to keep them new and interesting.
- Schedule a virtual playdate or visit with family. We have regular calls with grandparents who help our daughter with her homework for half an hour remotely.
- Common Sense Media has a list of free online events and activities for kids at home and Kids Activities has a list of education companies offering free subscriptions due to school closings.
Create a daily schedule together.
Develop a plan that also involves some activities your child will look forward to. There are many great examples of schedules online. Here is what we’ve been trying to follow:
| Time | Activity |
| Before 9 a.m. | Get ready for the day—eat breakfast, get dressed and brush teeth |
| 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. | Free time
Drawing, P.E. with Joe, puzzles, Lego, crafts, audiobook |
| 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. | Academic time
Reading, journal writing, math workbook |
| 11 a.m. to noon | Outdoor time
Play in the backyard |
| Noon to 12:30 p.m. | Make and enjoy lunch together |
| 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. | Indoor / outdoor play |
| 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. | Online learning |
| 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Snack |
| 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. | Virtual visit with grandparents |
| 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Indoor / outdoor play |
This is a loose schedule. We follow it the best we can, but we’ve learned to let go of perfection.
Work with kids to find ways to reward good behaviour.
Our daughter loves her screen time so we allow her to earn tickets which she can redeem for a certain amount of screen time if she does her work and limits her interruptions. She can gain extra screen time by going above and beyond, like doing a chore without being asked.
One I have yet to try is starting the day with a certain amount of small treats, let’s say five, and if all goes well during the day, the child will receive them for dessert. Each time things don’t go too well, a treat is removed from the pile.
Find ways to create a calming atmosphere around you as much as possible.
My friend recommended a spa music playlist and to my surprise, my daughter is loving it! We also have the diffuser going with some calming oils.
It’s okay to feel overwhelmed.
You’re not alone. These are unique and challenging times. UVic Counselling Services suggests 10 ways to cope with anxiety related to the Coronavirus.
