With a little bit of planning you can successfully work from home and take care of your children at the same time.
Utilize time your kids are sleeping
Wake up early to get work done or work when the kids have gone to bed. If they are still napping, then utilize this time as well. Trade off shifts if another adult is at home.
Facilitate Independent Play
Set aside time before you do work to watch and admire your child play. Set a timer.
Say “Soon we will have play time, while you play whatever you want and I do a little work. Before we start, let’s take ten minutes so I can watch you play. I LOVE to watch you play.”
Comment on their playing so your child knows that you’re really present. Describe: “You’re adding a bridge to your train track,” and empathize with your child’s excitement: “That car is going so fast!” This fills your child’s cup!
Coach Your Child
If you need to hop on a call for a minute, set your child up with an activity. Set a timer next to them and show them that until the timer beeps you will be on the call. Tell them that if they have an emergency, they can stand in the doorway of your office and wave, and you will help them. Let them know you can do something fun together after.
Make Sensory Activities
You can find lots of suggestions online for sensory bags, boxes and activities for all ages.
Use Screen Time Judicially
- Call a relative to read to them
- Have a video playdate
- Play online math games or do some other educational app
- Set up a kid friendly exercise video
- Learn to draw by looking up drawing videos
