Resume Qualifier: Working From Home With Kids
If you thought working from home wasn’t hard enough, welcome to 2020. The coronavirus pandemic turned those who frequented the office on a regular basis into bonafide multi-taskers; balancing work, home — and for some — kids. No matter the age or amount of children you have, varying challenges presented themselves over the duration of the stay-at-home order.
School-aged children needed help with connectivity and navigating a virtual classroom, toddlers sought non-stop fun and full attention regardless of the amount of conference calls mom or dad had, and babies, well, your independence is just about out of the window at that point. Converting to this new way of life required finding and agreeing on a balance by both the employee and the employer.
Our agency consists of three parents: one with two school-aged children, another with a school-aged child and toddler, and the last with a toddler and two on the way. All three employees hold a varying level of executive responsibilities within the agency.
The early days of our mandated work from home consisted of hectic schedules, conference call cameos from the kids, and a nonstop mobile work zone from the kitchen to the family room, outdoors, and the playroom. Fast-forward to the tail end of our lockdown and we have learned a few tips and tricks to assist with those few and, hopefully chosen, future telework days as we get back to our pre-COVID lives.
Establish A Routine
All ages benefit from a little structure and it provides you with an understanding of how to navigate your workload and conferences. Set consistent times for meals, snacks, learning, playtime, and work time.
Prepare For Learning
Take time the night before to go over your school-aged children’s assignments and schedules for the next day or pre-make activities and worksheets for your toddlers to work on the following day. This limits the stress and potential anxiety of virtual learning or technical disruptions. It also lowers the guilt of too much screen time for your young ones.
Structure Play Time
Designate an outside chair that overlooks your play yard, lay on the playroom floor with your laptop or turn on a program like Cosmic Kids or PE Joe to get their little legs moving. Keeping your kids physically active during the day helps with their bodies, minds, and moods. This will definitely help with your mood too!
Roll With The Punches
Kids are going to interrupt. Tantrums will happen. If you can, mute yourself on conference calls. Or, if your child is old enough to understand, set rules for when you take a call. Disruptions will happen. People will understand.
Take A Breath
Feel like your toddlers are not learning enough? It’s ok. Concerned your kids are getting too much screen time? It’s ok. Teleworking with kids is not for the fainthearted. Just know that, however you do it, you will be great.
Working from home with kids can be difficult, but it can be done!
