How To Work From Home With Kids: A Crash Course

In a time of ‘social distancing,’ you’re working from home. These are uncertain times and as such, it lacks the kind of blueprint necessary to navigate these uncharted waters with any confidence. And exacerbating these already choppy waters? The fact that your children – some or all of whom would otherwise be in school – are now home, too.

With you. Near you. Maybe too near you. Wandering aimlessly as they, too, try to make sense of it all. We’re hoping to help us all make sense of it because thankfully, we have over 10 years of experience in working from home as parents so here’s everything you need to know about how to keep business as usual – even in unusual circumstances.

General Considerations
& Ideas

Allow your child to help create a daily schedule and incorporate things they love from school into their day

Plan meetings and calls during their scheduled work time so they are busy, focused and quiet.

Implement a good old-fashioned chore list. Pinterest has tons of resources and recommendations on appropriate chores by age.

Wake up earlier to get email, tasks, and more done before the kids get up.

Take necessary breaks and connect with the kids. Eat lunch together, play a game, exercise.

Let your team, clients, and coworkers know what times are best and least favorable for you to meet.

Reward good behavior with a treat, activity, fun ‘privilege’ or craft.

Young Kids

Preschool

  • Free daily printables and videos at Raising Wonder.
  • 190 days of at-home learning at Busy Toddler.
  • Super simple, no-fuss, easy-to-implement ideas and lessons at Other Goose.
  • Mo Willems of Knuffle Bunny, Piggy and Gerald, and the Pigeon series launched a YouTube series.
  • Author illustrator Oliver Jeffers of ‘The Day The Crayons Quit’ and ‘The Day The Crayons Came Home’ will be hosting live readings of his books on Instagram live, then posting the videos to his site.

School Age

K – 5th

  • Find tips, resources and connection opportunities in the Facebook Group, Parents & Kids Coronavirus Support, for daily activities for each grade, parent support, and more.
  • Create a journal with daily entries during this “homeschool” phase to help with writing, expressing feelings, and memories to reflect  on.
  • Take advantage of education companies offer free subscriptions due to school closings. For a complete list, follow this link.
  • Take virtual field trips. For a complete list, follow this link.
  • Go Noodle is great for movement and fitness for kids.

Middle School

6th – 8th

  • Plan meetings or the bulk of your work early in the morning (most are late risers).
  • Time block – for you and for them; they do a lot of their work online even when at school, so have them help schedule time to complete tasks and check in with teachers.

Families

  • Depending on the age of your kids, institute a ‘quiet time’ for important calls and work
  • Dedicate working space, use earbuds, and work in shifts if needed.
  • Over-communicate.
  • Meal plan and include interactive meals: Make your own pizza, Taco bar, Potato bar, Stir fry
  • Coworking spouses need to over-communicate: When are important calls? What can be moved? What can’t be moved? Work in shifts as necessary, if possible.
  • Spend a few minutes every Sunday night planning your next week as much as possible.
  • Start a puzzle together.
  • Teach them a new card game.
  • Have a cooking or baking contest.
  • Remind them to make phone calls or FaceTime with friends and relatives that they can’t visit.
  • Play board games.
  • Plan scavenger hunts.

Bonus Free Download

Need help developing a schedule for your now-homeschooled child? Just check out this schedule template and customize it to make it your own!