Working from home with kids: Edward-Elmhurst Health offers 10 tips for parents
The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has society in unfamiliar territory. Daycares, schools and nonessential businesses are closed, and everyone is practicing social distancing. Illinois is following a stay-at-home order to help slow the spread of the virus.
Life looks very different as families across the country are stuck at home. Parents who are fortunate enough to work remotely are doing so, but that has its challenges, too.
Parents working at home with kids will need to adjust their expectations. They may need to change their work style to find interrupted work time. Their kids will need to accept the fact that all playdates and social outings must be put on hold for now.
How can families juggle working from home with kids without losing it?
Here are 10 tips for parents:
1.) Set ground rules. Let kids know what the rules are for the week. Just because parents are home with them doesn't mean you can cater to them all day - parents have a job to do. Put limits on kids' screen time but keep them loose and try not to stress about it. Set up a reward system to encourage good behavior.
2.) Create a routine. A routine will help provide structure, stability and sanity. Kids thrive on routine. Wake up and go to bed at the same time each day. Get dressed in regular clothes (get out of those pjs!). Make a daily schedule and allot times for meals, schoolwork, "recess"/breaks, TV/screen time, chores, etc. Keep it somewhat flexible. Hang it on the fridge where your family can see it.
3.) Choose distraction-free workstations. Find a dedicated workstation for each family member to do their work without distractions like chores or TV getting in the way. It doesn't have to be a desk; you can use your kitchen or dining room table. If possible, try to work in a room with a door that closes.
4.) Do your best with home schooling. It can be difficult to balance a child's schoolwork with parents' own work. It doesn't have to be perfect. Let the school know if kids encounter challenges. If your school doesn't offer virtual learning, check out free online educational resources to keep kids busy, such as: National Geographic Kids, PBS Kids, Star Fall, ABCya, FunBrain, TIME for Kids and Commonsensemedia.org.
5.) Stay active, take fresh air breaks. Schedule time for exercise to keep the family moving as much as possible. Have a dance party, do yoga, try an online fitness class, make a homemade obstacle course. Try GoNoodle, Cosmickids and Just Dance Now. When the weather permits, head outside for a walk, a bike ride, basketball, tag or drawing with chalk on the driveway. Just be sure to stay 6 feet away from anyone outside of the household.
6.) Give your kids age-appropriate chores. Giving kids responsibilities around the house will help them feel productive. Examples include folding laundry, doing dishes, emptying the dishwasher, taking out the trash, feeding/walking a pet, cleaning their bedroom, etc. Even better, have kids make cards for hospital workers, nursing home residents, etc.
7.) Stay connected virtually. Social distancing can be isolating. Encourage kids to stay connected with friends over text or video calls (e.g., FaceTime, Skype, Zoom). Facebook Messenger for Kids offers text and video chat options, while parents can fully monitor the activity. Parents should stay connected, too, through phone or video calls with co-workers, family and friends.
8.) Encourage independent time. Find age-appropriate things kids can do by themselves when parents need to be most productive at work. Examples include reading, crafts, drawing, puzzles, Legos, journaling, writing a letter to a friend, building a fort, etc. There are plenty of free apps that offer games for kids. Parents could even ask family members to be "virtual" babysitters to read/talk to their kids while they're working.
9.) Manage your own stress. Kids are going to take their cues from their parents for how scary the situation is, so try to be reassuring and find ways to handle stress. Let kids know that this is a temporary change and won't last forever. Limit the intake of COVID-19 news to once a day (and when the kids aren't around).
10.) Have fun as a family. At night and on weekends, find activities the family enjoys and can do together. Examples include board games (e.g., Pictionary, Guess Who, HedBanz, charades), puzzles, movie nights, cooking together, scavenger hunts (indoor or outdoor), etc. This is an opportunity to bond with each other, so make the best of it.
For updates on COVID-19, check EEHealth.org/coronavirus.