It is really tough when most parents try to balance work with family life. It may be in the case of snow days, holidays, or anything else that might require one to stay home while still having work to be done. How to plan on engaging your kids as you remain productive either on a public holiday, snow day, or abrupt closure might be quite stressful.
Fortunately, the last time I visited any of the team outing places in Bangalore or Breakout, I learned a few quick tips and tricks to manage kids during this time. With the help of this article, you will learn how you can do the same with your kids. These are as follows:
1. Plan Ahead
One sure thing that really helps on those days when your kids come home unexpectedly is preparation. Since you never know what days those may be, there always seems to be some satisfaction associated with being prepared.
Back-up Child Care: You might want to have in place a back-up child care plan that may include trusted friends and family who can babysit so you can go to work. You also could have a list of babysitters or local daycare options for those who accept children on short notice.
Stock up on activities: Keep a stash of fun activities such as puzzles, coloring books and supplies, and board games on hand so it is easy to find something to occupy your kids.
2. Devise a Flexible Schedule
A flexible schedule is important in the balance of work against the needs of your kids during the day.
Time blocking: block your time during the day for heads-down work. For many, early morning or late evening may prove to be quiet times when you get the most done.
Plan a Daily Schedule: Routine helps both you and your kids know what to expect. Even something as simple as an outline of breakfast, some playing time, some learning, and rest time will provide structure and reduce your stress.
3. Have a Chat with Your Boss
Inform your employer of your situation.
Be Honest: Let them know the kids are home and you may need to make some adjustments to accommodate them in your work schedule. Most employers will be super understanding and appreciate your honesty.
Flexibility: Negotiate and discuss possibly having flexible working hours such that coming to work earlier or later in the day for him or her may accommodate his or her child during the day.
4. Avail Learning Aids
Whenever the schools are closed, you can always make the most of this time and let your children continue to learn from educational resources.
Online Learning: There are several websites and applications on the internet that give absolutely free learning activities and games for the little ones. Some have live running classes or recorded lessons by instructors, which are fun and quite helpful in learning.
Workbooks and worksheets: Stock up on the age-appropriate workbooks and worksheets that focus on math, reading, and writing skills. This would help in keeping them busy and useful practice time.
5. Encourage Independent Playing
One of the effective strategies to help spend quality time working is teaching kids how to play independently.
Create a Safety Play Area: Give your child a safety play area where they can amuse themselves. Fill it with games, books, and toys they like playing with.
Switch Toys Around: Changing the toys in the rooms every other day will intrigue your kids with a toy that they do not see every day, therefore allowing you to focus on your work for an extended time period.
6. Screen Time Gracefully
While too much screen time is not good for anyone, leveraging it well can be helpful when one has to focus on work.
Educational Television Programs and Apps: Permit all learning television programs, apps, and games. Indeed, a large number of shows are committed to teaching children about science, history, mathematics, and reading.
Setting Time Boundaries: Of course, you have to put limits on how long your children work on screens. When your children know precisely when it is time to start working on the screen and when they are allowed to stop, this will go a long way in setting them on the right path.
7. Engage Children in Your Activities
Depending on your work, you can find small ways to include your kid in what you’re working on. Sometimes, letting them actually participate in things with you can be some of the fun ways to distract your kids.
Simple tasks: Give them simple tasks that are connected to your work. For example, if you work on your computer, give them paper and color crayons so they could “work” with you there.
Learning opportunity: Explain to them what you are doing and for what reason. This can very easily turn into a learning opportunity and give them more information regarding your job.
8. Spend Breaks Together
You and your kids need a little break from each other quite often. Take this break to reconnect with them and rejuvenate yourselves.
Snack Breaks: Spend some small breaks to have something to snack on together. Utilize this time to chat with each other and snack healthily.
Stretch and Move: Do some stretching or dancing to get the bodies going. A couple of minutes of movement and everybody gets refreshed for the continuation.
9. Look for Hired Help
Consider hiring help for some of the above tasks when managing to catch up with work and kids becomes too big a task. This could be in the form of hired help for some of the following:
Babysitter: You should find a good babysitter who could come over and play with your kids while you work.
Mother’s Helper: The mother’s helper watches your kids while you’re at home. This is a little cheaper than a sitter, and it may allow you to work, too–and you will be free should something come up.
10. Work in Bursts
Sometimes, the most effective way to work is in short bursts.
Set the timer: Work in 25-30 minute intervals followed by a five-minute break. This technique is what is more appropriately termed as the Pomodoro Technique, that will keep your focused while giving attention to the kids, too.
Prioritize: Choose what time of your work you feel most productive and use that time for high-priority tasks. Save less demanding tasks for when you might get interrupted.
11. Stay Calm and Patient
Those unplanned days at home with the kids irritate, but a cool and patient attitude does help a lot.
– Practice Patience: Just keep telling yourself that all these situations are temporary. Remain patient; you and your kids will have an easier time.
– Stay Positive: Just keep a positive mindset. Kids learn from their parents, so calmness will make them feel safer too.
12. Accept the Unexpected
Sometimes, you just have to embrace those days at home-no matter how redundant it may seem. It’s all in perspective.
Make It Fun: You could turn those days into bonding times where you spend your time together, doing all those fun stuff that you would not normally have the time for: baking cookies, making a fort, movie marathon.
Avail this time to create memories: These days, which nobody predicted, are a great opportunity for you to bond with your kids, and be sure the memories created shall remain fresh and alive.
Conclusion
Baby-sitting and working can be a tightrope walk on days when schools are closed, but with some forethought and creative thought, it is possible to do both. Remember that planning ahead, flexibility in scheduling, educational resources, encouraging independent playing, and communicating with your employer are the means whereby you will maintain the balance. Being in control and composed, you’ll be able to make the best of such days, and you might even use them for positive experiences for yourself and the children.
