How To Keep Kids Entertained While You Work From Home
I know many of you are juggling raising a family with a full time job and daily life stressors. Most of us are treading water most days to stay afloat. I’m here to help with some tips and tricks to keep your kids entertained while you’re working from home. Moms and Dads, be honest, you’re willing to try “anything” at this point. Below are nine tips for busy parents.
Set realistic expectations. It’s important to set realistic expectations. Reflect on how your days go now and ask yourself some questions. Does your little one still take naps? How many things can you actually accomplish working from home? Try to save the more mentally demanding work for when your little one takes a nap. Set a few things you can do each day, rather than getting bogged down with unrealistic expectations.
Plan ahead. Use a calendar so you know what to expect on a day-to-day, weekly and monthly basis. You can use anything from a dry-erase calendar with everyone's schedule, to using a Google Calendar in your phone. Pro tip: google sends reminders to your phone!
Take care of priorities first. This is where planning comes into play. Try and knock out the biggest obstacles before you start work. Maybe you have an overflowing sink with dishes. Try and knock that out first thing in the morning. After a full day of working, that is the last thing we want to do. Plus everything you need for dinner will be clean and ready to go!
Find things the kids like to do. It’s time to bust out something new, or maybe to pull out something that you tucked away for a rainy day. Good examples of independent play items include stickers, coloring books and crayons, Legos, Barbie dolls, cars on an activity mat, and alphabet/number magnets on the fridge or on cookie sheets.
Involve kids in household tasks. Before the day begins, have your kids help you complete some tasks. They can clean up their toys, help you prepare breakfast, unload the dishwasher or sort laundry. This teaches them pride and responsibility.
Use screen time effectively. Use screen time only when absolutely necessary. A great time for this is when you have a meeting with your boss or while you’re doing a virtual presentation for work. Kids are so good at navigating electronics, and if this isn't something they get often they will be captivated by it.
Spend time with your kids. During breaks or down time make sure you give them your full attention. You’ve likely been in front of a computer all day. Social interaction during lunch or other breaks is so important for them and you.
Ask for help. I understand that not everyone has a support system. If you are lucky enough to have a spouse or family member’s help for a few days a week, or even for a few hours, it can be really helpful for you to focus and get work done. The added bonus is that kids feel special when they get one-on-one time with their parents/grandparents.
Take breaks. If you have the opportunity to take a break, take advantage of it. It's important to care for yourself so you can continue to care for others. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Always remember self-care is not selfish!
While these tips may not be a total fix, my hope is that you find them useful and an aid in keeping your kids entertained while you're trying to get work done.
