Everything starts with communication. Communicate with your team to explain the situation you’re in. Everyone has experienced similar but different situations and they are sure to understand your situation if you explain it. You should also be communicating with your clients. Before you meet over Zoom or have a call with them, ensure that they are aware your family is home with you, and you have taken all possible precautions to avoid interruptions. Lastly, communicate with your family, be sure your children and spouse understand what you need to be successful. Simply asking your spouse to take the kids while you are on calls and in meetings can go a long way.

Next, be sure to schedule your day out. Start with your set works hours, think of the times you will be most productive. Be sure to give yourself a break from work, schedule this time so you have a goal in mind. Naptime will become your best friend. Naps can be a time in your schedule that is dedicated time to have a power-hour and get your shit done! Communicate your schedule with your spouse or partner so you both can use each other’s schedule as a guide when you need to be with the kids. Try to schedule your meetings in times that work for both you and your family, so you can limit interruptions as much as possible.

To ensure your sanity during this time, be sure to separate your roles.

• Physical separation of your space will allow you to be most successful at working from home. 
• Call a family meeting to explain your work schedule, and what it means if the office door is closed or you are on a call. 
• Be sure to inform your kids that you may not always be able to take breaks when they would like you to, encourage them to solve problems on their own and you will help when you are off your call. 

With most daycare and other child care services closed during the pandemic, there are a few ways to get keep you kids entertained without supervision:

• For babies: Swings/Bouncy chairs, and music or Baby Einstein
• For Toddlers/ Elementary Age: Educational games and apps, interactive shows and movies, and magic marker coloring
• For Middle School and Above: reading, journaling, painting, educational, positive, or inspirational shows, movies, and platforms, or have them “phone a friend.”

Help keep your children entertained by getting creative! A few crafting ideas for your kids to try on while you are trying to get some work done include:

• Pom pom sorting (by size or color)
• Build an indoor fort
• Create a spaceship or car with boxes
• Pull out a tent and indoor camp
• Create an obstacle course in or outdoors
• Balloon volleyball
• Paper airplanes
• Nerf gun target practice
• Hallway “laser” maze with string or streamers
• Write letters to your family- start a secret pen pal!

A few educational resources you can utilize:

• Babies
  • Baby Einstein
  • Sesame Street
  • StarFall
• Toddler/ Elementary Age
  • Raz Kids- Online Reading
  • FunBrain Jr.
  • Teach My Monster to Read
  • ABC Mouse
  • PBS Kids
• Middle School and Above
  • Fact Monster
  • Library of Congress
  • Smithsonian Education
  • TedED

Lastly, implement a reward system that will help you kids understand the new work from home norms. The younger your children are, the more difficult it can be for them to understand “work time” and “playtime.” Consistent verbal praise is key to helping them understand when they are doing a good job at respecting your work-from-home space. You can also create a daily sticker chart that builds to a bigger reward at the end of the week. If they display good behavior during a call or meeting, reward them with a 15-20 minute activity that you can do together. Also treats, whether healthy or not-so-healthy are never a bad idea.

We know this time can be trying for most parents. Remember to give yourself grace during this uncertain time. There are plenty of other parents feeling the same way you are, you are not alone. This may not be a situation limited to COVID-19, so try to implement practices that stick in case something like this happens in the future.