Tips on How to Work From Home as a Parent

Authored By Leslie Hemedes, PsyD

The current COVID-19 crisis has asked us all to make drastic shifts in our lives. It has resulted in major social and economic disruptions across the world. Parents are unable to go to work, and many children are learning from home. The situation is far from ideal for most families. With little to no childcare available, many families across the nation are trying to balance working from home, and managing this new 24/7 directness with children.  

Do you ever think back to the days when you were once able to recall what it felt like to have a separate space for things, or being able to say that your life had actual, “parts.” For those who have had little experience until to now, the experience of “being on,” carries a different meaning. If you have children under the age of 5, you may be used to hearing, “Mom, look at this,” “Can you play with me,” “I’m hungry,” “What are you doing,” “Can I do it too?” For some parents, the response that may follow is, “I’m working, can you give mommy a minute.” Which is then followed up with, “I want to work too,” “what is this?” (while your view from your computer is now blocked by a little human that just encroached on your “workspace.”  Internally, a response that follows is a sigh, and increasing internal tension because you’re thinking of the task at hand that has just been interrupted for the 3rd time within the last ½ hour, you’re at a loss for how to finish your work, and you’re feeling guilty for not being able to attend to the frustrating, yet loving little person sitting on you. 

If you have older children, you might have different challenges. You may be tasked with needing to oversee your child’s online curriculum, helping attend to questions that are challenging, helping your child manage fluctuations in motivation to attend to school work and household rules and responsibilities, and battling the emotional impact that social isolation has on your child.   

A recent study by the University of Michigan found that this pandemic has made parenting much more challenging. Parents struggling with growing anxiety about financial concerns and social isolation has made the parenting role much more difficult. The study found that 61% of parents described an increase in shouting & yelling at their children due to mounting tension and frustration around this difficult period.

If you’re a parent working from home, you are most likely familiar with the challenges of juggling different roles. Some people may have already figured out their groove, while some may continue to feel overwhelmed and overworked by this transition. This article will give you some creative ideas about how to work from home while managing how to take care of you and your children throughout the process. 

Organize the Week Ahead of Time

Plan the week’s meals, work, school curriculum, household responsibilities, remote social time, and physical activities ahead of time. If a co-parent is available, coordinate schedules by blocking off priority work tasks/meetings with each other. It can be helpful to identify co-parenting shifts so that each parent can anticipate guaranteed working blocks, while children have an accessible parent to meet their needs.  Having a structured and flexible outline of the week beforehand can make it easier to predict what happens from day to day and can allow the week to flow more easily.

Stick to a Schedule

When you’re scrambling to fit all of your tasks into one day, tension and anxiety can increase. Having a consistent routine can be a lifesaver during this period. A routine can help you and your family better manage stress, work responsibilities, your children’s school curriculum, self-care, and household responsibilities. 

For younger children under the age 5, identify consistent napping schedules, mealtime, and playtime. For school-age children, help structure blocks of learning, break times, social, and physical time. Depending on your child’s unique learning style, level of motivation, and personality, identify the appropriate level of structure, need for independent learning, and need for breaks.

Complete Your Work at the Most Convenient Times

Get creative about the workday. If possible, break your workday into blocks/periods. Identify blocks of time throughout the day that your child might be asleep. If your family tends to wake up around 8 am these days, it may be helpful to get a couple of working hours before the house is awake. If your child still naps (and naps well) during the day, count on this block is integrated into the workday.   

Schedule Calls and Meetings Mindfully

Whenever possible, schedule your calls and meetings with your pre-set schedule in mind. If you have the luxury of choosing when you conduct your Zoom meetings, think about your child’s/children’s schedule first. If a co-parent is available, continue to coordinate on co-parenting shifts.  

If possible, schedule meetings to be held at times when your child will least likely storm into the room. Nap times or school work times will tend to work best. Over time, you’ll begin to notice what the quietest and calmest times are in your household. Make a note of when these times are, and save them for your most important virtual business meetings.

Create a Simple Curriculum if They Haven’t Been Given One

In some cases, your child’s school might not have a rigorous homeschool program in place. If you have been left to your own devices, you may be left wondering how to homeschool your child. Creating a simple, effective homeschool curriculum for your child is a lot harder than it sounds. 

For pre-school-school age children, gather information about your child’s curriculum by connecting with their academic program or gathering resources online. There are a lot of online resources that offer information on learning at any developmental age. Identify workbooks (e.g., Highlights & Big Preschool) on Amazon that offer interactive sections to keep your child busy and engaged. 

If you have any extra time, keep the curriculum fun by assigning some simple, creative, and fun assignments for your child/children. Let them create a project for you on their favorite subject, whether it be theater, math, art, or science. Encourage them to pursue and learn about what interests them.

Integrating educational channels into the curriculum can also serve to balance work and learning for your child. Educational shows that can be found on KidsYoutube and Netflix are: Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Super Why, Octonauts, Word Party, Word World, Doc McStuffins, Sid the Science Kid, Timmy Time, Bubble Guppies, Sesame Street, & Little Einsteins.  

Create a Reward System to Encourage Good Behavior

Managing a lot of change, having limited access to outlets, and having a lot of time in the confines of the household can present a range of disciplinary concerns. If you find that your child/children have been acting up, they may be struggling with ways to manage how to deal with everything. They may be trying to work through boredom, stress, or frustration at the situation. While it can be difficult at times, try to empathize with what your child may be holding & talk to them about their frustrations. Sometimes being able to say things out loud can be relieving because it offers an outlet.

Try implementing a positive reinforcement system to increase good behavior and lessen challenging behavior. Identify things that your child really likes doing or is really interested in (e.g., more screen time, outside time, picking dinner, watching a movie, getting to pick out projects of interest, getting a new toy, & getting a later bedtime or being able to sleep in, etc). Use these as motivators to reward your child consistently following through on what is expected of them.  

Take Time For Yourself

The chaotic nature of this new reality no doubt puts a lot of strain on you. It is important to try to find ways to take care of yourself. For some, this task may be extremely challenging. Identify the parts of your day that will allow you to take a moment to check in with yourself, or do something that provides comfort and relief. Some ideas are: taking a walk, talking to a friend, yoga, meditation, listening to music or podcasts, reading, engaging in something of interest, doing self-reflection, journaling, & learning a new skill. 

To Sum Up

I hope that some of these work from home ideas have given you some inspiration on how to balance the work from home and caregiver roles that you are trying to juggle. Remember that this period of time is not easy. Try to be patient and kind to yourself about how you’re taking up these new roles, and how you’re balancing everything. Sometimes being able to say, “I’m doing the best that I can with what I have,” is an important expression.