Working from home with your kids? (Free Printable)

Before I went moved to California, I ran my public relations consultancy from my home. I just had my girls and for about a decade, I learned the ins and outs of working at home with kids. As a family, we developed ‘rules’ that helped while I worked from home. Was it perfect? No. But it did help prevent many a professional mishap and still kept my kids safe.

Fast forward a few years and I now have a job that gives me the flexibility to work from home again. It was wonderful… then a global threat appeared. COVID-19 has created home workers where there were few before. And now that schools are closing across the nation, families need to balance the needs of children (including, in many cases, becoming the teacher as well), and getting work done as well.

It’s overwhelming. And more so when a global threat causes greater anxiety as well.

So what can you do to survive (not a global threat but just) being in the same place as your kids 24/7 for weeks while you need time to work? Here are some tips:

Sync up calendars. My husband, Matt and I, share our work calendars since we are both working from home so we know who is in meetings when. It helps to see who can help the girls when. Both Outlook and Google calendars have a sharing function.
It’s also important to note schedules change. Make sure to keep your calendar up-to-date. One time recently, I started talking to Matt while he was in a meeting without knowing it because it was a last-minute addition and he forgot to add it to the calendar. When these things come up, as they will, ask the person on the other line to give you a moment to pivot to the discussion since you were working on something else and use part of that time to add it to the calendar.
Create a schedule for your kids. Routine is important for all of us, but especially kids. Giving them an idea of what their days are going to be like will be helpful. Speaking of schedules, if there are two of you (or more) in the house that can supervise other kids, perhaps flex them as well.
Create a sign and teach your children to understand and adhere to it. I created the one below that you are free to use. For example, I have always been a morning person, so I am waking up even earlier (before anyone is awake) to get my creative and big thinking work done, which then allows me more flexibility when the girls are up.
Take frequent breaks and check in with your kids. We are using GoNoodle to get exercise with the girls since it’s been raining a ton here. (Hint: try the Zumba… it’s short, fun and gets the blood pumping!)
Course correct when needed. Nothing is going to be set in stone. During global threats, protocols change rapidly, and you will also see ebbs and flows with the way routines work best for your kids and you.

Understand that there will be disruptions no matter what, and prepare whoever you are working with that it could happen. Most will be understanding (especially since during a global threat many are facing the same reality as you are).