Working From Home with Young Kids
TODDLER PARENTS: How is working from home with kids going?...
Last Thursday afternoon I was on a Zoom call, conducting an online session. My desk is on the landing of our stairs, which isn’t typically an issue because until recently if I was working we had childcare. It was my husband’s turn to be on “toddler duty”, but he had a 5 pm deadline and had locked our toddler in his office with him in order to get it done. I started hearing “see Mommy?!....SEE MOMMYY” and after a few minutes the door handle rattling, and before I knew it, a diaper clad baby was running toward me with what could only be described as a victorious look on his face with my husband, wide eyed, running after him.
A big hug (of course) was followed closely by tears as my husband collected him and brought him back to the office, leaving me feeling simultaneously unprofessional and ridden with mom guilt. And they say this is going to be our reality for the next….month? Maybe more?
I knew then that we need a better plan for this current change to our routine and work life, and if you’re a toddler parent who needs one too, these five tips are for you.
1. A schedule is key. Toddlers do better when they know what to expect. This makes it easier to get them to do what you would like them to do, and helps them resist transitions from one activity to the next less. A picture schedule can be very helpful with toddlers (LOVE the cards I have pictured, which are by DaysWithDesign on Etsy, or you can simply Google pictures and print them out), and once they associate the pictures with an activity it gives you some freedom to change up the schedule when you need to. When using the picture schedule, both say what the activity is “time for ___ to play with his toys!” and show them or point to that picture right before you go to that activity, so they begin to understand what the picture is associated with. We’ve been using the term “working” with our toddler, and telling him we need to “do our job”. We have been telling him what his “job” is too (like cooking in his play kitchen).
2. Kick independent play up a notch. If ever there was a time to become a bit of a “Pinterest mom”, now is the time to do it. Prepping some new toddler activities will go a long way in keeping them engaged while you get work done. Search “toddler airplane activities” for some great ideas that I never would have thought of myself. Another (easier) way to increase independent play? Rotate toys. Split toys you already have into groups of three or four, and keep all but one group boxed away. Every so often announce “new toy day!” and watch almost Christmas morning unfold while you type away on your laptop.
3. Use meal times to get work done. We try to sit down for dinner as a family, but toddlers eat frequently and in this current time I don’t feel guilty about setting my child down in his seat with some preferred snacks (blueberries are his top choice) and getting some work done or a call in while he is happily noshing away.
4. Use naptime as power hour (or two). If you are working from home with kids solo, or if you and your partner aren’t able to take shifts, this is the best time to schedule essential, non-interrupted work time. Try to give yourself a 15-20 minute buffer to make sure your child goes down for the nap, and make that the time you schedule that important call. Try to avoid a call at the 1.5 hour mark, since that’s when your child is most likely to wake up or be sleeping most lightly.
5. Give your child scheduled one-on-one attention. If your child is getting regular attention throughout the day, he or she will be less likely to try get it at a time that is inconvenient to you. You can even signal to them when you are “available”, for instance by showing them that when your headset is in it is “working” time and they need to play by themselves, and when it’s out it’s time for you to play with them.
Unofficial tips 6 and 7? Give yourself a bit of a break. Even with a beautiful schedule, every day isn’t going to go perfectly or even smoothly. Lower your expectations, remind yourself you’re doing the best you can, and don’t feel bad that your kids had a little more screen time than usual today. Instead, balance it with getting outside together when the work day is done. And finally (after my experience from last week), try create an office space with a door!
Anyone else have a great "working from home with kids" story? Share in solidarity below!