Working from home with your kids around is a real challenge. Keeping a schedule is one of the best ways to navigate through the day. Be flexible and make time to take breaks with your kids.
Illustrations by Kendall Ivey
Before the day begins
Go over the rules and expectations with the kids. Phone calls are the times to be quiet. Are they to stay in one room? Set a reasonable schedule.
Morning chores can include reading a list of rules, making their beds, feeding a pet, getting dressed, brushing and flossing your teeth, washing your face and hands with soap, etc.
8-9 am: Family time!
Have breakfast together. Have the kids gather the items they need for the day. If needed, write a list of items to get for the week.
9-10 am: Homework
Kids can do lessons online. Buy a workbook or find relevant worksheets online. Download practice exams if a big assessment is coming up.
Little kids can learn too! Use alphabet magnets to practice their letters. Group blocks or other small toys into color blocks. Play counting games.
10-11 am: Snack and quiet time
Kids should read books during this time. If they finish early, they can write an essay that’s related to the book topic. Little kids can draw pictures or create paper dolls of the characters they read about.
11-11:45 am: Free time
Kids should play freely with their toys. Have them look up a craft on YouTube that they can try to do in the afternoon.
11:45-noon: Clean up
Kids should clean up any toys they’ve taken out. If you use your dining room table for their homework area, have them get the table ready for lunch. Possible chores can include washing or putting away dishes, taking out the trash and recyclables, feed a pet, spot cleaning, etc.
Noon-1pm: Lunch time
Plan a cooking activity that will get the kids involved in making lunch. Little kids can help wash fruit or vegetables. Bigger kids can help make the food. Everyone helps clean up.
1-2pm: Electronics are permitted
Utilize screen time wisely around any meetings you need to attend via phone or web conference. If you have small children, nap times are when you can catch up on critical projects.
3-4pm: Snack and Free time
Have them make a simple and nutritious snack. Remember the YouTube tutorial? Now’s the time to have them work on that new project. Or learn something new through a virtual tour or an educational video.
Bored? Consider having them work on chores if they get bored. Have the older kids help you with any tasks, like organizing rooms or shredding documents. Younger kids can help tidy up your office.
4-6pm: Go outside
Decompress from your workday and do an activity with your kids. Try yoga. Have a push-up contest. Go for a walk. Ride bikes or scooters. Anything to get everyone moving.
Start to plan for dinner.
6pm-8pm: Dinner, family time and kids get ready for bed.
Nighttime chores can include taking out trash and recyclables, washing or putting away dishes, feed a pet, or other small tasks to tidy up. Stick with the usual bedtime route of showers, brushing and flossing your teeth, and preparing for the next day.
Parents: Consider finishing any projects that have a morning deadline after the kids have gone to bed. Set a moderate time to work as necessary. Plan around scheduled activities.
