Tips for Working From Home With Kids Amid COVID-19

COVID-19 has quickly turned daily routines into uprooted schedules. If you're a parent, you're probably facing the sudden responsibility of at-home learning and quarantine. Whether your little ones are eight months or in eighth grade, there's a new level of parenting being unlocked — pandemic parenting. How can you work from home, keep your family busy, and maintain a semblance of normalcy in these unprecedented times? Here are just a few tips for working from home with your kids during COVID-19 shutdowns.

Maintaining Schedules

Remember that while keeping a set schedule isn't necessary, it can be helpful for your entire family. You don't need to have every moment of your day planned out, but keeping a level of structure can aid in mental wellbeing. Various stages of child development actually thrive on routine and require repetition to be effective. If you have toddlers at home, they may need to partake in various activities a few times before it truly sets in as a learned behavior. Instead of scrambling to find daily crafts or games, set weekly plans. Repeat the craft or activity each day and by the end of the week, your little one will have it down as second nature.

For older kids, set a theme for the week with daily plans that fall under the category. Challenge your middle or high school-aged kids to find a new science experiment for each day. Have them research, prepare, and demonstrate it to you and other members of the household. While they're busy doing so, you can get some of your work done. Need some ideas? Buy a pre-planned bible school program and follow it together. You can find exciting kits online like To Mars and Beyond VBS and create a bible camp right in your own home.

Self-Care is Vital

As you navigate your new "normal", remember that it's equally important to take time to care for yourself. If you prioritize others and sacrifice your own wellbeing, it can lead to serious burnout. Set aside time before your family wakes up for the day or after you've put your cherubs to bed, and take some me-time. Read a book, take a bubble bath, go for a run, whatever feeds your soul to keep you going. When you're feeling restored, you'll be able to better focus on the work you need to get done.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, consider online therapy. It's vital to care for your mental health as you care for your family. If you're unsure of how to find a therapist in NYC, DC, or wherever you call home, the answer could be just one click away. Several therapy groups provide their patients with online counseling and tangible coping skills, with both short and long-term effects.

Don't forget to keep appointments. Dental groups like Family Dental Station want to ensure that families continue to take good care of themselves and don't forget about the importance of oral health. If you need a consultation, don't hesitate to call and ask for an appointment.

You're Not Alone

Remember you're not the only one working through these chaotic days. There's no one right way to handle a time like this. At the end of the day, your only goal is to keep your family healthy and safe. No one knows you, your kids, or your family like you do. Keep your expectations at a reasonable level and be open and honest with your loved ones.

While everyone would prefer life as they know it, there are ways to find silver linings in everything. Keep the lines of communication open in your home, work together as a team, and you'll find a pattern that works in due time. Relax the best you can, even just in short moments throughout the day. Spend quality time with the people you love. Regroup and refocus, and you'll find ways to be productive. Love each other, support each other, stay in touch through technology, and remember you're not alone.