Guide for Parents Working from Home

Mother working from home with Daughter

Guide for Parents Working from Home

Many parents are now facing a new and at times a difficult task during the Coronavirus outbreak. What to do with their kids while they work from home? Working to keep your kids’ education on track while maintaining your work schedule is not easy.

Whether you’re concerned about the new coronavirus, or about the idea of your children staying home from school for an indefinite period, remember to remain calm. Try to frame an explanation for your kids about what’s unfolding in clear terms and separate rumors from reality.

We have created this easy guide to help parents during this difficult time. Most of the resources came from the Mommy Poppins Blog. An excellent resource for you to check out here.

Texas has closed schools to in-classroom until at least May 4th, 2020. What do parents need to know?

On March 31st, 2020, Gov. Abbott issued an executive order to keep schools closed to in-classroom work until May 4th, 2020. Most school districts have released a statement on their website, like the one here on the Frisco ISD webpage.

Most school districts now offer or provide plenty of eLearning opportunities for your children. Check with your school district’s website for the most accurate information regarding closings and eLearning opportunities.

How do I keep my child learning during this time?

Most parents have now received the title of “Homeschooler” overnight. Thankfully, technology has provided us a way to stay connected and to support learning during this difficult time. As previously discussed, there are eLearning opportunities through your district’s website. A lot of teachers have provided resources and learning curricula online for your children to look at and work through.

The biggest thing you can do right now is to provide your child or teen with a daily schedule. Below is an excellent example of a regular schedule. It is essential to create a plan based on the age of your child. Try to be flexible and change up the schedule regularly. The biggest goal with older kids is to set the expectations of what accomplishments need to happen daily; you may not need a schedule.

Daily Family Schedule

There are also plenty of online resources that are commonly free if your school district doesn’t have eLearning opportunities. Try to incorporate some of these options into your daily schedule to keep your kids learning in different ways. Below are a few different options based on age:

What other activities can I do to keep my child busy while I work?

We do recommend investing in some headphones if you don’t already have some. Noise-canceling is the best but sometimes the most expensive. We will let you decide.

If noise-canceling headphones don’t do the trick, here are a few other options. Create a dedicated “Do Not Interrupt” daily time. Signs on doors or at your desk can help let your kids know that mom or dad is in the middle of something.

If the signs stop working, Mommy Poppins Blog offers a creative list of activities your kids can do.

Types of activities you can do include arts and crafts, chores around the house, outdoor playtime (in the backyard or supervised for social distancing), and educational or fun podcasts.

It is essential to discuss the importance of the daily schedule and when is a good time to interrupt mom and dad.

How do I keep my kids active and moving during social isolation?

While learning is important. We also have to keep our kids physically active during social isolation. The goal would be to try and schedule at least 60 minutes a day of physical activity. The good news is you don’t need fancy equipment to make that happen.

Here are a few things you can do to get moving:

  • Get outside for a jog, walk, or bike ride
  • Bust out any sports balls and play with the kids
  • Go backyard camping on the weekend
  • Plant a garden and teach kids about growing plants
  • Try an at Home Workout – try Kids Workouts To Do At Home
  • Have a Dance off with your kids
  • Set up a mini-golf course inside the house
  • If you have a fitness tracker – set a goal to have your kids reach a certain number of steps with a reward if they do!

Working from home with children can be a difficult task to accomplish. Remember to be creative and flexible and try not to be too hard on yourself. The goal should be to keep your family safe and to find the balance that works for you.

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