If you’ve been working from home with kids since the COVID-19 pandemic, you have probably struggled to work around your kids. It’s not their fault. They’re just not used to the idea that you’re home and can’t play with them. Balancing work and family takes work. Trying to fulfil your full potential at work and being the best parent one can wish for may appear incompatible.
Working from home continues to be a popular way to do things. And in some cases, it is the only way certain positions are carried out. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that you need to make a few changes here and there to make it work.
Set Clear Boundaries When Working from Home with Kids
When it comes to working from home with kids, there are clear boundaries that you have to set. These boundaries make a big difference when it comes to your kids. You want to ensure that the boundaries you set for them are safe and healthy. However, they need to be firm enough that you can get on with work without feeling interrupted.
Make sure they understand that you are working. That you are not to be disturbed unless there is an emergency. Doing something like putting a sign on the door so they understand or simply teaching them. A routine of certain parts of the day is the best way to do it.
Reward Good Behaviour
Teach your kids how to cooperate with you when working from home. The best thing you can do is reward good behaviour. Without thought, it can be perceived as bribery, but it can be an excellent tool when you are working from home with kids.
Kids need to understand that there are specific rules and expectations in life, but when they follow those rules, they are rewarded. This means ensuring they get a nice treat every now and then so they can use their computer games.
These small rules helped make cooperation much more likely and prepare them to fit in with a regular schedule.
Try and Balance
Working from home isn’t great, but at the same time, it’s not great to leave your kids alone and unattended for five days of the working week. So see if you can get a friend or a relative to come up and sit with them for a bit. Everybody loves a visit from grandma or grandpa.
Children still need that valuable contact time with adults, so it’s essential to try and balance leaving them to their own devices with giving them someone to talk to. It’ll make a big difference; trust us on that.
Final Thoughts on Working from Home with Kids
So, when it comes to what you can do to help your kids adjust to the idea of you working from home, there are plenty of options. But first, it’s essential to acknowledge that children are resilient, so they will adjust quickly.
However, by the same token, it’s also important to understand that when it comes to boundaries. You need to set them very clearly. Expecting children to just understand what’s going on isn’t going to work, so you need to take the initiative as a parent. Working from home with kids requires a careful balancing act to ensure you accomplish the task of being an employer/employee and a parent!