{"id":726,"date":"2021-05-27T20:51:28","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T00:51:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.ca\/hub\/?p=726"},"modified":"2023-02-14T12:00:58","modified_gmt":"2023-02-14T17:00:58","slug":"working-from-home-with-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vistaprint.ca\/hub\/working-from-home-with-kids","title":{"rendered":"How to work from home with kids"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
The World Health Organization has declared a pandemic as COVID-19 spreads rapidly around the globe. For most non-essential employees, our local and state government have mandated we work from home. Same with our children \u2013 schools and daycares have shut down with social distancing (and even stay-at-home orders) put in place. This situation has sent millions of parents around the globe into new and uncharted territory: how do we navigate working from home with our kids by our side?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This new normal most likely won\u2019t be smooth sailing. There might even be a bump (or twelve) in the road. We talked to Vistaprint employees from around the world to see how they\u2019re navigating working at home while parenting full-time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Here are five things they\u2019ve said that have made their lives a bit easier while working from home with kids. And remember \u2013 we\u2019re all in this together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Easier said than done, we know. We\u2019re not talking about a strict, minute by minute breakdown…just two to three-hour blocks of time with a rough outline of what everyone is doing. You don\u2019t have to include things you do naturally, like eat or sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bhavani Lee, mom to an eight-year-old son located in our Sydney, Australia office says, \u201cWe\u2019ve tried to implement a fluid schedule with a few dedicated activities to keep us motivated. For example, exercising in the morning, having breakfast\/lunch together, going for a quick afternoon walk and having dedicated time for free play. We also set up alarms during the day that act like school bells \u2013 so our son has recess and lunch the same time as he would at school.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Take shifts with your partner.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you have a partner stuck at home with you, consider swapping times when you each work. For example, you get up early and work until everyone\u2019s awake, then swap off with your partner until lunchtime. Then you swap off until lunch. Rinse and repeat until dinner \u2013 or until you feel like you\u2019re in a good spot for the day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Slim Guizani, dad of two and team lead in our Tunisia location, agrees with this tactic. \u201cI\u2019ve been waking up two hours before the kids get up. I enjoy the silence and get to focus on my most time-consuming work while my wife sleeps in. We then switch off watching the kids every hour during the day \u2013 and use our kids\u2019 nap time to deliver quick tasks: checking on the team, answering emails and doing stand ups.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Get up and go outside.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s amazing what a little fresh air will do. Stepping outside \u2013 even if it\u2019s on your balcony \u2013 can help clear your head and get you energized for work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
David Reeson, dad of one, and a colleague in our Barcelona office has had to get creative given his city living set-up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy daughter is almost three, so she has lots of energy to burn. Spain has a strict stay-at-home order, so we\u2019ve taken to playing games on our small balcony. Hopscotch, arts and crafts, theatre, etc. Today we did a music session. I introduced her to some jazz greats while we danced and played all the musical instruments we had in the house.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, get out there \u2013 if you can \u2013 and take that conference call while taking a socially-distanced stroll in your neighborhood or hanging on your porch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. Let the little things go.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Now\u2019s not the time to worry about keeping your house spotless or your hair on point. It\u2019s also not the time to worry about your coworkers seeing your kids playing ninja behind you on a video call, or your partner taking a conference call in the same room as you. Remember, we\u2019re in this together, and we\u2019re all experiencing similar challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Matina Fell, mom to three in our Waltham, Massachusetts location, agrees. \u201cI thought my kids were set up with their iPads during a video call I was on. Turns out, they had other ideas, and decided to run around behind me. It actually lightened the meeting mood, and we all had a laugh. Instead of being embarrassed, I tried to roll with the punches.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Embrace a little screen time.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Experts say that children should get no more than one hour of screen time per day. But when you\u2019re trying to take a conference call or finish a report, don\u2019t be afraid to turn to a favourite movie or funny Youtube video. There are plenty of educational programs out there, too, so your kids can stay occupied while learning math or science.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Erin McGarry, a mom of two based out of our Massachusetts office, has turned to technology for keeping her sons in touch with their friends. \u201cSince my boys are school-aged, they miss the friends they\u2019re used to seeing every day. We\u2019ve turned to Skype, Zoom and FaceTime so they can chat with their buddies and play games online together. It\u2019s a sort of virtual play date, and it\u2019s definitely helped them stay connected.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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