10 Practical Ways to Work From Home With Kids

Did you know that 70% of people around the world work from home at least one day each week?

Thanks to technology, anyone can bring their office with them wherever they go. However, if you’re a parent, you already understand how challenging it can be to get anything done when they’re at home with you.

Do you want to know how to work with kids when you’re all on the same schedule? Keep reading to learn 10 tips that can help you work from home with kids so you can reach your full potential.

1. Be Prepared with Lots of Entertainment

Making sure your kids at work on other fun projects is the best way to ensure you can be at work, too. When your kids are bored, they’re more likely to either interrupt you constantly for attention or find a way to cause lots of noise. Lots of parents who are pros at working with kids suggest setting up a big play box full of all kinds of games and activities that can keep them preoccupied.

Music, movies, shows, and podcasts are other simple ways you can provide hours of entertainment without having to be in the room as them.

2. Set Boundaries When Necessary

In an ideal setup, you should be able to have your own home office space that’s reserved for you and your work. Even if you do have a separate room, kids can still barge in at the worst times. This is why establishing extra boundaries can help you avoid any embarrassing or distracting interruptions.

One good idea is to have a stoplight system in place. If you have a red sign on your door, your kids will need to learn that they have to behave and stay out of your office until your meeting or other important work is finished. A yellow light can mean that you’re busy but you can stop to help them if it’s a quick fix while green means you have more free time for them.

3. Take Advantage of Nap Times

If your kids are still young enough to need nap times, try to coordinate your work schedule with the timeframes when they’ll be asleep. Whether you’re a graphic designer who uses tools like https://setapp.com/how-to/paint-for-mac or a freelance writer, you’d be surprised by how much faster you can get things done when you know you won’t be interrupted.

The best part is that most kids have a predictable schedule when it comes to taking naps. This means you can try to plan to do your hardest work during this period.

4. Communicate Your Needs with Your Partner

Although telecommuting allows you to spend more time with your kids and enjoy more flexibility, there is a tough learning curve for work-from-home parents. Communicating your needs with your partner is the best way to ensure they can do everything possible to make your work/life balance healthier. Talking about your rules can help them show support in front of your kids if they ever try to find ways around your rules.

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Recruit Extra Help

Hiring a part-time or even a full-time babysitter can take a lot of weight off of your shoulders and allow you to dive deep into your work. This tip can be especially helpful for parents working from home with a baby. Unlike older children, your baby won’t be able to care for themselves or stop crying on their own most of the time.

6. Do Practice Runs and Reward Good Behavior

If you’re implementing a new rule or trying to teach your kids how to behave during certain work situations, training them will lead to the best results. When kids have time to practice how you want them to behave, they’ll be more prepared when it’s the real deal. Make sure to praise and reward your kids to reinforce positive behaviors.

7. Set Aside Time to Spend with Your Kids Each Day

Lots of kids don’t understand why you can’t always take a break to play a game with them. In their eyes, having you at home is a big tease because they want to spend hours with you. Empathizing with their desires can strengthen your bond and help them behave well if they can expect special time together at some point during the day.

8. Find a Schedule that Maximizes Your Productivity

Who says a 9 to 5 is the best way to be productive? Depending on your ability to focus, you may even be able to cram an 8-hour workday into 4 hours or less. Whether you need to do short bursts of work spaced throughout the day or have a few uninterrupted hours in the morning, do what you need to do to get through your work as quickly and painlessly as possible.

9. Invest in a High-Quality Headset

No matter how well-mannered your children may be, there are unavoidable times when their games will cause background noise. For this reason, it’s important to invest in a high-quality headset that can help cancel out their noises. If you’re worried about the cost, it’s comforting to know that a headset would qualify as a home office tax deduction.

10. Learn When You Need to Take Breaks

Even if you follow all of these tips, some days will still feel impossible for reasons that are out of your control. When this happens, it’s important to remember to be kind and patient with yourself. If you feel overwhelmed, take some time to step away, hug your kids, and practice some self-care.

Although It’s Challenging at Times, Any Parent Can Work from Home with Kids

Learning how to work from home with kids is never easy, but you’d be surprised by how peaceful your living space can be once everyone has the chance to adjust to your new lifestyle and rules. Remember that patience and flexibility are two of the most important skills you need to thrive as a telecommuting parent.

Do you want to learn other ways you can revolutionize the way you do business? Explore our site to find more expert tips and guides.