As we plunge into another national Lockdown, Angela Spencer shares her top tips for parents working from home.
If having the kids cooped up indoors during the Covid-19 lockdown isn’t challenging enough, try adding to that the prospect of working from home and you’ve got all the ingredients for a recipe for disaster. But don’t panic. Angela Spencer, natural parenting expert and author of Babyopathy: Relaxed Mum, Contented Baby! has some sound advice to guide you through this tricky time.
“Working from home with children is challenging, as if you’re at home, they will obviously want your attention,” says Angela. “But by structuring your day and making a schedule you can all work towards, it will become easier to manage all your needs.”
5 Top Tips for Mums Working From Home During Lockdown
Routine is key
It is vital to keep a routine for the children or they may find it difficult to adjust to their new circumstances. Make sure you get up the same time each day, get dressed and sit down to work for the same hours where possible, so the children learn when you are and aren’t available to them. Although it’s easy to rely on the TV, ideally this should only be for a maximum of two hours throughout the whole day, so it’s a good idea to save it for when you need to make important those important work calls.
Don’t worry if it doesn’t go to plan
Though a routine is a good idea, we all know that even the best-laid plans can go AWOL when children are involved. So go easy on yourself, and them. You are all adjusting, so be prepared to be flexible and if you have to change your working hours to fit around the kids, so be it.
Let them be bored
Another positive that can come from this period of lockdown is for our children to actually learn to be bored. With their over-scheduled lives of school, sport, classes and social activities they rarely have to entertain themselves, so this is a great opportunity for them to learn to do so.
Make a working from home tag team
If your children are old enough to understand your schedule and work needs – that sometimes you will be working and they have to entertain themselves – then that’s great. If they’re still little, you may have to make sure you take turns with your partner so you can both get your work done, and make the most of nap times.
Eat well
Making sure the children get enough exercise and fresh air (make the most of that one hour a day in the parks and enjoy your garden if you have one) will help to keep their sleep patterns from being disrupted. And encourage them to eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables where possible helps to boost their immune systems.
Read More:
- How to Stay Sane When Stuck at Home With a New Baby
- How to Baby Proof Your Home
- The Biggest Worries for Parents in 2020
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