Winter is usually a time for illness. As a result, schools and daycares are deserted, and parents work from home with their little ones around. Here are the top 5 tips gleaned from an author currently in this situation.
- Identify your priorities
On the Super Parents website, we find a first tip that gives a “direction” to the day. A dad named Sebastian, a conductor and composer, suggests that you identify your priorities in advance.
In the evening, before you log off, list in your agenda the 3 priority tasks for the next day… and make sure you do them as early in your day as possible. Make sure that these 3 tasks move you forward on the 3 goals for the week to achieve. You’ll be surprised at what a simple idea, applied with regularity and seriousness, can bring about.”
- Take short breaks
Realistically, kids don’t need to play 100% of the time with us. Alternating between a short period of play, where we give them our full attention, can sometimes buy us an hour of work without solicitation.
What you need to do, says the author of Captain Telework, is to break up your tasks and take short breaks to take care of your children. You can play games, have a meal with your kids or even tell them a little story.”
- Use a visual code to get silence
Kids aren’t always aware of what it can mean to talk on the phone, with an important person on the other end (a boss or client, for example). In a survival kit aimed at telecommuters with children, the Concilivi site gives parents the bright idea of establishing a “silent” communication code. The advice goes like this:
Put a visual symbol on the door if the parent is not to be disturbed. For example, a stop symbol [with the palm of the hand].”
- Have your meetings during quiet time
You know your children. Ideally, you know what time you can schedule a nap or quiet time. Time your meetings or important phone calls to coincide with this strategic time.
- Give your children… a little more freedom!
In this day and age, many parents can’t tolerate letting young children serve themselves drinks, choose and unpack snacks, or take out toys on their own.
Why not take advantage of this confinement to give them a little more freedom and autonomy in managing their daily lives. With a minimum of supervision. And without going too far away, of course! But it’s probably possible to get out the plastic cups, put the snacks on the lower shelf and let them have fun in their room.
On that note, good luck, and speedy recovery to the kiddos!
