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Ah, the joys of summer! Sunshine, laughter, and... kids at home. And with the new WFH (work from home) trend many of us are in now, it’s the ultimate balancing act for parents. But don’t worry, with a bit of planning and a lot of patience, you can make it through the summer months with your sanity intact. Here are some tips to help you navigate working from home with kids during the summer.
Stick to a routine.
Kids thrive on routines, and during the summer, it’s more important than ever to establish one. Set a schedule for wake-up times, meal times, and designated work hours. You could even create a visual schedule that everyone can see, so there’s no confusion about when it’s work time and when it’s playtime. Stick to the routine as much as possible, but also be flexible when needed. Consistency is key, but don’t forget to leave room for some spontaneous fun!
Keep workdays simple. Use your lunch break to plan something interactive or fun for the whole family. Plan days when you eat at home, go out to eat, or maybe have “Summer Fridays” and plan a picnic or another fun summer activity! Having built-in breaks that the kids can count on will help them respect your schedule because they know that soon enough, it’ll be their time with you!
Keep the days busy with activities.
One of the best ways to keep kids entertained and engaged while you work is to have at-home projects and activities lined up. Get creative! Set up a DIY art station with paints, crayons, and paper, or create a mini science lab with simple experiments they can do on their own. Encourage them to explore their interests with themed projects like gardening, cooking, or building forts out of blankets and pillows. Not only will these projects keep them busy, but they’ll also foster creativity and independence.
This takes some planning, but if done right, you can keep them busy with new activities every day! Some easy at-home activities I like to have on hand for my nieces are:
- Coloring books with colored pencils and markers
- Slime and Play-doh
- Finger paint
- Tie dye shirts (this one requires some supervision)
- Board games and cards
- Video games
Include outside fun as often as possible.
Summertime is all about enjoying the great outdoors, so make sure your kids are getting plenty of fresh air and sunshine. Schedule regular outdoor breaks throughout the day/week for bike rides, picnics in the backyard, or nature walks around the neighborhood. If you have a flexible workspace, consider taking your laptop outside and working from the park while the kids play nearby. Not only will the change of scenery be refreshing for you, but it will also give the kids the outdoor time they crave.
Playing outside is also the perfect reward for being good inside all day so you are able to get some work done! I like to do “Summer Fridays” (like I mentioned above) and take my nieces to the local pool for a few hours in the late afternoon on Fridays. It keeps them motivated to allow me to work uninterrupted so I can finish work early and they can get more pool time!
Get creative.
Working from home with kids during the summer may have its challenges, but with a bit of planning and creativity, you can make it a fun and productive experience for everyone involved. Stick to a routine, have plenty of at-home activities on hand, and ensure the kids get plenty of outside time. And remember, above all else, don’t forget to enjoy these precious moments with your little ones—they won’t stay little forever!
Mollie Macklin is a content contributor for The Plinq. Mollie believes knowledge is power and enjoys creating valuable content for young adults navigating big financial decisions to help them create the lifestyle that makes them happy. Mollie also enjoys funny movies, traveling with her boyfriend, playing her Nintendo Switch, and hanging out with her cats in her free time.
