Parents of Toddlers: A Survival Guide to Working From Home
Hi Mommies,
I’m so excited to share a guest blog from the founder of Parenting Disasters with you. Janice Russell believes the only way to survive parenthood is to find the humor in it. She created Parenting Disasters so that parents would have a go-to resource whenever they needed a laugh, but also to show parents they aren’t alone. She wants every frazzled parent out there to remember that for every kid stuck in a toilet, there’s another one out there somewhere who’s just graced their parents’ walls with some Sharpie artwork!
Hope you enjoy this blog and check out Parenting Disasters too!
xx MommieMix
Parents of Toddlers: A Survival Guide to Working From Home
If you are like many parents right now, you’re learning how to navigate a work-from-home schedule. Instead of going into the office every morning, you wake up to a full house and juggle taking care of your little ones and balancing your work schedule. Fortunately, there are some methods that can help you adapt to your new lifestyle. Read on for some great tips!
Split Your Work Into Blocks
For those who work remotely, the standard workday may be a thing of the past. If you have a job that allows you to choose your hours, consider splitting your work into blocks. This is also known as windowed work.
You could start your day with breakfast and a couple of hours dedicated to work. Then, once your toddler wakes up, invest your time in childcare for a few hours. Delegate chunks of time to job-related tasks and, in between, take your breaks, have lunch with the family or grocery shop if you need to. Be sure to set aside time to engage and connect with your toddler; NAEYC recommends some face-to-face time on a daily basis, and doing some activities your little one chooses.
When you have your schedule set, it can take a lot of weight off your chest. Remember that when you are working, you should set aside a workspace where you can focus solely on the job at hand. Ensure the space is free of negativity. Redfin explains this means both physical and psychologicaladjustment; you might need to do some decluttering and check negativity in your household. Make sure that your family knows that it is time for work and ask not to be disturbed.
Don’t forget to look into cybersecurity strategies if you are working online. VPNs, anti-malware and other software options can protect from online threats and identity theft, and if you have youngsters interacting with electronics, parental controls also help keep trouble at bay.
Motivate Toddlers To Play Independently
Independent playtime is critical to a child’s development. If your toddler is busy playing, then you can focus more of your attention on your job’s duties. Independent play requires you to not be present constantly. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t stop supervising your toddler but let him or her play in the bedroom or where they cannot see you. Give them safe toys or books to play with on their own.
You, on the other hand, should always be able to see them. You can always keep a monitor at your desk or crack the door so that you can listen and watch. Independent play motivates your child to problem-solve. For instance, when children stack blocks and they fall, they try again until they learn how to balance the blocks properly.
Offer Your Toddler Attention
While your partner and older children may be able to respect that it’s time for you to work, your toddler may not necessarily understand the importance. Parenting requires you to be understanding. Odds are your baby is used to you giving him or her your undivided attention. Children do need your attention, and without it, they may begin to show attention-seeking behavior. Some positions are more flexible than others and if you can take a break from your work to handle childcare, do it.
Some kids like to pull up a chair to the desk to watch their parents while they work. Show your toddler what you’re doing, engage with them and let them watch or play nearby if they want to. One thing to remember, your children are your responsibility, and in order to survive working from home, don’t feel guilty about giving them the attention they need.
When you work from home, it can feel like a complete lifestyle change. Parenting and work duties are hard to balance. Although it can be stressful, with an effective game plan it can also be quite rewarding.
Look toMommieMixfor more information and inspiring ideas, as well as for terrific books, prints and styling tips