It can be hard to juggle working from home with being a full-time parent — especially during the holidays. So, here's a list of useful tips, activities and advice to make this balancing act a little bit easier.
Let's face it: Balancing work life and family life can be challenging - especially when your home is your new office.
But don’t worry. Whether you’re struggling to maintain routine or coping with stress, we've got tips and advice to help support you and your family.
Keep a structure
It's easy for the boundaries between work and home life to become a little blurred. But we all benefit from a consistent routine, especially children.
If you can, try to create a daily routine and stick to it. For instance, you could set time aside:
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to relax and practice self-care
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for mealtimes
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to talk to your children about their day and how they’re feeling
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for your children to create or play games
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for your children to watch tv or to do homework
Not only will this help you structure your workday, but it might help your children feel grounded and calm. For younger children, factoring in naps is a great way to get some quiet time too.
Youtube
YouTube offers educational and entertaining content for your child, right at their fingertips.
With a few clicks, you can discover a range of videos that are perfect for learning, discovery and teaching your children about the world around them.
Below are some popular channels shared by parents. However, as with all media, it’s important that you always research this content yourself to see if it’s suitable for your family:
Activities
When you can’t spend one-on-one time with your children, try not to feel guilty. A necessary part of working from home is teaching your child how to play independently.
For instance, if deadlines are stacking up, here are some ways you could help them pass the time:
Arts and crafts
From painting and scribbling to cutting and gluing, arts and crafts are a great way for your children to spend the day.
Not only will it encourage their creativity, but it’s also a therapeutic outlet if they’re struggling with any difficult thoughts or feelings.
If you have a young child, it might even be worth making a ‘Busy Bag’. Packed with arts and crafts supplies, this is a bag that your child can easily pull out and get creative with. Fill it with paper, pencils, glue and craft items like ice lolly sticks, pipe cleaners, googly eyes and stickers.
Or, if you have older children, why not save your old magazines and encourage them to make collages?
Baking
From the pride of making your first batch of cookies to those nostalgic ‘just-one-more-lick-of the-spoon' moments, baking is a great activity for children.
Plus, as well as imagination and creativity, do you know you need maths skills to be a top baker? For example, you might need to divide 1kg of cake mixture into ten equal portions or add up all the yummy ingredients about to go into the mixing bowl!
If you want to bake a massive difference, you could even get involved in our Big Bake fundraiser.
Download our Barnardo’s Big Bake pack for some ideas, including incredible cakespiration and top tips courtesy of Barnardo’s ambassador and keen baker, Fay Ripley!
Board games
If you have puzzles or board games stashed away in the cupboard, now is a great time to dig them out. Even if they groan at first, many kids get competitive once they get stuck in.
Keep everyone active
It can be difficult to keep your kids moving. But it can do wonders for their mental health, whether they’re toddlers or teenagers. If you have time, perhaps you could go for a walk on your lunch break together?
Online play dates and video chatting with family
If there’s a spare phone or laptop in the house, setting up online playdates for your children is a great way to keep their spirits high. Organise ahead of time so there’s something to look forward to.
Keeping a diary
Why not encourage your child to jot down what they did during the day? It’s a great way for them to talk about their feelings and get their creative brains working.
For instance, you could ask them to write about what they like about being at home, what they wish was different and how they feel that day.
Audiobooks and podcasts
There’s nothing like getting lost in a good story – and nowadays, audiobooks and podcasts aren’t just for adults.
Many classic children’s stories are now available on audiobook and there are plenty of new podcasts that offer a fun alternative to screen time.
Below are some recommendation lists. But, as always, content should be checked by the responsible adult first:
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