Working from home with your kids isn't easy. Here are some tips from your coworkers to help you cope with our current reality.
Art by Nathan Sadler, age 9
- If you have kids at home, stop each hour to check in and get them set up with another activity, if age appropriate.
- Create a schedule for kids so they aren't asking for screen time all day.
If you find yourself home with kids, create a similar schedule for them to follow.
Art by Anthony Cerminara, age 11
- I have my kids on a routine. They do not need me in the morning. They know how to get up, brush their teeth, get dressed and get cereal. I try to do those things while they are still sleeping.
Art by Anthony Cerminara, age 11- My children and grandchildren are used to me working from home, as I have been teaching online in some capacity for the past 11 years. Now that they are out of school, I schedule my breaks to do a short activity with my grandkids, who are aged 3 and 5. It has created a fun atmosphere and they leave me alone to work after the breaks yet look forward to later in the day when we have that time.
- The children know if my fingers are typing, they must wait.
- My kids have two-hour activity schedules. It varies by day depending on the temperature and what they did the previous day. Here are some suggestions:
- Two hours with no electronic devices (TV, computers, phones, etc.) They must draw, read, play with actual toys, etc. Whatever they want!
- Two hours of something educational. I don’t care what is used. Watch educational TV shows, go on ABCmouse, play math games, read a book, etc.
- If it’s at least 45 degrees outside, two hours of playing outside.
- Finally, two hours of whatever they want! By that time the work day is done!
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I have two daughters at home, one a college freshman, the other a high school freshman. I highly recommend that they move their desks or work areas opposite of the wall, so they are facing the person who enters the room. That way they see other family walking around the house or hallways and aren’t just looking at a screen against the wall.
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If you have a college student at home, watching live or recorded sessions, why not watch one together and learn something new.
Art by Alex Cerminara, age 9
There are many websites circulating online with activities for little ones. There are no links here due to potential network security issues. A simple Google search should provide results.
- Virtual Field Trips – I heard of one from Freedom Homeschooling.
- Zoo Tours – Cincinnati Zoo is giving tours Facebook at 3:00 p.m., but moving to YouTube shortly.
- Virtual Rides - You can find Disneyland and Disney World on YouTube with Space Mountain, Slinky Dog Dash, It’s a Small World, and Frozen Ever After.
- Nursery Rhymes – Cocomelon is on YouTube.
- Sight Words – Jan Richardson is on YouTube.
- Help with letters – kids can create words by stamping letters in the Play-Doh.
- Starfall is a free educational app.
- Sesame Street has a free website and a free app.
- Indoor and outdoor scavenger hunts.
- Setting up obstacle courses for exercise; let them complete it, then modify to test their skills.
