The recent restrictions with the Covid-19 have completely altered the way we are accustomed to living our daily lives. For families with young children, this new way of life without the option to go out with your children, engage in fun activities and with no school or interaction with other kids, have brought changes that will challenge the boldest of parents.

Life for parents and children has changed dramatically and as a working parent, the whole thing just got a lot harder; you now find yourself not only trying to cater to the needs of children’s education, entertainment and well-being, but also juggling your job commitments and remaining professional, all in the same space.  Is it possible?

Well, yes, it is – but don’t expect perfection and don’t expect it to work overnight. There will be an element of trial and error to work out what the main challenges are and the best ways to address them for your family.

How easily this will work for you will depend on your set up: whether both parents are working, whether you have help in your home, and the ages of your children. Again, the key is not to panic and to remember that perfection is unlikely and that you are not alone.

This really is a time to dispense with pre-conceived ideas of how things will work – make the best plan you can and just throw yourself into it and you will soon see what works and what doesn’t. For example, some children will be perfectly happy to immerse themselves in a creative activity or a movie whilst you make that all important phone call for work, whilst others may become clingy and whiny if they feel you are shutting them out.

Once again, a schedule will be of the utmost importance right now – even if your children are too young to read and understand the schedule themselves, it will be a great point of reference to keep you on track and to feel more in control of your day.

Aside from the schedule which is your most important tool in family survival right now, here are a few tips for working parents which are worth considering.

• If Mum and Dad are both working from home, it may help to take their working time in shifts if this is possible, where each parent takes a turn at ‘do not disturb’. This is particularly helpful with younger children who do not so readily understand that their parents should not be interrupted.

• Communicate clearly with colleagues that you are working from home and that it is possible you may be interrupted on a call – agree on a strategy for that scenario. You do not need to make a point of it all the time, but it is sensible to allow colleagues to know if there is a possibility of interruption, so that you can manage expectations. With so many people in the same situation, most colleagues will be accommodating.

• Your work space ideally needs to have a door – it is fine to leave the door ajar so that young children do not feel cut off from you, but it is important that they know when they can and when they cannot disturb you.

• A great idea with young children is to have them help you make signs, perhaps a thumbs up or a thumbs down, a red and green sign, or ‘stop’ and ‘go’, whatever works for you. This will help them feel involved and understand that when the sign is up they should not enter. Ideally with young children this will take place as frequently but will be useful when you are on a call.

• Make sure children are settled and occupied before you claim your time at your desk; this will involve ensuring no one is hungry, thirsty or needs the toilet (young children), making sure that they have a task or a project which they do not need help with (school work may need assistance) and that they understand that you will tell them when you are finished so that they can relax and not feel like they need to keep checking if you are available which is unsettling for them and distracting for you.  

• Young kids are very keen on knowing ‘what happens next?’. Tell them that once you are finished, it will be time for them to help cook dinner or to do an activity with you or for playtime in the garden/balcony. This situation is strange for them too, and knowing what happens next is a big deal for little kids.

• Don’t panic too much if you find that you are exposing your kids to more screen time than you usually would – you are in survival mode and you must do what you need to. Try to make sure you’re incorporating a good balance of activities but if there is a bit more of TV or video time, especially in the initial days, just make sure it’s on the schedule rather than just fallen into, and be clear with your children that this is an exceptional allowance and not a regular part of their schedule.

• Boundaries are important for children as well as managing expectations from colleagues, but it is also important to schedule some time for yourself. It is natural to feel guilty for excluding your children for parts of the day and to feel you must spend every other waking minute with them, however it is important that you spend some private time by yourself even if it is a simply a hot bath, meditation, reading or exercise.

• It can inevitably put strain on a relationship when parents are trying to juggle work from home and take care of kids with no respite. Your relationship is the backbone of your household and your family so taking time to invest in that is important right now. It is hard when everyone is stressed and feeling claustrophobic, but little gestures can make a difference to the harmony of your relationship. If you see your husband or wife struggling offer to make them a cup of tea or give them a hug. If you have been short tempered make amends quickly, and if your partner is stressed and snappy try to be tolerant and forgiving. It is about minimising tension in our homes and showing by example to our children that there is love, tolerance and security in their home and that their parents are a united front.  

• Remember that in-spite of the challenges, the juggling, the scheduling and the inevitable crazy moments, this is also a rare time for you to just be with your children in a way that our regular lives don’t allow. Be gentle on yourself; it won’t last forever and it was never going to be easy, but with some planning and setting realistic expectations, it will be fine. Remember to enjoy the down time because we’re in a situation where we can do so with no pressure to be somewhere else other than exactly where we are.