Kiddipedia
By SuperWAHM’s Melinda Jameson*
Working from home has become more common than ever.
While there are many advantages to it, for many parents- who also have kids at home – the juggling can be very challenging. Whether it is your pre-schooler in constant need of attention or your older kid doing home-school, it is not uncommon for parents to go a little crazy when they have strict work deadlines and meetings to attend.
Even the best-behaved kids can find it hard to understand that you can’t just drop everything and spend time with them. However, a combination of rules, strategies and having a few activities planned out that you can give your kids to do can be just what you need to provide you with the break you need while you’re on an important call or need to focus for a while.
Before we get to the activities, it is important to keep it real! In my experience, even the most entertaining activities will fail if you don’t establish some rules around working from home with your family.
Some basic rules and strategies include:
- Talk to your kids about the importance of your work and about your need to focus on it. In my experience, kids often understand a lot more than we assume.
- Set boundaries with your kids. Explain that for a certain amount of time, unless strictly necessary, they should not interrupt you. Of course, it may take time for kids to understand what’s important and what’s not, but keep on persisting.
- Set boundaries with your work. One of the downsides of working from home is that a lot of people may think you are available 24/7. While there can be exceptions, taking that call or completing that task outside of your work schedule should not become a permanent habit.
- Get organised beforehand. Have snacks, drinks and activities before work starts. Show your kids where to find them and encourage them to pace themselves – especially if you have hungry teenagers!
- An alarm or any timing device can help kids identify when to come to you. You can stipulate that for one hour, you may not be interrupted. If you have a partner at home, you can also take turns as to who gets to be interrupted!
- Get help if you can – it could be the grandparents taking the kids for a walk or your neighbour with kids looking for playmates!
What are the best activities to keep kids busy?
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Colouring In
Colouring in is a classic kids activity for a reason. It works. It can be a little underrated for older kids, but honestly, anyone, even parents, can get absorbed in colouring in. A good stash of colouring-in books can keep your kids occupied for a good long time. To get the best effects, try to have a couple of different books for your kids to choose from. When they can mix and match their pictures, it keeps them entertained for longer.
The only other piece of the puzzle is the colouring in tools. Most kids prefer bright colours. The older they are, the more colours they will want. If you are using pencils, make sure you give them a pencil sharpener as well. For older or more artistic kids, you can get some fantastic watercolour sets. This can elevate colouring into something more exciting.
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Reading
Reading is an excellent activity for kids. As soon as they are reading on their own, you can set them up with a nice cosy spot to curl up in and read their books. Books are a great way to escape, and it also gives you something for you all to talk about later.
If you don’t have many books at home or haven’t made a trip to the library, don’t despair. There are some fantastic library apps that will run on pretty much any device. These can offer your kids a wide choice of books at the right level for them.
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Exercise Video
Getting active is great for helping kids to feel better and can help them focus more on other activities. So if you can get your kids to follow along with an exercise video, you can get a double benefit. They’ll be entertained for the length of the class, and they’ll be better able to settle down at another activity later in the day.
There are lots of options when it comes to exercise videos for kids. You can find something to suit any age or preference. Youtube can be a gold mine for this. Kids yoga videos are a great option if you need a little bit of quiet time.
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Educational Apps
A lot of us have guilt about the amount of time our kids are spending on screens. But what matters is what our kids are doing on their screens. If you can find some educational games or learning apps that your kids enjoy, why not make use of them? Kids can learn just as well from doing puzzles on a screen as they can with a pen and paper.
There are loads of incredible options no matter what age your kids are; Duolingo, Teach My Monster To Read, Math Games, or even just sudoku, crosswords, and jigsaw style games. There are lots of options. Anything that gets your kids thinking has value.
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Get Crafty
There are loads of amazing crafts that your kids can learn. So whether you opt for a classic like crochet, watercolour painting or model building, or a new kids craze like rainbow looms, there will be the right craft for your kids.
The great thing about craft projects is that they take both time and focus. It’s the kind of thing kids can spend hours working on and perfecting. If you are worried that your kids might need some support, then you can find loads of great how-to videos on Youtube. Not only can your kids learn a new skill, but they can also develop their independent learning skills.
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Board Games and Puzzles
Board games, jigsaws and puzzles books are great options that are easily forgotten. If you’re worried about the amount of screen time your kids have, then going a little old school is a great option. With more than one child, you can get them set up with a board game to play. There are also loads of great ones that can be played by one child at a time.
These activities are great for giving you a good chunk of quiet time and also allow your kids to build skills. They teach problem-solving, numeracy, and social skills. If you don’t have any jigsaws on hand, a quick trip to a charity store is an easy way. It is also worth checking whether you have a tool library or toy library near you. They are becoming very popular and are a great source of games and toys.
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Building Toys
A great option for keeping kids occupied are building toys. Building toys allows kids to get creative, helps them develop special awareness and even mathematical skills. It’s also a fun, imaginative toy to use.
Magnetic bricks, wooden blocks and even paper cups are all excellent options for keeping kids entertained. You can just let their imaginations run free or set them a challenge. Good choices include building Christmas trees, bridges, and cities.
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Video Call With Family
Even if you don’t have anyone at home with you, that doesn’t mean that you can’t make use of family to help you. If your kids aren’t great at entertaining themselves, then a good option is to set up a phone call with a grandparent.
Regular video calls are an easy option, and most kids can operate them alone. However, if you want something a little more interactive. Some excellent video call applications allow callers to share a screen for things like reading books together.
Just having an adult on the end of a video call to chat to and show their toys can take the pressure off while you’re busy. It’s a great way to get support with your child care without getting your family to travel.
Don’t feel guilty!
Finally, the most important thing is that you don’t feel guilty! The art of entertaining ourselves is
a skill your kids will likely be grateful to learn and to have for the rest of their lives.
About the author:
Melinda Jameson is a WAHM (working at home mum). She founded SuperWAHM with the goal of helping women to earn money for themselves and their families while working from home, AND still have plenty of time to spend with children and partner.
