What To Do When Kids Have No School But You Have Work

Working from home has been a huge change for families across the globe, but it has been an even bigger change for parents. With schools going interactive and childcare centers shutting their doors, those with young children are trying to find ways to entertain the children so they can be productive during work hours. Online class certainly helps, but what about when they have school off? How do you keep the family supervised, safe, and comfortable, while you get work done? We’re here to help you answer these questions!

Establish a daily routine

The most productive way to make sure that you and the little ones get work done is to make a regular schedule so that everybody knows what is required of them at what times. During school breaks, such as lunch, recess, or snack time, try to plan certain activities. If possible, set up your lunch break with your kids so that all of you can share a meal together. But assign an activity for each day for the smaller breaks. For instance, your kiddo could watch cartoons during their break on Fridays, and then they can work on a puzzle on Mondays.

Looking for activities outside the home? School or city supported sports, theater, or art programs are a great option, particularly for after virtual school. But these programs can fill up quickly when many parents are searching for alternative daycare options, so make sure you sign up early!

Expectations

Much like it will help your family stay on track by creating a daily routine, so will setting expectations for the entire family. It’s important that you, as well as your entire family, set goals for yourself, work, and family time. This can also help line up vacations and winter breaks between school and work.

If you do get the chance to line up vacations with winter school breaks or other time off, a local staycation is always a fun choice. It’s a fun way to help local museums, entertainment venues or zoos when exploring your hometown!

Finding childcare

When many parents face the challenge of a work and school overlapping and most daycare centers shuttered, they are searching for different childcare options. If you are looking for active camps to keep the kids busy, your local Pump It Up is a great choice. Pump It Up provides Open Jump or Camp Pump It Up. Both of which allow for supervised open play without having to rent out the entire facility. There are also some wonderful programs funded by the park and recreation department of your local community that will guarantee that your child is having fun when you are busy at work.

Family, relatives or in-home daycare are other options for childcare. Friends or family members may have children the same age and are happy to arrange playdates at home so you can work for a few hours in peace. You can return the favor and take turns if they need some time to focus as well. Also, in-home daycare is a nice option for those looking for a professional caretaker. Often they have fewer children at once and are state-regulated.

Other ways to get it to work

If you’ve been through the list and are still having some difficulty, consider a solution that is closer to home. When you work, your kids can find plenty to do without them having to come to you every few minutes. Encourage them to play outdoors if the weather allows for some fresh air! If your children are too young outside by themselves, try a different activity. Letting them pick their favorite movie and meal for their “lunch” period in the afternoon is fun and will keep their attention for hours. This will not work for every day of the week, of course, but it is a great choice for a little extra treat once in a while.

Finally, looking for a place to join family or friends and have the kids play while you all focus on work? You can rent a private venue! This may sound pricey, but if you split the price with family or friends facing the same problem you are, the price will drastically decrease. Indoor facilities like Pump It Up offer an indoor playground with larger-than-life inflatables that are sanitized after each event for the health and protection of your child.

We know that these days have been full of change and it’s not easy to adapt to working from home with little ones, but you are sure to find the best match for your family with these ideas. For more information about how Pump It Up camps and services can provide supervision and fun memories, visit https://www.pumpitupparty.com/.