Working from home with kids – 8 rules to follow

In the middle of the lockdown, there was a group that was especially burdened by the new reality – parents. Remaining a productive employee while having a preschooler in-house can be exhausting to the point of insanity. But despite being hard, it is not impossible, especially when following several tips we deliver below – real-life tips for working from home with kids.

The lockdown can be considered the largest stress-test ever conducted when it comes to workforce management. According to the European Commission report about the remote work after the COVID, up to 40% of the EU-based workforce was transferred to full-time telework. This group includes both the specialists used to work remotely (like IT experts) and those who never experienced it before (the office clerks, for example).

Moreover, all the education has come online, delivering multiple challenges unseen before, including pranksters hijacking the lesson or pupils using Wikipedia during the class test.

But in the middle of this lockdown-induced madness, there were silent heroes of everyday life – parents trying to juggle full-time jobs and full-time childcare. Many began asking themselves how to manage work-from-home life with kids, or even more specifically, how to work from home with a 1-year-old.

Working 48/14

During the lockdown, parents and children have faced multiple challenges that were difficult to imagine before. Teenagers were experiencing hard times resulting from the separation from their peers and friends. According to the Stanford research, this group has been severely hit by the pandemic reality, with a much higher risk of experiencing anxiety and depression in the future.

Younger children faced a hard experience of staying home with parents who they love, yet they had no time for them – they were at work at home, after all. But for a preschooler, it made no sense – mum and dad are home, not at work, they work in a high building made of glass and steel, right?

Actually, not. But it was difficult to understand for a 4-year-old. So, in fact, many parents had to juggle working for 24 hours every day to keep their productivity and taking care of their children for another 24 hours – there was no school or preschool during the lockdown. They didn’t know what to do with kids during COVID-19 or how to work from home with kids, especially while trying to meet normal work hours.

Working from home with children – especially a little one – requires new strategies and adjustments. For some, it even became a moment to explore remote jobs with kids as a long-term solution. Finding the right child care options or building new routines was essential.

This sums up to 48 hours every day for all 14 days of the week.

It would be funny if it weren’t true.

How to successfully work from home

The March lockdown ended, but the pandemic is not burning out. According to the article published in Nature, the second wave of the pandemic (that is already coming) can be even more deadly than the first one.

Furthermore, what was done will not be easily undone, and with companies already battle-tested the remote work to be cost-efficient, the paradigm is here to stay for longer. For better or for worse, especially for parents dealing with young kids at home and trying to balance work and parenting.

So there is no other way than to prepare, so did the Calamari team and prepared a list of tips and suggestions for those locked on the home work with their children. These are the real ones, not the news from the perfect world of the nearly mute children living in an ever-tidy room. Only battle-tested advice from people who work with kids, especially when you're dealing with small kids or older children and trying to make it work in a hybrid or remote work environment.

Be flexible about your schedule

Working eight hours in a row is a myth, with office workers having coffee breaks and physical workers investigating how to take a quick rest during the day. The need to re-energize is natural, and there is no point in proving else.

On the other hand, though, when stuffing the work and the re-energizing breaks in an office, individuals can deliver enough time squeezed together to get work done.

When working from home, this type of work is harder to achieve (yet sometimes desired). When working from home with kids at home, it is literally impossible. Children need attention, want to play, or just burst with energy, needing a quick transfer to the playground to not demolish a house. If kids are older, you may find more time to focus, but young kids at home require constant interaction.

As soon as one abandons the hope of working from home in an office work-like manner, it gets better. So the best advice is to:

• Enlist what is to do and cut it into smaller, manageable chunks – it is rarely possible to cut out enough time to work on a bigger task at once,
  
  
• Do only one chunk at a time – multitasking is a killer of productive work, and performance is the factor to optimize,
  
  
• Be ready to abandon it when necessary – that’s the reality. The younger the child at home, the more attention it needs,
  
  
• Be ready to split your workday into several batches and don’t panic over it – some work can be done in the evening, with no contact with the rest of the team. Other tasks need to be done during the workday. The key is smart management,
  
  
• Work when you can. Do overtime when possible – over hours can be useful in the future.

The only way to keep the chaos at bay while implementing flexible work schedules is to track working time – there is no point in working in the evening if no one (with your boss on the top of the list) knows you’re working.

Create boundaries

In a perfect world, one would have a working space in a separate room, with a big desk, a fancy cork table, and a whiteboard with post-it kanban on it. But it is rarely a reality, despite being one of the most popular tips for moms and dads working full-time from home.

According to Eurostat data, up to 70% of the EU population lives in overcrowded houses, with the share ranging from 51% in Germany to 96.4% in Romania. For many EU citizens, it can be challenging to have even a place to work, not to mention a separate room only for work.

Moreover, supervising small kids or sick children can be difficult while working from another room.

Yet, there is a strict need to create separation between work and personal zones. Having a clean work area, a desk (if possible), and a computer untouchable for children would be a great idea. This helps reinforce the home and work boundaries.

With children like toddlers, more creativity is required. Sometimes drawing a line on the floor can be enough to show a difference between “work zone” and “play zone.” Furthermore, it can be a good idea to ask your children how to show that you’re working. Building a Lego “printer” and placing it on your desk might be their way of saying: “Now it’s a real office.”

Be open and transparent with your boss

There is no point in being flexible with the schedule when the boss is not OK with that. In fact, that’s the point that should be addressed first – setting some clear rules and expectations between the employee and the employer.

The employee cannot support the myth that availability won’t change when kids are at home. And the employer shouldn’t expect that either. On the other hand, it is also unrealistic to expect full pay without necessary work.

The reality must be accepted on both sides. And the first step is to make it work through open communication. If the boss cannot understand that, maybe it’s time to change the boss. Ignoring reality won’t improve anyone’s work life.

Deliver proofs and be accountable

Following the point above, one should deliver proof that the job is done and use fair metrics to measure performance. At the end of the day, the goal is to get work done.

For parents especially, showing results helps to stay clear of doubts about productivity. Metrics should be fair, verifiable, and focused on productive work, not just time logged.

When the job is harder to measure, a daily status update via message or email is helpful. This is also useful when managing jobs that can be done flexibly or part-time.

Use the technology for your benefit

There are tonnes of tools – free and paid – to boost productivity, support communication, and organize tasks. Parents especially benefit from tech-powered solutions.

Working parents should explore platforms like Asana or Trello for organizing tasks, and Slack or Zoom to stay connected. This is crucial when balancing work with active children occupied elsewhere.

It’s all about finding tech that helps make it easy for team members to keep momentum going.

Forge new routines

Life revolves around routines, and work and home life is no different. All previous elements – communication, tech, boundaries – can become part of a manageable routine.

Clear structure helps everyone, including older kids, see what’s expected. Establishing consistent signals and rhythms makes it easier for children to respect your time to work and helps you reclaim moments of quality time with your kids, too.

Seek help – and use it as much as you can

Being a parent rarely means going solo – and doing so makes it significantly harder. That’s why stay at home parents and those who work part-time alike should never feel guilty for seeking help.

Make a swap schedule with your partner, or coordinate with relatives. Shared responsibility can help you cover child care during key hours of the day.

Hiring a nanny, even for a few hours, can be a great way to regain focused work time. If it fits your budget and child care costs are manageable – go for it.

Talk with your coworkers

Coworkers may not always understand your new work and parenting rhythm. That’s why transparency is essential, especially when juggling calls, messages, and calls at home.

Let them know when you’re online, and when you're handling kids at home. This builds trust and helps the entire work environment adjust.

Talk with your family

The same goes for family communication. The family can feel abandoned or under when one works from home. Moreover, there can be multiple misunderstandings regarding the chores, the availability, or the responsibility.

Children also need to understand when the parent is available and when not. Every tension has to be addressed with open communication. Ruining family life while working from home is a clear path to the catastrophe – it results in creating a toxic atmosphere in a place one cannot even go out – the work is done from home after all.

Take care of yourself (as much as possible)

Finally – a parent is also a human who can be tired, annoyed, and burnout – as a parent or an employee. Thus, when locked with children, the key is not to sacrifice oneself on the altar of work and family.

Having an additional hour of sleep more can be a better productivity boost than overworking. An hour of workout (running, yoga, stretching, swimming – you name it) can be a mind-reset and deliver better results. According to the study published in the International Journal of Workplace Health Management, employees report up to 72% improvement in time management and performance in the days when they were exercising.

Summary

The key to survival when working from home with a baby is in agile management and efficiency. Keeping the 8-hour workday is a myth unless it is unavoidable. On the other hand, though, it is better to work for two hours with super-boost than to have an unproductive eight hours filled with irritation and frustration.

The reality of lockdown and remote working can be exhausting. Yet, sticking to the rules listed above can make it bearable at least and with a good deal of determination – even more effective when it comes to work-life balance.

It is still a bit awkward to take a power nap time in the office after all.

FAQ: Working from Home with Kids

1. How can I manage working from home with a toddler or small child?

Managing working from home with a toddler means accepting interruptions and building structure at home. Be realistic, flexible, and focus on short, high-impact work blocks.

2. What’s the best way to create a work area at home?

Choose a space that signals “this is for work” and set boundaries. A defined work area helps you focus on work and teaches your child when you’re busy.

3. How do I handle calls at home with kids around?

Plan important calls at home during nap times or quiet periods. Let your team know in advance if kids are around, and keep expectations clear.

4. Is it really possible to work from home with kids?

Yes, but it requires adjusting your work schedule and expectations. Parents working from home need to be flexible and communicate openly.

5. How do I juggle parenting and a full-time job from home?

To juggle both roles, break the workday into manageable parts. Alternate tasks with a partner, or ask for childcare support when available.

6. What if I don’t have a separate home office?

You don’t need a full home office—a small corner or table can work. Teach your child that it’s your dedicated work space.

7. How do I manage work when my child is sick?

Be honest with your manager and adjust your time to work. If possible, shift to flexible work hours to catch up once your child feels better.

8. How should I structure my work-from-home schedule?

Split your work schedule into blocks based on your child’s routine. Structure at home makes the day more predictable for both of you.

9. Should I consider hybrid or remote work long term as a parent?

If your job allows, a hybrid work model can offer balance. Many parents find that an option to work from home improves family life and performance.

10. How do I know if I’m being productive while working from home with kids?

If you’re keeping work on track and communicating regularly, you’re doing well. Remember, trying to work with kids isn't easy—progress counts more than perfection.

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