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    How to Work from Home with Kids

    Woman working from home with a child
    • 17 Mar 2020
    Michele Reynolds Author Staff
    tag
    • Career Development
    • Productivity

    This is an unprecedented time when many are required to work from home. Parents are finding it particularly challenging as they struggle to balance work without childcare.

    Anyone who has spent time with children knows they thrive on routine. When, suddenly, they aren't going to daycare or school, and their parents are home, everything gets out of whack. At first, kids might be thrilled to have their parents around, but when they realize it’s not all fun and games, that’s when tensions rise.

    These tips will help you develop strategies to get your work done and keep your kids happy while you’re at home.

    How to Work from Home with Kids

    1. Work When Your Kids Are Asleep

    Is it possible to adjust your hours, so you mostly work when your kids are asleep? It may depend on the type of work you do or the flexibility of your employer but, if at all possible, try to do the bulk of your tasks when your kids are in bed.

    It may require late nights or early mornings, but an added benefit of working at odd hours is you may have fewer interruptions from colleagues. Minimizing distractions, like a steady stream of emails and instant messages, can yield drastically improved productivity.

    2. Take Shifts

    If you have a spouse, significant other, or even a close friend or neighbor, you can take shifts watching the kids and working. By taking turns and developing a schedule that accommodates the needs of your employers, teamwork can pay off.

    Related: Should You Take an Online Class? 9 Things to Consider

    3. Work in Sprints

    One technique borrowed from the Montessori teaching method of work cycles could enable you to get more done in far less time. Experts say breaking your day into a few 90-minute uninterrupted periods leads to greater efficiency.

    In his book, The Way We’re Working Isn’t Working, author Tony Schwartz credits working in 90-minute intervals, followed by 20- to 30-minute breaks, with having a profound impact on his productivity. Schwartz asserts that Leonardo di Vinci also embraced such an approach, which may have helped him become one of the world’s most famed and prolific painters.

    For this to work best in the modern world, turn off social media and silence your notifications and phone. Then, block time off your calendar, so your colleagues know you aren't available. You may find you are so efficient that, with just a few sprints a day, you free up more time to spend with your family.

    4. Be Ready with Rewards

    Children tend to be highly motivated by incentives or rewards. If used selectively, promising prizes or treats—like pizza, ice cream, or a trip to the park—in exchange for good behavior can be useful tools for when you have an important meeting and can’t afford to be interrupted.

    Be prepared with dependable distractions, like special toys and games you keep hidden. Only bring them out when you really need them. Some parents might also occasionally rely on TV or video games. By restricting screen time to a certain number of minutes or hours per day, and only for educational games and TV, you may minimize your guilt.

    Be careful with rewards, though. If overused, they can backfire.

    According to an article in Psychology Today, “What this type of reward system does is teach an individual to expect a reward in exchange for certain behavior. The danger is that if you stop rewarding the behavior, there’s a good chance it will go away. Another potential danger is that if you use it with your children, eventually when you ask them to do something, they might respond with, ‘What will you give me for it,” or, ‘What’s in it for me?’”

    A Guide to Advancing Your Career with Essentials Business Skills | Access Your Free E-Book | Download Now

    Staying Productive While at Home

    Trying times can lead to heightened creativity and extraordinary breakthroughs at work and at home. Being inventive and finding techniques that improve your productivity now may make juggling work and family easier even after life returns to normal.

    Once you have your new routine down and find you have some spare time, consider brushing up on your business skills by taking an online course. Check out our course catalog for a variety of engaging and interactive courses on business fundamentals.

    About the Author

    Michele Reynolds handles brand marketing and PR for Harvard Business School Online. Prior to HBS Online, she led communications for TripAdvisor and Gazelle and has been widely quoted in national media outlets, including CBS News, Reuters, and The New York Times. Michele earned her bachelor’s degree from St. Bonaventure University. Outside work, she spends time with her teenage daughter, plays tennis, and visits her enormous extended family.
     
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    How are HBS Online courses delivered?

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    We offer self-paced programs (with weekly deadlines) on the HBS Online course platform.

    Our platform features short, highly produced videos of HBS faculty and guest business experts, interactive graphs and exercises, cold calls to keep you engaged, and opportunities to contribute to a vibrant online community.

    Are HBS Online programs available in languages other than English?

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    We expect to offer our courses in additional languages in the future but, at this time, HBS Online can only be provided in English.

    All course content is delivered in written English. Closed captioning in English is available for all videos. There are no live interactions during the course that requires the learner to speak English. Coursework must be completed in English.

    Do I need to come to campus to participate in HBS Online programs?

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    No, all of our programs are 100 percent online, and available to participants regardless of their location.

    How do I enroll in a course?

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    Certificate Programs

    HBS Online welcomes committed learners wherever they are—in the world and their careers—irrespective of their professional experience or academic background. To extend the reach of HBS Online, we no longer require an application for our certificate programs. (Applications are still required for our credential programs: CORe and CLIMB.) You can now immediately enroll and start taking the next step in your career.

    All programs require the completion of a brief online enrollment form before payment. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before enrolling in the program of your choice.

    Our easy online enrollment form is free, and no special documentation is required. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

    Updates to your enrollment status will be shown on your account page. HBS Online does not use race, gender, ethnicity, or any protected class as criteria for enrollment for any HBS Online program.

    Credential Programs

    HBS Online's CORe and CLIMB programs require the completion of a brief application. The applications vary slightly, but all ask for some personal background information. You can apply for and enroll in programs here. If you are new to HBS Online, you will be required to set up an account before starting an application for the program of your choice.

    Our easy online application is free, and no special documentation is required. All participants must be at least 18 years of age, proficient in English, and committed to learning and engaging with fellow participants throughout the program.

    Updates to your application and enrollment status will be shown on your account page. We confirm enrollment eligibility within one week of your application for CORe and three weeks for CLIMB. HBS Online does not use race, gender, ethnicity, or any protected class as criteria for admissions for any HBS Online program.

    Does Harvard Business School Online offer an online MBA?

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    No, Harvard Business School Online offers business certificate programs.

    What are my payment options?

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    We accept payments via credit card, wire transfer, Western Union, and (when available) bank loan. Some candidates may qualify for scholarships or financial aid, which will be credited against the Program Fee once eligibility is determined. Please refer to the Payment & Financial Aid page for further information.

    We also allow you to split your payment across 2 separate credit card transactions or send a payment link email to another person on your behalf. If splitting your payment into 2 transactions, a minimum payment of $350 is required for the first transaction.

    In all cases, net Program Fees must be paid in full (in US Dollars) to complete registration.

    What are the policies for refunds and deferrals?

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    After enrolling in a program, you may request a withdrawal with refund (minus a $100 nonrefundable enrollment fee) up until 24 hours after the start of your program. Please review the Program Policies page for more details on refunds and deferrals. If your employer has contracted with HBS Online for participation in a program, or if you elect to enroll in the undergraduate credit option of the Credential of Readiness (CORe) program, note that policies for these options may differ.

     

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