A Summer Guide to Working From Home With Kids

The summer of 2020 will go down in history as one like no other. COVID-19 has rearranged all of our lives and for many families, it has caused huge disruptions.

Many parents may still be working at home and are facing the challenge of working and overseeing kids who are not in summer camp or daycare because of safety concerns. If you are still struggling with ideas on how to entertain home-bound kids, here are some ideas and resources:

Create a daily schedule. Use a whiteboard, chalkboard or poster board and write out each day’s events. Take turns with your kids deciding what to do during each block of time.

Visit a virtual museum. Check out this list of virtual arts and culture activities.

Have kids write and produce a play.  And then have them get costumes together and act it out.  Have them perform it when you can give them your full attention.

Enroll them in a virtual camp. A simple google search will give you access to all kinds of virtual camps. Start with this list: https://www.parents.com/fun/activities/outdoor/free-virtual-summer-camps-2020/

Enroll them in a SPORTS virtual camp. I’m not sure if this was a thing before COVID, but there are tons of them now online. The National Academy of Athletics has several camp options focused on different sports, including basketball, volleyball, martial arts, and baseball.

Let them pick a passion. What’s one thing your child really wants to learn? Is it cooking? Speaking another language? How to draw? Or play an instrument?  NOW is the time to do it! Find a class online and let them dive in!

Take a virtual field trip.  Check this list out to go places you never thought you and your child would go!

Get them cooking. Have your kids take turns picking their favorite meal for dinner. Let them help you cook the meal and then write down the recipe for each dish on a notecard. Have them paste the recipes into a photo album or make a virtual book. This is the start of your new family cookbook!

Create a Bored list. Each child lists ideas for what to do when they get bored. Stick it on the fridge. Use it when you get bored.

These are just a few ideas to get you started.  Even as you plan out the day, it’s also okay to give your kids some free time to exercise their own creativity and do what they want.  There are creative benefits to boredom; let your kids explore their mind!

It would be easy to push through the summer on survival mode. It’s not what you’d planned and it’s certainly not what you’d wanted. But it can still be memorable for your kids. You can help them experience things they wouldn’t have if they’d been at the regularly scheduled camps and daycares.  Make 2020 a summer that your kids will love to remember!

Janis Meredith is a parent and family life coach who wants to help all parents raise champions. You can find out more at rcfamilies.com.