Table III.

Suggested strategies for being productive at home with children of different ages

•Have a daily schedule and stick to it. Kids do better when they know what to expect •Post this schedule where everyone can see it. You can use pictures instead of words for younger children •If you have another adult at home, one method would be to alternate work and childcare hours for each of you •Older children can do their school work if they have it while you are “seeing” patients. Older children could also supervise younger children and help with educational activities •If you do not have help at home, another approach would be to work when the children are sleeping or safely engaged in a quiet activity. Schedule meetings if possible during nap time •For younger kids, bringing new or special toys can help keep them engaged for longer periods of time. Movies are another enjoyable option •Allow kids to socialize remotely with friends and family via FaceTime, Skype, etc •For older children, set daily goals and reward them. Allow them to play outside with siblings while maintaining social distancing •Have children do chores and help out around the house •Use the mute button during conference calls and have a silent do not disturb signal for when you are on important calls. You can also post a sign that signals that you are working •Being proactive and spending quality time with kids, during which you provide undivided attention, will also give you more uninterrupted time to work •Schedule times to get physical activity for you and the children, ideally together