Working From Home With Kids? These 9 Must-Haves Will Save Time (and Your Sanity)
by Bethany Braun-Silva
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We know you’re not getting outside much these days. With coronavirus becoming more and more widespread, health officials are encouraging all of us to stay home, indefinitely. But that doesn’t mean life stops. In fact, it just got busier than ever, in a different way. Many people are finding themselves working from home, which would be fantastic under normal circumstances — but with school closures happening, we are working at home with our kids.
That means, in addition to all the tasks we do as parents, we are now our kids’ teachers too. Shonda Rimes put it best in a recent Tweet: “Been homeschooling a 6-year old and 8-year old for one hour and 11 minutes. Teachers deserve to make a billion dollars a year. Or a week.”
Parents are probably feeling overwhelmed with having to homeschool while keeping up with their own work responsibilities, which we understand all too well. But there are multitasking products that can help keep you on track so you or your kids don’t go crazy. For now, take it one day at a time, breathe and try to stay positive. And check out the items we’re using every day below.
LapGear Home Office Lap Desk
If you’re like us, you may find yourself working in odd places during this time of social distancing. We’ve set up shop on our bed, in the kitchen, on the couch, you name it. This lap desk enables you to have all your work essentials in one place. The cushion conforms to your lap, keeping you cool and comfortable, and it also has a ledge so your laptop won’t slide down. We especially love the phone slot and mouse pad.
Crock Pot Slow Cooker
Set it and forget it… dinner, that is. In the morning when you’re getting breakfast ready, you can also set yourself up with free time later in the day by using this Crock Pot to prepare dinner. It has an 8 qt. capacity so you can feed a large family or also prepare enough for a few days. It has a dishwasher safe lid and a recipe booklet included.
Amazon Echo Show
Get some assistance in the form of a smart home device. We love the Echo Show for its ability to tell the weather, play music and audiobooks, and even video call our friends and family. It also connects to other parts of your home so you can control the thermostat or lights by simply speaking a voice command.
Dry Erase Weekly Calendar
Get your family on one page with this dry erase calendar. Now is the time to get organized and you can easily schedule tasks, learning activities, chores and shopping lists all in one place. We love the idea of setting up a command center, so there’s no question about what to do next when we are all stuck inside.
Rolling Laundry Sorter Cart
One of the things we are really trying to hone in on during this time is cleanliness, not only for our hands and bodies, but for our home too. Teach your kids simple chores like laundry or, at the very least, how to sort it. This cart has three compartments for darks, lights and delicates (or however you would like to use them). Encourage kids to get involved in household tasks so they become less time-consuming for you with this rolling laundry cart.
Essential Oil Diffuser
Even the most organized parents are likely to feel a bit crazed over the next few weeks. Give your space a zen vibe with some essential oils and a diffuser. Mix in some lavender when you need to calm down or some orange extract when you need an energy boost. The effects work on kids, too!
External Hard Drive
Make sure all your work is properly and safely backed up with an external hard drive. You will probably get distracted once or twice in the middle of an important task, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. This hard drive promises fast data transfers to ensure all your work is good to go.
Mr. Coffee 10 Cup Coffee Maker
Have your coffee ready for you when you wake up with this programmable coffee maker. It’s one less thing to worry about in the morning, and we love that we can set it for the same time each day. Plus, the permanent filter means you are never scrambling for paper filters. Fresh coffee every morning is a parenting must-have.
PediPocket Foot Pocket Blanket
When working from home you may find yourself up late or up super early. Cuddling up with coffee, your laptop, and this plush blanket can make all the difference in your productivity. The patented foot pocket makes it so you don't have to constantly adjust the blanket, and the soft fabric keeps you warm and cozy. They even come in kids' sizes!