South Florida is several weeks into the region’s no-school social-distancing policy, and by now, the stress of being home with the kids might be starting to show.
Published: March 17, 2020
By: Jennifer Jhon
Many parents are attempting to work from home, limiting their ability to supervise the education of their children. But the situation can be managed, said one expert mom.
Letting your kids know what is expected over the course of the day and sticking to a schedule really helps, said Belinda Ivey, a mother of two who works from home for the graphic design firm she co-owns with her husband, Karsten Ivey. She has shared her home office with her two children for six summers, since her son was 5.
In the Ivey household, the morning is for schoolwork, even during the summer. In the afternoons, her children explore other interests, such as art and other creative projects.
Ivey warned it’s important for parents to be present for their kids, even if they are working. “I have to be careful that I’m not sitting on my laptop all day and forget that my kids are here.”
She said lunch is a good time to be together, or they might take a break in the afternoon and play a board game.
With many families forced to share the same space for weeks, it isn’t bad for kids to have some time alone, Ivey said. “Boredom is a good thing. It will force them to be creative.”
