In the second part of our three-part coronavirus series, we take a look at how to work from home with children in tow.  Part-three focuses on the lessons businesses can learn from this experience - and how to use them to adapt to a post-coronavirus world.

Most of us are over a week into working from home, many of us with kids in tow. So, how’s it working for you? Has it been chaotic, or constructive?

We’ve canvassed opinions of friends, families and experts and come up with some golden rules to keep everyone sane and productive during COVID-19 isolation.

Routine is essential

Mayhem will be on the agenda when working from home with kids, unless you quickly establish a routine you can all understand and follow.

This will look different for everyone but can follow the same basic principles. Separate the days into short, 30-minute bursts and plan an activity or task for each slot. 

Most younger children’s learning can be done through play, rather than traditional learning, so don’t worry too much about setting out a strict educational timetable. 

After all, children respond positively to routines, and it will help you stay on task too.

Separate work and play zones

Using different spaces can successfully create boundaries every member of the household can respect. Establish your working area, a children’s learning area and set out recreational and communal parts of the house, where you can all switch off and relax. We’ve even heard of someone converting their under-stairs cupboard into a learning area for their kids. A lunchtime game in the garden or a family movie night can break up the working day nicely for everyone. 

Struggling for space? Don’t panic. Stick your headphones in and use Brain FM to zone into your workload, whatever chaos is going on around you.

Get physical 

Starting the day with exercise will set you all up for a productive and happy day. 

Surely there can’t be anyone who hasn’t heard that celebrity PT, Joe Wicks, is streaming live daily PE lessons on YouTube at 9AM Monday to Friday. So, this is a great way to get the whole family moving. 

Alternatively, you could schedule an early morning walk or bike ride while the streets are quiet, making sure to keep your distance from others and wash your hands as soon as you return home.

Either way, burning energy and releasing mood-boosting endorphins could help bank you a morning of calmer family co-working.

Work as a team

Many two-parent households will be experiencing homeworking with children around for the first time, while single parents will be trying to manage work and childcare without their usual support system.

The only way to make homeworking with children successful is to work as a team and communicate. Plan your working schedule around your partner’s, be flexible and be open with your children about what you require and expect from them. 

Honesty is always the best way to approach difficult situations with children, so aim for frank conversations and ask for their support in working as a team.

Establishing a reward system will work wonders, so dig out sticker charts or run your own incentives. Set a competition and let the winning child choose a family movie for that evening. This will give them the boost they need to work together and help you achieve your working goals.

Embrace the new “normal”

However your days take shape, embrace it and try not to worry about hitting rigid educational or professional targets. Go at your own pace, do what you can and enjoy the chance to spend extra time together as a family. 

When you’re taking a break from work, make the most of the lack of a commute to do something together as a family, like taking a virtual trip to museums, zoos and theme parks all over the world from the comfort of your sofa.

Useful resources for working from home with children

Lean on the wealth of online support out there to help your children learn. Twinkl has made all of its resources free of charge during the coronavirus outbreak to help parents homeschool, while Khan Academy, Teachers Pay Teachers and Open Learn also have plenty of homeschooling resources available for free. 

Starting on Monday 20th April, the BBC will offer daily programmes to help parents and children with schoolwork at home during the lockdown. Children's lessons will feature presenters including Oti Mabuse, Katie Thistleton and Karim Zeroual.

There are also a lot of educational games you can try online, like KidzType and GamEdAcademy. Check out Facebook groups like Home Education UK for tips and ideas, too. 

Most high schools will be still issuing, marking and collaborating on work via platforms like Google Classroom, so older ones can keep up with their studies uninterrupted.

For more information on working from home during the coronavirus outbreak, check out our other two articles in the series which cover; how to keep lines of communication flowing, and what businesses can learn from the COVID-19 crisis.