Working with Kids During the Holidays - 8 Tips to Help You Get It All Done!

So - it is official - I am not spending the last two weeks of the year on the beach lounging with the kids.  I'll get over it.

It is holiday season, and not all of us have been blessed with the same vacation time that our kids have between Christmas and New Year's.  The kids can't wait for the time off, but if you don't have a winter break camp lined up for them, you just might have to work from home. With planning and good time management, you can do it. I have been doing this for a while (working from home instead of going in to the office), and if the kids are at home with me, with no work to do, here's what helps me.

1. Before bed, set your alarm one hour earlier than you usually do. During this hour, before the kids get up, check email, reschedule meetings, confirm conference calls, and check your voicemail.
2. Get dressed– makeup and all. When your kids see you dressed for work, and not in your robe, they will understand that you are working.
3. While the kids eat breakfast, make lunch. Put it in their lunch boxes, then into the fridge for lunch time.
4. Get out coloring books, model cars/airplanes, paint by numbers, play doh, checkers, etc. to keep them occupied while you work.
5. Choose a “quiet hour” so that you can return your phone calls. After lunch, turn everything off – TV and video games, send everyone to the bathroom, then give them the choice of reading a book or taking a nap for an hour.
6. Keep snacks in your work area. You have your choice of foods in the fridge, but that is no reason to keep interrupting your work to get snacks.
7. Don’t do any housework (cleaning, laundry, etc.). I particularly like this one.
8. Eat lunch at your desk or in your workspace.  It’s easy to get distracted and not return from your lunch break on time (like getting caught up in something on TV if you start watching it while you eat - or if you are like me... taking a quick 5 after lunch... or 20... or 60.).

Try these out and see if your work day ends up being more productive and ending several hours earlier. Not only have you started the day early, but you’ve had no commute, had lunch at your desk, and the kids have stayed busy so you can concentrate. Now, since you are dressed, you can take the kids to a fun holiday movie during the matinee hour, or bake and decorate some fun holiday cookies with them, and enjoy being a mom (or dad).

If you end up having to take the kids to work with you a couple of days during the break - check out this post: Making the Workplace Child Friendly - How to Make Your Kids Want to Come to Work with You.

In need of a winter break camp in the DC area? Click here. Not in the DC area? Google "Winter break camp (your area)", and you would be surprised what affordable and interesting options you have to keep your kids entertained during winter break.  One of the great ways to check out a prospective school for your child is to try out a winter break camp.

Author Profile: Eva Wilson  - Website

Eva is the administrator and blogger for SocaMom.com. Follow her on Twitter at @socamomdc.