The most frequently given reasons that students are attracted to online classes are the flexibility and convenience. This is especially true for working parents who are largely the driving force behind the demand for eLearning options. Similar statements are made by postsecondary faculty who are seeking a way to make a living without being chained to a brick and mortar campus. Not needing childcare is perhaps the most attractive feature for many who log onto online education.
As with most things in life that seem too good to be true, the realization quickly sets in once the adult student or faculty member begins working from home that it may not be as easy as first expected.. Small children have needs; older children have activities. As a remote parent/worker/student, you can count on interruptions from your kids. At times, they will insist on your attention. They may want to show you something, they may want you to play, and they may not take “no” for an answer. Children may also need you. They may become ill; they may spill something and need help cleaning up the mess. Even older children may interrupt with an emergency teen drama. Kids of all ages will want to mess with your technology and probably everything else on your desk. The worst temptation of all is your own love for your children; you will have times where you want to go play with them and put aside the work that needs to be done for your classes.
There are some solutions to the above, however. 
Be a Time Lord
Did you ever notice how Dr. Who–even when he lands randomly in a new place and time–seems to know what to do and how to get things done? Although he appears to be fumbling around, in the end, he seems to have planned his adventure and the solution to a situation well. Be like the Doctor!
To be your own Dr. Who, the obvious place to start is by making a list of times that your children will be occupied with school, sleep, and/or activities. Also, consider what can be done during downtimes like waiting in the car line to pick your kids up after school. I’ve always used this as a chance to catch up on email or to brainstorm ideas for upcoming tasks. Dedicate these times to your coursework.
Next, be sure to take charge of the day. Joni Boone, a telecommuting writing consultant, fundamentals specialist, and blogger with a four-year-old at home, suggests starting the day focused on your child. This meets both the child’s need to have mommy/daddy time, and also the desire of parents to spend time with their kids. It also can help burn off a little of that youthful energy. A few mornings a week, I used to take my kids to a gym that had a large family play area. There were activities we could do together before my workday started that would achieve the goal of making them a priority and lessening the need to be together throughout the day.
Another helpful tip is to include a kids’ station in one part of the home office or preferably, a space outside of the home office where you can keep an eye on your kids while working. When my kids were preschool aged, I had my office in our L-shaped basement with my desk angled in the corner so I could both block off my space at the shorter end and create a play area for my kids in the larger part of the space. Boone suggests that she had greater success in starting her daughter off on a particular activity like painting; then she could do some work while great works of art were created.
The key to taking charge of your time comes down to being an engaged parent who places the needs of your children first and work second. Neither is really ignored; rather they are joined in a well-functioning symbiotic relationship.
Involve Kids
To explore this connection further, consider ways to actively involve your children in your job. You are a role model for your children in so many ways. Why not consider how you can engage them with what you’re doing. Most parent/students express that they are attending college to make a better life for their families and to set a good example for their kids. Teachers often talk about modeling skills like good work and communication habits for students. Now here’s your chance to do this with your own children who especially at young ages, are watching your behavior closely.
To do this, consider what tasks your children could assist you with, especially tasks that may reinforce their own learning at various developmental levels. For instance, note these “Typical Skills Children Learn in Preschool” . Then consider what your own preschooler could do to help you while developing their skills. I used to process what I needed to do that day out loud with my kids while organizing papers, etc. on my desk. Then I would ask my son and daughter what they needed to work on that day. This helped teach them the first set of skills on the list, especially critical thinking and decision making. Counting, sorting, and categorizing were also a part of this activity.
Note, too, in the chart cited above that “play[ing] adult roles, develop[ing] self-image, and coordinat[ing] with others” is a skill that can be easily developed by a telecommuting parent. You could follow the suggestion above by discussing the objectives with your children. I used ask things like: “While Daddy answers his email, what are you going to work on?” Boone provides an even better example as her daughter used to have imaginary meetings with her boss.
As children get older, these skills learned by role playing will be carried forward into their academic and professional worlds.
Dedicate a Space
One of the toughest aspects of being an online student or educator working from home is that children want to be a part of things so they will want to get on your computer, use the printer, speak into the microphone in synchronous live meetings, etc. Clearly, it’s probably not a good idea for a preschooler to edit an academic paper or to speak to your students through the microphone.
Therefore, it helps to set some parameters with your kids and to take some precautions. It’s wise to have a dedicated home office or space that can be closed off if necessary. It may not be a separate room all to yourself, but you can lock file drawers and take precautions like backing up your work. I’ve usually had my keyboard on a sliding tray beneath my desk so that when one of my kids approached, I could slide it under the desk to help keep their little hands from typing an incoherent message to someone. You can also make it clear that one side of the room is your office; the other is your children’s, and clarify that we don’t go into one another’s space without permission. If you respect your children’s area, they’ll typically respect yours.
Enjoy It!
Parents hear this advice all the time: “Kids grow up quickly. Enjoy every moment with them.” This is good for the parent who is taking classes online from home and for the remote working parent-educator. I grew to love the Pokémon stickers surrounding the screen of my monitor and to treasure the giraffe with the ultra-long neck that was drawn with sticky notes and carefully assembled up the front of my file cabinet. Realize that others in your class are parents, too. When the occasional child interruption occurs, they will understand. This can actually help a class bond as a learning community.
Overall, having the opportunity to spend quality time with your children and to be available to them while improving your lives with education at the same time is a dream come true.
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