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Original poster

WFH during school holidays

61 replies

BergamotMouse · 16/04/2025 13:07

This is a hypothetical question as haven’t needed it yet but as I’m sat here during the Easter holidays I think my children would be pretty much OK for a day alone, with a parent nearby WFH.

I’m a teacher but my husband WFH. I’m always here but by god, I sometimes need a break in the summer holidays.

They’re nearly 9 &6, great friends and we have a big garden they can build dens in and make mud pies etc. They wouldn’t be just put in front of a screen.

I think this could be OK for an odd day here and there? DH can dip in and out of work and could always catch up in evenings.

I’m just thinking that going back 50 years kids would probably enjoy the freedom and mine are pretty good at making their own fun.

OP posts:

vickylou78 · 20/04/2025 08:24

I do this for one day of the holidays when me and my DH are working from home (mine are 10 and 6), it's fine as one of us takes a longer long break to get them out for a walk or something. But I wouldn't do this more than 1 day as they have too much screen time. So it's usually only if can't get childcare etc.

lavenderlou · 20/04/2025 08:27

I'm a teacher and one of the advantages is you don't need childcare in the school holidays. I think it's unreasonable to leave a 9 and 6 year old in your husband's care while he's trying to work. When they are older it will be OK but a 6 year old can't be left to his own devices.

TheAmusedQuail · 20/04/2025 08:36

I'm amazed that as a teacher you're not working through a lot of the summer holiday already, albeit at home.

Completely doable to work from home with the children there. We all did it during covid. Is it ideal? Definitely not. But of course it's possible.

You/he'd need to put stuff in place to allow for interruptions (get snacks ready and to hand, drinks, lock stuff up you don't want them to get into when you're not looking, childproofing the house, and yes, screens might have to come into play).

It's all very dependent on the work being done though. When I do it, I'm in meetings, which means I have to be careful of noise levels and background disruptions. I try to make sure I build in longer breaks between meetings. And some meetings I won't schedule for childcare / WFH days because I know I won't have as much concentration then.

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Families

Jumanji89 · 20/04/2025 09:30

Why wouldn't you just use holiday club? I work from home and for the days I can't have holiday I wouldn't dream of having DC at home. It's not fair on me or them.

Picklepower · 20/04/2025 09:40

We did it the first week of the Easter holidays with DD 6 at home. Worked very well actually but DH and I both have flexibility and if I was in a meeting he would be available and vice versa, plus I am not full time so would finish at 2 each day. Was no bother at all. She played, had a bit of TV, played with neighbours. I could sit in the home office with the door open and she'd be playing in her room. I guess it depends on the child but I don't understand all the dramatic replies. What do you think your 6 year old is getting up to while you write an email? They're not toddlers

doodleschnoodle · 20/04/2025 09:45

We do this with 6yo from time to time. Neither of us really take time off for the odd in-service days or long weekend type stuff, but DD1 is generally happy to amuse herself, or you can set some stuff up for her like crafts and she’ll happily go between that, playing with toys, her tablet, etc. Other colleagues do same, even my boss (I often see his kids wander past in the background of calls) I think only you really know your kids and work dynamic and whether it’s possible or not.

Cherryicecreamx · 20/04/2025 10:33

It sounds like you've got a good setup to try (plenty of garden space, siblings that are more like friends). I have one 5 year old, so not quite 6 but no way could I do this because he needs a lot of entertainment unless he has someone to play with.
But I think it is good for children to be independent, explore and know you're on hand if they need you.

TwitchyNibbles · 20/04/2025 10:44

The 6yo might struggle but you could possibly get away with 1-2 days if you plan. Set up some stuff to play with in bags/boxes beforehand - maybe a craft/magazine activity, Lego, colouring or something the 2 of them could do together. Make packed lunches and put them in the fridge so DH doesn't have to stop work for too long to sort out food. Pre-prepared snacks and games for the garden. All that plus some TV/tablet time should fill most of the day. If you're a teacher and are off anyway then half days would probably be better, or at least aim to be back by 2-3.

We do it with our 2 for the odd day in the Easter and Summer holidays but they're tweens and even then I don't think they'd cope with more than a couple of days of it. After that they're asking to go out and do stuff out of the house! But for the odd day it gives them a bit of a chance to just chill out and wind down, especially the first few days of the holiday.

Radra · 20/04/2025 10:50

I am sure you can muddle through if you really need to but if my DH was off work, I have to say, I would be a bit pissed off if he left me to WFH and look after the kids. Even if my work was flexible, it would still involve a lot of juggling and probably evening working

Why can't your DH just book some leave or you do a day out at the weekend?

eastegg · 20/04/2025 14:00

Radra · 20/04/2025 10:50

Why can't your DH just book some leave or you do a day out at the weekend?

Completely agree.

Happilyobtuse · 21/04/2025 21:41

Well I often do this and my kids are 4 and 8 years old. I start work by 7.30 or 8am, both my kids like to lie in if it is a holiday so they usually are up by 9am only. I take a break around that time and give them bf. I also organise some crafts and set it up on the dining table. They will finish bf and then do crafts. Then I will pop out mid morning around 10.30 am or so to give them some fruit and move them on to a different activity like puzzles, board games etc. Then lunch around 12pm. And depending on when I have meetings I will sometimes work in the kitchen where I can see the children playing in the garden. Our garden has a high fence and entry only on one side by a small gate which we keep locked so they can’t really leave the garden other than coming back into the house but I prefer being able to see them so they don’t get up to anything they shouldn’t. I wanted to send them to summer clubs but son is too young at 4 years, all of the sports clubs want kids 5 years and over. And daughter hates these. So prefers to be at home with her brother. In the summer we will go abroad and I will work remotely while the kids bond with their grandparents and cousins.

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