How do you work from home with a 3 year old???

[londongirl12]

And what do you do in the summer holidays? My partner and I are both shifts, so we work childcare between us. But thinking about applying for a new role which is Monday- Friday mainly now WFH. He goes to nursery for school hours but only term time. How do you manage WFH with a toddler around? And then I panicked thinking about summer holidays!!

You can stretch the funded hours over a year, it’s less per week but averages the childcare bill our.

Most people take annual leave wiht school age children or pay for clubs

Work would expect the child to be in childcare. Nursery, childminders, family etc. Use annual leave between the 2 parents to cover holidays. Unpaid leave can be used also I'd business allows.

You need holiday childcare. It's the reason most working parents don't use school nurseries unless they have some sort of wrap around care, IME.

You pay for childcare where you need it outside of your funded hours

Had to use private nursery as school nurseries didn't offer the required hours.

It’s impossible - you need a different nursery or perhaps a childminder for holidays?

You don't, you carry on with whatever childcare you would have used if you were office based.

My 3 year old nearly seriously hurt themselves while I was trying to work from home in the first lockdown because I was on a sensitive call to a client. Never again will I put myself or my children in that position and certainly not entirely voluntarily.

Pay for wraparound care like someone who works outside the house does.

You don't. I WFH home full time (9-5 M-F) and DD goes to nursery full time; 8-6. She gets 30 hours funding as we both work full time. Nursery bill is still about £700 a month.

Did it in the pandemic first lock down- bloody impossible without a partner who is self employed and an understanding employer (ie. took my lunch at 10am to take them to the park). Stick them in a private nursery, this isn’t possible!

It’s not possible

You need childcare

If you both work, a nursery attached to a school is no good. Private nursery is your best option for flexible hours but it will.be expensive. A childminder next best although beware they may take holiday during the summer so find out whether they organise alternate care with another childminder or if you are expected to look after your child when they are sick or on holiday.

In my experience it is unfair on everyone to try and work whilst caring for a toddler at home. You simply won't be able to stick your kid in front of the TV for 8 hours while you work - the child will need feeding, and activities, and time outdoors to run around. Your colleagues and employer, you and the child, will all be miserable and stressed. Don't even attempt it (I'm assuming your partner working shifts will therefore need to sleep part of the day when you are supposed to be working). An hour here or there distractes by your child you may be able to get away with, but depends on your job really.

We use a private nursery and spread the 30 hours across the year, we use 30 hours a week and it costs about £150 a month for the extra hours. I couldn't wfh with my 3 year old as he's so changeable.

Pay for childcare outside of funded time. You can't be in charge of a toddler and work too. How do you manage at the moment?

You need childcare. That's what everyone else does.

You pay childcare
Look how many people have struggled through the last year with childcare closed due to covid and ended up totally burnt out
It’s not sustainable to try to do both long term and it’s not in the best interests of your child either

Wrap around care, child minder, holiday clubs, family, annual leave

I'm sorry but I'm missing something here. Why would you not pay for childcare? Why is it such a shock to you?

Firstly you treat it as if you were going out to work every day.
Pretend you’re not at home.
Then you find childcare that can cover the hours you’re supposed to be at work.
That means nursery for most families, some of it funded, some of it paid for.

Short answer. You don't.

You can't work and do childcare.this year has been different because childcare shut at points. Your work will expect them to be in childcare when you are working.

Find a nursery not pre school so you can stretch their hours all year round

You don't. I can't even make a phonecall without mine trying to nick the phone let alone do anything resembling work.

Its impossible, you need the same amount of childcare as if you were working outside your home.

Agree with everyone else. You pay for childcare - either move to a PVI Nursery, or use a childminder.

Depending on the role, and how flexible the hours are, it might be that you can take a break at 3 and then do 2 - 3 hours in the evening.

School holidays are just like they are going to be for the next 9 years or so - you have to arrange childcare, or take turns to take annual leave and never get any together, or link up with someone else you know and do a bit of looking after their child and they look after yours etc. Most working parents juggle a combination of different things.

@Okbussitout

Pay for childcare outside of funded time. You can't be in charge of a toddler and work too. How do you manage at the moment?

As I said, my partner and I both work shifts so we do the childcare between us eg he's at home when I'm at work.

I don't want to change his nursery as they've been amazing with him and he's excelled so much. I'll ask them about "holiday clubs" type thing for the summer holidays. That's if I get the job, I may be worried for nothing

It's not a shock to me having to use childcare. I know I won't actually be able to work full time with a toddler around . I wondered if there was such a thing as holiday clubs for children that young, which of course I will have to pay for. I was excited about applying for a new job and then this just made me panic, as our childcare arrangements have worked out fine so far and he loves it there.