It is a snow day here in the Northeast where I live (or more like an ice day–to be truthful I’m not sure what is coming down in wet slick sheets out there presently). It is the third day this week where school has been impacted by the weather, and my young daughter is home with me. Traditionally I would just set my writing aside, but there are days, like today, where I really have a number of things to get written up, graphics to put together, and content to organize for publication.
Here are some tips and tricks for how I have found the time and ability to write with young children. Spoiler alert: these solutions do not include screen time. While, yes, I have definitely resorted to some Paw Patrol marathons or endless Mario Kart on my phone, I am trying to make those moments fewer and farther between.
If you try any, let me know what works for you! OR maybe you’ll have some more tips for me. I’m always eager to learn of more strategies.
First, though, I want to relay something very important that I think the writing community too-often overlooks: it’s okay to take a break. It is okay to just call it a snow day and relax, to not meet your word-count goals. Your story isn’t going to fail or fall apart if you skip a day of writing. Don’t be too hard on yourself if you just can’t write every day. So many successful authors simply don’t write every day (totally, umm, not calling myself successful here or anything, but I don’t write everyday . . .b), and it’s okay if you decide to just take an off-day. But there are some parents who don’t have that option. Maybe you’re a full-time stay-at-home parent, or you work full-time and your only option is to write in the evenings and on weekends when your child is home. Regardless, having some unique strategies in your back pocket when it’s time to write can be super helpful.
So, let’s get right into it, shall we?
#1: Get them involved in an activity beside you
Almost 99.5% of the time I’m asking for a war to be waged if I try to work in my own separate office (i.e. the room with a desk across the house–no doors) and away from my daughter. The moment that I leave is the very moment I am needed, but doing something nearby has been extremely useful. Something new that we just started exploring are printable coloring pages online or color-by-number pages. My daughter, who is almost six, enjoys these and will spend at least an hour on these printable sheets, and loves how they’re always new and original each time. Plus, it’s free with the exceptional cost of printer ink and paper. Just get to printing and have some markers handy, and you’ve hopefully bought yourself an hour!
There’s also plenty of other arts and crafts that you can explore. Play-doh is another beloved one in our home, as well as paints and the dreaded slime *shudders*. I won’t, in good conscience, recommend slime to any household unless you have an obsession with prying slime out of carpet and off clothing.
#2 Turn an unusual space of your home into a special play area
One day I had cleaned off the island in my kitchen and brought a bin of kinetic sand to place on top of it. Dropped off some numerous cups, cones, and spoons, and my daughter sat on her knees on a chair and had so much fun playing on that entire new space, just for her! The possibilities are endless. You could bring legos or wooden blocks to a countertop. You could also create tunnels or forts out of comforters or couch cushions on the floor, and set coloring supplies or a train set in there. I’ve found that simple prompts help to fuel their imagination, too. Just offering a tidbit gets them creating!
#3 Turn on some audiobooks
A huge breakthrough for us has been the discovery of audiobooks. My daughter LOVES listening to audio chapter books, and they have been so helpful on our long commutes to school (we, umm, drive an hour to get to her school right now. We’ll talk about how crazy I am later). But they are also helpful for her to listen to while I’m writing. As I’m writing this, for example, she’s sitting beside me listening to the last bit of Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary. Better yet, this can also be a free activity. The Libby app is AMAZING, and only requires a library card.
Let me know some strategies that work for you!