While the school summer holidays are an amazing chance to spend more time with our kids and those of us with youngsters will probably take a week or two off during this period to do just that there are also a lot of childcare issues raised for those whose children are normally in school full time.
It can be a particular problem if you’re a contractor or freelancer who regularly works from home. Suddenly there are extra people in the house making noise and vying for your attention when you really need to finish that project by the deadline.
So, what can be done?
Arrange childcare
If your kids are younger and still need a lot of looking after, arranging some form of childcare is your best bet. Speak to grandparents or even friends who have kids of a similar age. You’d be surprised how many would be happy to help, even if it’s only to give you a few hours of peace and quiet.
Look into holiday clubs
If your children are older, there’s a good chance they see themselves as too cool to want to hang out with you anyway and so may well hide away in their room WhatsApping their friends and playing on their Xbox.
However, that doesn’t mean you don’t want them to get out of the house for a bit. There are often lots of summer holiday clubs happening locally. Many are sports-related, teaching kids football skills and so on, so you can get a bit of quiet while they get fit.
Split time with your partner
If your partner is self-employed and works from home as well, it could be worthwhile dividing your day up into shifts. Perhaps they have the morning off while you take the afternoon. That way, you both get work done while the kids get to spend time with a parent.
Or, if your partner is an employee, you could look at them using some annual leave or flexi time each week to get some time off so you can work, while you stay with the children when they’re in work. It’s about finding a balance that’s right for the both of you.
Embrace it
With all the childcare options in the universe, you may find there are some days that you have to work with the kids around. On these days, try to get up early and do some work before the kids get up, then encourage them to entertain themselves while you plough through your work in the morning.
If you can afford to take the afternoon off with them then do it. You could always get some more work done in the evening after all.
The school summer holidays can be a bit of an added complication to a self-employed person’s workstyle, but there are ways round it. Your contractor insurance is something else that doesn’t need to be a complication. Go online today to get a quote from our expert team.
