How to Stay Productive Working from Home with Kids

(Hint: Sometimes the best place to work…isn’t home)

Short answer:

Working from home with kids is challenging– no doubt about it. Between video calls, snack requests, sick days, and screen time debates, finding focus in a house full of distractions takes creativity, patience, and (let’s be honest) a change of scenery.

The goal isn’t perfection, it’s figuring out what helps you maintain work-life balance while still showing up for your work and your family. And for many parents, that means doing focused work outside the house, so home can be a space to connect, not multitask, and most importantly, protect your family time. 

This guide offers practical strategies for remote-working parents, along with one powerful mindset shift: you don’t have to do everything from home.

Why It Feels So Hard to Get Things Done

If you’re a work-from-home parent, you’ve probably asked yourself: “How am I supposed to get anything done like this?”

The living room doubles as a jungle gym. The kitchen table has become your office. Your toddler somehow picks the exact moment you’re on a video call to launch a full-blown meltdown. And just when things quiet down, daycare or school calls about a sick day.

These aren’t rare interruptions—they’re your normal. And they add up quickly.

Remote workers with kids often face unique challenges, with there being no separation between work and family life for starters. Switching between tasks, chasing deadlines, caring for kids, and maintaining the household leads to fast burnout. And let’s not forget the guilt for working too much or too little.

You’re not alone. Millions of parents are in the same boat. The good news? There’s a different way to work. One that gives you back your energy, focus, and time at home.

Sample Daily Schedule for Work-from-Home Parents

Forget perfect routines. The best work schedule is one that supports your goals and meets your family where they’re at. That might mean stacking work hours around nap time, screen time, or while a family member or sitter can step in. The real trick? Pairing that schedule with a productive space, often somewhere outside your home.

Here’s a basic idea to get started:

Sample Schedule for Work-from-Home Parents with Toddlers

• 7:00–8:00 a.m.: Breakfast and family time
  
• 8:00–10:00 a.m.: Focused work time at Roam (kids in daycare, sitter, or with a partner)
  
• 10:00–11:30 a.m.: Playtime, errands, outside time
  
• 11:30–12:30 p.m.: Lunch and wind-down
  
• 12:30–2:30 p.m.: Nap time or independent play (light admin or calls if needed)
  
• 2:30–4:00 p.m.: Lighter tasks, follow-up, emails
  
• 4:00–6:00 p.m.: Fully present family time
  

If you’ve got older kids, align their screen time or homework time with your own off-site work time to create productive overlap.  Whether you’re dealing with a toddler or older kids, the goal is rhythm, not rigidity.

Write your schedule down. Post it where your family can see it. Use it to protect your workday and give your kids predictability. When your blocks of work time happen away from the house, you can come home with more free time and undivided attention.

Need a little help structuring your day?

Download this free Daily WFH Planner template:

Creating Pockets of Quiet Time (Somewhere That’s Already Quiet)

We all love the idea of quiet time at home, but in reality, it’s not always feasible when you’ve got kids in the house.

Instead of fighting the noise, consider working where quiet already exists.

At Roam, quiet is built in.

You don’t have to set up elaborate activity stations or swap out toys every week. Instead:

• Rotate your location, not your living room.
  
• Give your kids your presence when you’re home, and give yourself focus when you’re away.
  

If you do need to work from home occasionally, a few tricks can help:

• Use a room divider to section off a workspace
• Play white noise or use noise-canceling headphones
• Add a sticky note or visual cue for “on a call” time
• Offer kids a special activity (a favorite snack or show) during high-focus moments
  

But again, don’t try to carry the entire load inside your home. Coworking spaces like Roam offer the quiet, professional setting that makes work hours feel productive, so your home hours can feel relaxed.

You Don’t Have to Do It All Alone

Being a work-from-home parent doesn’t mean you’re supposed to handle every moment solo.

Tag-teaming with a partner, co-parent, or family member can give you much-needed breathing room, especially if you alternate work blocks or share pick-up responsibilities.

And if you don’t have that option, consider:

• Hiring a part-time babysitter or mother’s helper for a few hours
• Coordinating play swaps with neighbors or other parents
• Asking older kids to help keep younger siblings entertained during short windows

Summer will still test your patience. But having support, even loosely defined, means you can use your work hours for actual work.

And if those work hours happen at Roam, you’ll walk back into your home more focused, more grounded, and more available for the people who matter most.

When Home Stops Working, Roam Helps You Work

Sometimes, the best solution to working from home with kids…is not working from home at all.

Whether it’s summer chaos, school breaks, or simply the everyday pull of parenthood, Roam offers the space and setup you need to get in, get work done, and get back to what matters.

Dedicated Desks at Roam

Roam’s dedicated desks are private, fully furnished workspaces with 24/7 access—ideal for creating consistent, distraction-free routines. Amenities include:

• High-speed Wi-Fi
  
• Unlimited coffee
  
• Guest access
  
• 20 hours of meeting room time
  
• Professional business address
  

Starting at $499/month, these desks are perfect for parents who need a reliable, quiet workspace without a long-term lease.

Flexible Membership Options

Roam’s month-to-month membership plans mean you’re never locked in. Need a workspace just for the summer? No problem. Want a few hours a week to knock out focused projects? Done. We’re built for flexibility.

Maybe your toddler is home sick. Maybe your living room is full of LEGOs. Or maybe you just need one day a week where nobody calls you “mom” or “dad” for a few hours.

Whatever your reason, Roam gives you permission to leave the house, so you can do your best work and return home ready to be present.

Be Flexible, Even With Your Environment

Working from home with kids is a massive juggling act. You’re balancing two full-time jobs in the same space. That’s not just hard—it’s unsustainable.

But here’s the shift: you don’t have to do it all in one place.

With:

• A schedule that fits your life
• A workspace designed for focus
• Support systems that ease the load
  And a place like Roam to help you reset

Remote work becomes less chaotic, and home becomes a space to connect, not just catch up.

Roam is here to help you breathe, focus, and work with intention. Explore our flexible coworking memberships and discover how good it feels to have your time and your home back.