5 Tips to Help You Complete an Online Degree with Kids in the House

Learning and furthering your skillset is something you should aim to do at every age, and thanks to the improvement and widespread adoption of online degrees, you have more options and opportunities than ever before. Learning at home, however, can be a challenge – particularly if you live at home with your children.

With a career, parenting, and everyday responsibilities and chores you may already feel like you have as much on your plate as you can take on. While it is important to be realistic with what you can take on, you would be surprised at how a few simple strategies can help you achieve your dream of becoming a neonatal nurse practitioner, for example, all without overloading yourself.

You can be a great role model for your kids. You can make progress and achieve your professional goals. With the right support, strategy, and approach, you truly can do it all – and you can get started today by using this guide.

1.    Ensure Your Degree is Flexible and Built for Your Situation

One of the first things to be aware of when it comes to taking on an online degree with kids in the house is that not every degree will suit you, even if the program is perfect for your career. In some cases, you will need to make accommodations at certain points because there is no way around it.

If you wanted to take on a nursing degree, for example, it will always include at minimum, clinical training, and experience. This applies to those going for their BSN and even those completing one of the top neonatal nurse practitioner programs in the country. The quality of the online degree will never negate the fact that you must take time out to work in a clinic to complete the hands-on portion of your education.

Being aware of the requirements and what support you can personally expect is essential. Not only should you explore the brochure, but you should also feel free to get in touch with the admissions counselor to learn more directly and see if there is something that can be done if you have unique circumstances.

This way you will have a degree that helps you succeed and will also have a huge list of services and the support you can expect from your institution.

2.    Use the Right Tools

When it comes to completing an online degree at home there are very important tools you are going to want to invest in. The first is your internet. Check your internet and if it isn’t strong enough, it’s time for either an upgrade or even a booster so that you can get a stronger connection in your office or bedroom.

A second monitor can also be essential. With a second monitor you can easily watch lectures or videos, or even compare documents and write down notes at the same time. There are many ways that you can do this from having an office second monitor to even learning how to use Airplay if you have an iPad and a MacBook.

The final essential tool you will want to consider when trying to complete a degree at home is noise-cancelling headphones. These work to block out ambient sound so if you are up in your office or room listening to a lecture you won’t pick up the roughhousing going on between your kids downstairs.

3.    Make Simple Ground Rules

There will come times when you need to work and study quietly even when the kids are in the house. To ensure that your time is respected you need to make simple ground rules and stick with them. This can be helpful, especially for young children. For older children and teens, a great tip is to give them a schedule. If they know when to expect you to be working on your degree and to not be disturbed, they can work around you.

There will need to be caveats for emergencies, of course. If you have a partner at home, then the simple rule can be that all emergencies go to your partner while you are working. If the emergency is that your partner has suffered some accident, then your children can come to you.

4.    Work with Loved Ones

You do not have to do it all on your own. If you have a partner, parents, or friends that can help, ask them. Having your parents babysit the kids at theirs while you revise for an exam can be incredibly helpful. Knowing your partner is there for emergencies while you are listening to a lecture on your own can be just what you need to focus on your degree.

5.    Know When to Work with Your Kids, and When to Focus on Studying Alone

You know your family best. If “homework” time is loud, boisterous, and very distracting, then you need to work out a way to focus on your degree on your own. If you are committing to your degree full-time and your kids go to school for the full day, then that period is when you will want to focus on your degree. You can then revise your notes or even rewrite them so that they are clear, concise, and as helpful as possible when it is time for everyone to sit down and do their collective homework.

When working on homework or your degree together, a great way to keep everyone productive is to plan out breaks. The schedule is entirely up to you. When you and your kids are on your break, however, you need to do more than just look through your phone or sit in front of the television. Go and make a snack together, go to the park to play, or go out for ice cream. By breaking away and doing something entirely different (and refueling at the same time) you can bond and refresh yourselves so that you can go back and get everything done.