How To Create A Domestic Helper Schedule When You Have Young Kids

Let’s face it — running a household while dealing with young children is a demanding task. No, we take that back; managing young children is itself a mammoth task! That’s why having a helper is almost compulsory for young families in Singapore these days, but with the helper comes yet another task: managing her. Having a well-organised schedule can significantly ease the daily workload for everyone, so we’ve come up with some tips to help guide you in crafting one, as well as a sample schedule to help get you started. 

1. Morning routine

Start thinking from the top. Begin drafting your schedule by focusing on the kids' morning routine —what’s for breakfast, when and how to prepare it, what goes into getting them up and dressed, and what is needed when preparing them for school or other activities. Incorporate every necessary step into your schedule, and have a “Notes” column which includes detailed instructions that are easy for her to follow just by reading. Ensure that your helper is aware of each child's schedule and any special requirements, and walk her through the routine a few mornings before letting her take charge while you observe.

2. Meal preparation

With young children, meals need to be healthy and timely, which means that meal preparation is a significant and repetitive activity on your domestic helper’s daily schedule. Listing meal prep and serve times down on the timetable first will help you better identify where her pockets of free time allow for other tasks.

If you don’t need her to prepare fresh meals every day, consider designating a specific day for meal preparation and planning. You might wish for her to prepare larger batches of meals that can be frozen for later use, which will reduce her daily cooking load.

3. Play and learning time 

Playing and learning are equally important for your young child’s development, so you need to stay on top of this one even if you’re delegating the task to your helper. If your child is really young, you may be adhering to the eat, play, sleep schedule, but even toddlers and older children observe a similar rhythm. On your helper schedule, allocate dedicated time for educational and recreational activities with the kids. Instead of leaving it open-ended though, plan specific activities that stimulate learning and creativity to enhance your kid’s development. E.g. Monday — drawing/colouring/doodling, Tuesday — music and dance, Wednesday — dough time, etc.   

4. Nap time 

This is especially important if you have younger children. A consistent nap time routine needs to be established and maintained, so ensure that naptimes are clearly defined on the schedule. At the same time, educate your domestic helper on each child's nap preferences and train her to create a quiet and comfortable environment for their naps. After putting down the child for a nap, she will be free for housekeeping so you can schedule some sort of cleaning or washing task during those naptimes.   

5. Cleaning schedule 

Due to her many childminding chores or tasks, it may be impractical to expect that your helper cleans the entire house every single day. With young kids around, it is essential to break down her daily cleaning tasks to maintain a tidy home. For instance, she may have time to clean only certain parts of the house on certain days (e.g. bedrooms 1 and 2 on alternate days and bedrooms 3 and 4 on the remaining days; or bathrooms only on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays). Depending on your household needs and personal preferences, you may also choose to designate specific days for deeper cleaning activities, such as vacuuming, dusting, and organising.

6. Laundry planning  

Detailed laundry scheduling and instructions can also greatly improve your helper’s productivity levels, and multi-tasking and process efficiency are two major keys to this. For instance, she can start a load in the washer, vacuum the house for the duration of the wash cycle, before hanging up the laundry and preparing lunch. She can also be folding clean laundry while watching the baby.

Pro tip: Scheduling laundry in the evenings will allow clothes to dry overnight, so she can take them down and press or fold them the following morning. This also means that clean and dry clothes are available for the morning rush.

7. Self-care time

Although there’s truly a lot to do and the work never ends, regular breaks are of utmost importance for your helper’s physical, mental and emotional health. Schedule in breaks for her to ensure that she has daily time for self-care and relaxation. This could look like fifteen-minute to half-hour intervals during the day, or a big two-hour break at lunchtime if you can afford it. In general, pay attention to her well-being and encourage open communication about workload and stress levels. You really don’t want your helper to burn out or be tired and sub-optimal when caring for your little ones. 

8. Weekly check-in

Depending on your personality and management style, this may or may not be necessary or appealing. If you’re open to it, a weekly meeting with your helper can aid planning for the following week, and also facilitate a regular channel of communication should she be experiencing issues with work.

You may wish to schedule in a specific time each week to discuss upcoming events, make schedule adjustments, and address any challenges or concerns. This should preferably take place in the evenings when everyone is feeling more relaxed, but be aware of it eating into her rest time — always keep the meeting short unless something important crops up for extended discussion.

Now you’re ready to begin! Here’s a sample schedule to kickstart your thought process, which you can adjust to fit your family’s unique needs and priorities. Remember to stay flexible, be ready to adapt if something doesn’t work, and to regularly communicate with your helper about how she’s faring with the schedule. A well-organised schedule can contribute to a harmonious household and have everyone thriving in their roles!

Sample Schedule 

Monday to Friday:

6:30 AM - 8:00 AM: Morning Routine

• Prepare and serve breakfast.
• Help kids get dressed and ready for school.
• Pack school bags.
• Send kids off to school bus

8:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Learning/Playtime

• Engage in learning activities with younger child. [Suggestion: specify what on each day]
• Plan outdoor playtime if weather permits.
• Cleaning [A specific area for each day of the week]

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch Preparation

• Prepare and serve lunch.

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Nap Time for Younger Child/Independent Play for Older Child 

• Naptime routine and put younger child down to nap.
• Encourage older child to engage in independent play or quiet activities.
• Helper takes a break.

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Afternoon Activities

• Snack time for the kids.

• Engage in structured activities or outings for them. [Suggestion: specify what for each day of the week]
• Assist older child with homework.
• Address household chores. [A specific chore for each day of the week]

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Dinner Preparation and Family Time

• Start preparing dinner.
• Involve the children in setting the table or simple meal prep.
• Family dinner

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Evening Routine

• Help kids with baths and bedtime routine.
• Start laundry cycle
• Do dishes
• Prepare for the next day — pack lunches, lay out clothes, etc.
• Hang up laundry

8:30 PM - 9:30 PM: Self-Care Time

• Relaxation and personal time for your helper.