YOU’RE working from home and the kids are learning from home, so why not get your kids to do your job for you?
Maths
Instead of slaving through the weekly Excel spreadsheet data input yourself, sit back with your feet up while they do it in the name of mathematics. Today’s lesson is making all the figures in each row and column match the totals before 12.30pm so Trevor in accounts doesn’t throw a shit fit.
English comprehension and composition
First, read and try and understand an email from the boss about the company’s 2021 values statement, then try to be among the first to reply positively while avoiding any kind of commitment to becoming an unpaid internal values ambassador. Real-world skills.
Advanced maths
For a real challenge, why not attempt to claim back perfectly legitimate expenses? Businesses make it as hard as possible to get the money you’re owed, so it will test the skills of even the most gifted prodigy to successfully be awarded £14.20 for coffees with a client last August.
Speed-reading
You get copied in on so many reports, at least half of which have nothing to do with you. Farm out all but the most important ones to your children to read, set a deadline, and get them to regurgitate all the key facts into a bullet-pointed summary. When they say ‘But mum, this is meaningless nonsense,’ they’ve learned the most important lesson of all.
Improvisational drama
Next Zoom meeting, turn your camera off and get your 14-year-old to pose as you, pretending they know what the meeting’s about, why they’re attending and what it hopes to achieve. Watch as they do surprisingly well because they’re used to doing exactly the same thing in their lessons.
IT
Online training sessions really get in the way of watching Tipping Point, with their requirements to click to continue and questions afterwards. And if you don’t get a high enough score you have to watch again as punishment. Tell kids it’s an IT lesson and watch them focus on racking up a high score then bragging about it on TikTok.
