It’s not easy doing FIFO work and being away from the kids and family for long stints, and we know it can sometimes make you feel like you’re not able to connect and spend time with your kids the way you want.
But just because you can’t be with them all the time, doesn’t mean you can’t connect and engage in other ways!
Try these tips to help to stay connected with your kids when you are travelling
Before you go
- Find out what events are coming up so that even if you can’t make it you can still discuss it.
- Give your child a special task while you are away. Give them something of yours that they can take care of while you are away like your special cap or something else that is personally yours.
- Ask your child to give you something of theirs that you can take with you on your trip (a special toy) and take photos of the item in various locations where you travel.
- Ask your children to draw special pictures or artworks to show you when you link in via video or when you come home.
Video yourself before you go
“I make videos of myself reading bedtime stories for the kids before I go away again. The kids love them. Be careful not to make them to stimulating or as I learnt the kids will get too overexcited and won’t go to sleep afterwards.
Really work hard to stay in touch with your kids while you are away – make sure you know what’s happening in their lives – if they’ve got an exam, or an assembly or a performance or a running race – know about it in advance and ask about it
- Even when you are many miles apart from your children, modern technology still allows you to keep in touch.
- Use video calls, send a silly photo, jokes or unexpected texts to check-in, or when something reminds you of them.
- Let them know what you are doing during the day and ask how theirs is going.
- Make sure your children know that they will each get some time to communicate with you and tell you what they gave been doing.
- Stay in-tune with what apps and other technologies they’re using to stay in touch, try to communicate in the way your kids feel is most comfortable.
