Working from home is bringing peace of mind to many, but it also creates a difficult situation for parents with kids who are also home from school.

The changes have been stark for Dana Battaglia in Farmingdale. The department head at Adelphi University is working remotely while also supervising her 7-year-old son's schoolwork.

"Balancing work-life has been a little bit of a challenge, to say the least," says Battaglia.

Many Long Island residents are facing the same struggles. Psychologists say the key to success is good organization and daily structure - like having lesson plans and scheduled recess time.

"It provides a level of predictability in our existence in ways that might at this point feel increasingly difficult to come by," says NYU Langone School of Medicine child psychologist Dr. David Marks.

Marks says routines can help children feel more at ease during unsteady times. It also can help parents, since professional life is now mixing much more with family life.

Parents like Battaglia also say what's most difficult about the current situation is that there is no end date in sight. She says not all parents may be as organized as she is, but does realize it's important to be flexible.

"It's very scary for everyone," she says. "We are dealing with a pandemic, never in my life have I had dealt with anything like this ... it's just hard, very hard."