I work every day to 2.30pm then pick up dd 4 from nursery & ds 8 from school.
The time between getting home and tea seems to be getting more difficult and to be honest not very enjoyable. I am grateful to be able to work part time so I can have the afternoons with them but none of my attempts at putting routine & structure in place seem to work & it's causing everyone to get upset.
To summarise the main issues are:
Snacks: DS is constantly hungry and wants snack after snack when he gets home. I insit this has to include something healthy but it's relentless ferrying to & fro with snacks. He has started raiding the cupboards which I have said he's not to do but he does it anyway. Should I just give up & let him help himself now as he is 8.5? He still always eats his tea but I do think it's odd how hungry he is and he has school dinners but he says he hates them.
Dd 4 sees ds having snacks so she also wants them but she is not good at eating her tea. She says she's hungry when we get in though so I let have something but then she cries when ds has more.
Eating & drinking: i've asked them time & time again to eat & drink at the table in the living room but they just won't listsn. Dd walks round dropping crumbs everywhere & ds huddles on the sofa with his! They leave their wrappers, bowls & cups all over the place. I've told them so many times to sit at the table but I'll pop upstairs & come down to find they've ignored me again.
Entertainment: Ds is only interested in electronics despite having a room full of toys & garden toys. I've offered to play swingball with him but he's not interested. He spends too long on electronics.
Dd will not be alone for 5 minutes! She wants me to play with her constantly.
Can anyone help please?
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Please help me make after school time happier
37 replies
Trickymoments · 04/07/2016 19:37
OP posts:
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