Evening routine.. Please help!

[MumNeedsTea]

Looking for some advice on evening routines with 2 DCs.

DS1 is almost 5 and just started reception and DS2 is 9 months old.. I work full time and by the time I have picked up the DCs from the childminder and come home it's just past 6pm.
I need a tried amd tested routine to manage both on my own. DH usually cannot come home before 7 pm.. That's the nature of his work. He works from home on some days and he's a big help, but I don't know how to handle the other days :(

DS1 has been very tired since starting reception and usually ends up crying over the tiniest things! This evening he cried because he couldn't remember how to write the number 6
DS2 needs to be in bed by 7:15, which means we have to go upstairs to do bath and pjs by 6:45.. Which DS1 thinks is too early. I don't blame him as he's hardly had any time at home :( we try and do baths only every other day, but this is starting to get difficult as DS1 comes back dirty everyday!
I cannot even imagine how we will be able to fit in any school work in our routine. We have been sent a writing practice sheet last week which hasn't even been looked at!

Sorry if this post is all over the place... Typing while I breastfeed DS2

TIA!

[EveryoneTalkAboutPopMusic]

If he’s that tired then I don’t think 6.45 is too early for his bath at all.

Does DC2 go to sleep first?

[skankingpiglet]

I'd get DS1 up to bath with DS2 at 6.45 on the promise that if he does it without complaint and gets straight into his PJs after he'll be able to play/have TV time whilst you put DS2 to bed. Much quicker and easier to bath/teeth brush etc them together, and DS1 will be ready to get into bed as soon as you've got DS2 down (so 7.30 after a quick book?).
That's how I do it with my 3yo and 15mo: get them upstairs and PJ-ed, teeth brushed, moisturised etc then DD1 can potter/play/watch TV (quietly!) whilst I settle DD2, then I come through to read a book and put DD1 to bed. DD1 has now mostly learned that the quicker she gets ready for bed the longer to play or more bedtime books she gets.

[skankingpiglet]

Can DS1 do his homework at the childminder's? That way it'd be out of the way before he's totally exhausted, and he can enjoy the bit of downtime at home before bed. It sounds stressful trying to fit it in with the little time you have, and DS1 needs some time to wind down before he sleeps.

[CarrotPuff]

Yes, same here. Bath together, then DS (almost 4) goes downstairs to watch a bit of TV while I put DD (1.5) to bed. Then once DS watched his programmes I put him to bed too.

[KeepSmiling83]

Yep we are similar. We get home earlier than you and have tea and playtime then. We normally go upstairs about 6.15pm for a bath and they can spend quite a while in there (although DD2 is going through a phase of hating the bath!) Once we're out we do teeth and pjs then I normally take DD2 to my room and she watches Peppa Pig while I get her milk. DD1 normally plays in her room while I'm doing this or watches cartoons quietly. Then once DD2 is asleep I read to DD1 and then she is asleep by about 7.45ish. I am on my own with them so you do get into a routine!

[MumNeedsTea]

Thanks all.
I don't think DS1 can do his homework at the childminder's as he would rather play with all other kids... Unless everyone else sits down and does homework, I don't see it working... Will have to fit it in over the weekend.
Those are some good tips on evening routine.. I am sure DS1 would cooperate more if TV was involved