Mumsnet users share their tips for easy evenings with Sky Store and The Incredibles

[EmmaMumsnet]

NOW CLOSED

Evenings can sometimes feel like they’re over before they’ve even begun. With this in mind, Sky Store would like to hear your tips for making your evenings easy - so that you still have the time to sit down as a family and enjoy a good movie night in together.

Here’s what Sky Store has to say: “This week we are celebrating the release of the most anticipated animated sequel of all time – Disney/Pixar’s Incredibles 2 in Sky Store, so you can create your perfect movie night in with your family tonight.

With Sky Store evenings are incredibly easy! You can download this family favourite straight to your TV at the touch of a button, so it’s ready to watch as soon as the kids get home.”

What tips do you have for an easy evening? Maybe you meal prep so you spend less time on cooking? Do you have tips for getting your children ready for bed in record time? Have you discovered the secret to making the kids tidy up after themselves? Perhaps you watch new films at home instead of taking a trip to the cinema?

All who post below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

[BristolMum96]

Slow cooker. Best thing ever. Prep night before, put on in morning, dinner ready when you get home.

[Farwah]

I second the slow cooker! Also,I try to freeze food and cook batches over the weekend hence I get to spend more quality time with the kids. Also,me and my husband divide the tasks hence the routine gets easier and quicker! At times,we also bribe our 4 year old to speed up ha! ;)
Also,engaging the kids in chores is also our activity which gives us more time to sit together as a family to chat about how our day went :)

[sharond101]

Dinner prep in daytime. Organised after school activity at a club or at home and some chill out time before bed.

[fishnships]

A firm evening meal time of 6 pm. Everyone knows when they will get fed, without having to ask; it's one of those little things that makes life a little bit easier!

[skyesayshi]

My tip for an easy evening is pizza in the oven and Friends on Netflix. ignore all the housework because I have worked very long hours and am tired and want to spend some time with my daughter.

That is generally on a Friday night, the rest of the week is too manic with clubs and work etc

[PhilomenaButterfly]

We really don't. DS2's winding down time starts when he comes in from school, DD's an introvert so no one can talk to her for an hour or she gets grumpy.

[KittyKat88]

We stick to a bedtime routine so tea is always 5.30/6.00, up for bath at 7.00 and then reading books before lights out at 8.00 for DD age 6 and 8.30 for DD age 8. If the girls want to watch something in the evening, then we just do an earlier tea and bath/teeth brushing, so they can chill on the sofa for the evening and then go straight to bed by 8.30/9.00. Any later than that and they both get grumpy so it's just not worth it!

[Peoniesandcats]

Easy evening for me involves oven food and catching up with recorded TV, while husband bathes & puts the baby to bed :)

[WhiteKnuckleRide]

I make a list each morning (just in the notes section on my phone) of all the tasks that need to be completed that evening when I get home from work. I add to it throughout the day if I remember anything else. Then when I get home I cross reference any tasks that can be multi-tasked eg. Put washing on whilst in the kitchen doing dinner (2 things crossed off list). Change bedding and hang washing up whilst DS is in the bath (3 things crossed off list). I run around like a mad woman for the first hour or so of being home because I want as much time as possible to relax I delete things off the list as they get done and once the list is empty I don’t do anything else. Anything after that can wait for tomorrow’s list.

[asuwere]

We have evening meal at about same time every day so everyone knows when it will be. DC know that if they don't tidy or take longer than needed to tidy before bedtime then they'll reduce story time - seems to motivate them.
Generally we only do movie evenings at weekends, it's nice to cuddle up together and relax with a film (after the argument about which movie to watch of course!)

[PollyMycroft]

Easy evening... homework first, pjs on, take out (or meal already made out of the freezer), snuggles on the sofa and film.

[Princessmushroom]

Lump similar jobs together. The washing machine and dish washer are next to each other so i’ll Do them together

[purplepandas]

I agree about PJs on as early as possible. I have been known to bribe with TV after PJs on. That helps. And low key meal prep!

[HazelBite]

I make sure that if we are sitting down to watch a film together or a meal together that all mobile phones, gadgets are put to one side.

[conkernuts]

Easy evenings - I work full time so daily meal prep isn't an option, take away! We try and do this on a Friday, order on the way home, if I'm cooking then it's a simple meat and veg meal that can be done in the oven. Grab the kids and get them in PJs/quick bath before food arrives/is cooked. Cuddle puddle on the sofa for a short film, book then bed. Once DC are in bed, it's bath time and netflix slobbing with OH.

[Potterpotty]

Slow cooker is a life saver, we sometimes all have to eat at different times. Also I have a "bin it" box where any toys that get left out and not put away get put in the bin, they have to tidy up before bedtime :) my 2 DD's love routine and lists so I put a list of things that need to be done up and they tick them off, it's up to them how quickly they get them done but the sooner they finish the longer they get to play:)

[sheilads105]

A stress free evening means a takeaway followed by all snuggling on the sofa to watch a classic film - Mary Poppins, The Sound Of Music, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang etc

[Dontgiveamonkeys1350]

I love movie nights. In our house the teenager even sits down with us for movie night on a sat night.

We eat pizza garlic bread ... the works. And the ice cream and snacks. Oh. And the lights have to be off.

Don’t forget the pyjamas and comfy blankets. Perfect. Even my 14 year old loves it so it can’t be too bad!!!!

[NightOwlHoney]

We kind of accept that it's not likely on school nights and really kick back on the weekend. I don't get my knickers in a twist about what we're eating and will happily serve up pizza, rather than a from scratch meal. I don't fuss if they don't want to shower until the next day and I relax bedtimes and gadget allowances. We just generally try to chill out and relax as it's often quite fraught with seven of us in the house.

[Anniegb72]

I like to set alarms on my phone to make life a lot easier. For waking up and Sch runs and for bed time! No more asking again and again! My children hear the phone alarm and start getting ready for bed! I love it!

[Kaykay06]

Easy evenings include a plan, dinner made once the kids get home from school so it just needs heated up, so we can do homework or play and then chat over dinner and run a bath and lots of stories then they listen to their guided meditation story to doze off

[leelo]

I prepare by having a meal we can all eat so it reduces my time in the kitchen. So spaghetti and garlic bread. Then we do a bag check so no sudden homework/letters to deal with then we eat. Get in pjs and snuggle in the couch and watch something we all can enjoy.

[MimsyBorogroves]

Slow cooker or, conversely, the Tefal Cook4Me which is a life saver.

Saturdays are our movie night though. Now the children are older we either do a picnic type tea - cheese, cold meats, crackers etc, or we have a takeaway.

[cheekychicken24]

Slow cooker for me too - love a one pot meal. It saves on the cooking and the cleaning and washing up too! We even have disposable liners for ours, so it's basically plates and cutlery to clear away afterwards!

[TeacherKS1]

My husband is disabled so most of the housework/mental load now falls to me. My tips for an easy evening: Have dinner prepared and in slow cooker before I go to work. Blitz the veg into the sauce so no nagging to eat their greens! Then bring kids home, serve dinner and enjoy catching up with the kids days. Then kids get into pjs while I clear up and load the dishwasher. Phone off, popcorn out 🍿 and time to snuggle under blankets on the sofa and watch a movie together. My favourite kind of evening!