I don’t feel like my kids are thriving right now

I would give them an extra long bath with lots of bath toys and stuff as soon as you get them home. Then dinner afterwards, then bed.

I find kids decompress hugely in warm water but I'm always rushing bath time if I do it between dinner and bed.

When are they crying and screaming?

You say they seem shattered and frazzled. Maybe this is what you need to focus on. What activities can they do to relax? Bubble baths etc? Can they play separately so they have their own space?

How about giving them a cool bath early in the evening almost as soon as you get home?

Sticking them in water use to change ours entirely

What snack are they having after school? If sugary could lead to a short high and then a crash which could impact the mood.

I try the park and then a longer walk back to the car after school. Then against the grain I give my kids iPad/tv time straight away as I feel they need a bit of time to decompress.

Then dinner and play. I find them having tv time close to bed unsettles them more.

I always find my kids are tired in the summer term, busier weekends, hotter days etc.

Good luck and I'm sure this phase will pass soon

I think they need to zone out for an hour after a busy day at school or nursery. that's what CBeebies is for. I'd give them a healthy snack and let them curl up and watch TV while you prep dinner and bath etc. Then play together for half an hour with lego or in the garden. Then bath, gentle story and bed.

I'd try to get them to bed earlier

At that age mine were both asleep by 7pm, max, if not earlier

They are tiny, and exhausted

All these people saying bring bedtime forward, not all kids need 12 hours of sleep. If mine were asleep at 7pm they’d be up at 5/5.30pm.

Also agree Id bring their bedtime forward. As a mum of older children now and one an adult, you're in the trenches right now at those ages. It does get easier, its not anything you are doing wrong as a parent.

I'm thinking apart from the slightly earlier bedtime and I recommend lavender in the bath as well. Are they getting enough fluids? As the weather heating up, they probably running around as children do not having enough water perhaps then in the day then travelling in a hot car home.

Read to them at bedtime, tell them stories, traditional stories, made up stories, anything, , sounds stupid but think it's great thing for relaxing kids...

In general, I think if they are warm and fed good food, and have clean clothes and nice beds, and go to school, and aren’t shouted at, and are kissed and cuddled - then there’s nothing you are doing wrong. It’s just a phase or tiredness at the end of the school year. This too shall pass

Growth spurts make my children bonkers. Any chance it's that?

Are they getting tv everyday because I had to cut screen time to a once a week movie night or my 5 year old would get so cranky it really impacts his behavior!

In my experience a lot of kids get emotional and fractious during the last term of a school year. They are knackered and need their summer hols. The heat doesn't help.

I agree with trying an earlier bedtime - I remember at that age having kids tea at 5pm with the aim of bath at 6 and in bed by 6.30 for reading and winding down so asleep by 7 for 12 hours if at all humanly possible. If I could get the witching hour out of the way with food and bath then a bit of PJ time, that was a win. DH and I would then have dinner at 7.30 together.

Blackout curtains also absolutely essential this time of year, then they won't be disturbed when the sun rises early as well.

At 5 & 3 my biggest advice would be bring bedtime forward, aim for 7 rather than 7:30-8, bringing the full evening routine forward so dinner/bath/story gives the time between pick up & bedtime more structure, it means they will get more sleep & hopefully be more rested following on

Do you need to stay with them until they've fallen asleep?

Obviously all kids are different but is this contributing to a more drawn out bedtime?

Is reading, cuddles and then lights off and letting them fall asleep worth a try?

It might be more painful short term but it will at least give you more quiet time in the evening so you are less stressed and can handle their stress better.

They are both in the final term of big years of change. It is tiring for them, especially when it's hot. It will improve but don't get stuck in the rut of lying with them every night. Learning to fall asleep independently is important.

Do they have some lovely toys and lovely cosy rooms? Books to look at and snuggled up with? Favourite meals, fun activities? I guess they may have a growth spurt and feeling tired and grizzly. This too shall pass.

What stands out for me is trying to get them to bed for 7.30/8. Are you wanting to get them to bed earlier?

It’s really normal for kids to decompress in the “safe space” at home. Not much you can do except bring dinner time earlier, have a really consistent routine eg both of them share a bath while you all sing nursery rhymes then story then sleep.

My kids are a bit older and scream and squabble all the time. It’s really boring and tedious. They also refuse to play separately in their own rooms - they seem to want to be with each other to argue over toys.

i think I probably don’t notice when they’re playing happily tho, just focus on the time they’re driving me mad.

no tips. Solidarity!