After school routine?

[ColdCrumpetsAndButter]

What do your DC do after school when they get home?

DH is concerned that there should be a definite routine rather than the relaxed approach we have defaulted into.

DC are at that blessed age where if they don't like what they hear they ignore what's been said. DH seems to think there's a correlation between lack of structure after school and what I would say mostly typical behaviour.

DS2 flops in front of the TV, DD watches YouTube or goes on Skindex on her tablet, I make supper, we eat, bed. If either of them has reading or homework they do that before bed.

We have clubs on 3 days after school. I'm the days we don't have clubs & none of them have a playdate, we get in, change out of school uniform including hanging up coats & putting away shoes. Then snack & drink whilst watching TV. Then I hear dc2 & 3 read/do spellings & DC1 might read or do some of an 11+ practise paper. Then they watch tv/play with toys etc/dc1 goes on Xbox while I get dinner. Then shower, pjs, bed.

In nice weather we usually go to the park on a Friday after school, but now the weather is not great I think we'll go to the library instead, it's open until 5pm.

DC are nearly 10, 7 & 4.

It's absolutely essential for my DC to kick back when they come home. DD's an introvert so interacting with people all day exhausts her, DS2's got ADHD and can't sleep past 5am so he's tired all day at school. Also, because of his ADHD, he needs to wind down as soon as he gets in.

We get in at about 3:50 latest 3:35 earliest, 5dc aged between 8 & 1.
Snack,
Shower (straight in to pyjamas this time of year),
Homework, if any (by which time it's usually 4:30/45),
Jobs (putting their washing away, 10 minute tidy of bedrooms at the same time although not usally needed, keeping the lounge tidy) while I cook dinner,
Eat dinner, they're usually done by 5:30/45
Play until 6:30,
Stories & cuddles then bed at 7pm

Is your DH actually there when they get home, or is he at work still? Maybe he should save the parenting for when he is actually about?

I've noticed my dc are much more tired now winter is here...they are going to bed at 7.30-8...we are home by 3.30 so it's only really 4 hours to fill. They have a snack and drink and watch tv/play while I do dinner...they eat about 4.30. Then they have a bath and watch tv/play. At about 6/6.30 they have something else to eat...toast/fruit/crackers etc. Then it's bedtime. One of my dc has an activity on a weekday which they absolutely love but it does make them more tired...I'm amazed how many parents are dragging their dc off to different activities every night...kids must be exhausted!

Why would they all have to do the same activity? DD does brass club, DS2 does basketball club and goes to an after school drop in. DD also has SATs boosters 2 afternoons a week.

I would have to take all the children to the activities to watch/wait for it to finish unless it's a drop and go activity and after sitting still at school to then have to sit and watch a sibling can be boring and lead to mischief/wanting to wander off etc.

DH works long hours so not really around.

One child has SEN so Down time after school is very much needed because of it.

I think maybe they could help tidy up after dinner and then perhaps get into a routine of shower, reading, teeth and bed as bedtime is creeping later and later.

All food for thought. Thank you.

Snack, TV until supper is ready. I drink wine and listen to my 80s mega mix whilst knocking up the grub.

My DC's school runs after school activities. Before DD was old enough (deemed by the school) to walk home by herself, whichever one didn't have an activity I took to the park. They both went to the after school drop in.

I can see your dh’s point about telly. I wouldn’t be happy with it being switched on every evening for hours until the dc go to bed. It only goes on here on a weekend or if someone is poorly/unusually tired. Screens can make mine a bit stroppy.

Younger siblings being dragged along to watch older siblings doing activities is pretty standard, isn’t it? My youngest used to do colouring in or I’d read him stories. Nowadays their activities are usually at school, so they can be doing different things simultaneously with the same pick up time. School things are usually heavily subsidised too.

Our school has started charging for all after school activities unfortunately.

I might start going to the library one day after school again.

It is standard for all siblings to have gone along too I agree. Mine are unable to sit still. One due to SEN. One due to age and having the attention span of a goldfish.

Tonight the tv is off post dinner. Wish me luck!

Venus my DC are extremely tired every day. I have a relative who's been on at me for years that they "shouldn't be exhausted". Yes, well, they are. Very helpful, thank you.

DS has 30 minutes of TV whilst I cook. He's at MIL's 2 days a week and does similar there.

He's going to start a dance class after Christmas as I wanted him to have a chance to settle into school first. Other than that we'll stick with plenty of playing time.