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Original poster

What Do you do between school finishing and dinnertime?

35 replies

ImFree2doasiwant · 08/09/2020 10:53

1st day back yesterday, and already wondering how to fill that time on the days where I'm not working. Dc are young, primary and pre school. Ds1 had just started after school swimming one day a week when lockdown started. His lessons haven't restarted, but another pool us open for general swim so we might do that.

What do others do? I feel like they will be stuck in front of the tv every afternoon. They've become rather fond of it over lockdown. Hmm

OP posts:
Original poster
ImFree2doasiwant · 08/09/2020 10:54

Oh and just to add, I have to drive to pick them up, 6 and 10 miles. So we're not walking home, or near town/shops/facilities.

OP posts:
HasaDigaEebowai · 08/09/2020 10:55

homework

ZeroFuchsGiven · 08/09/2020 10:57

Personally I think there is nothing wrong with tv or just chilling out after school. I've never understood this need to have kids constantly 'doing stuff'.

They need downtime too, especially after a full day at school.

NoImNotPregnant · 08/09/2020 10:58

Homework
Reading
Arts and crafts at the table
Playing a game together (DC are 8 and 2 but can make something up to entertain each other)
Put party songs on Alexa and dance
When the dark nights come we sometimes have a walk round the block then shower and pjs when we get home, before tea, then film before bed

MolotovMocktail · 08/09/2020 11:39

TV usually, we don’t have homework yet, DC can’t read as an alternative and the break between getting home from school and dinner is only 30-60 mins. I have no problem with it at all, downtime is important. Will encourage reading once they’re older though.

SimonJT · 08/09/2020 11:43

We walk as we’re fairly close to school, usually we go to the park on the way home for 30-40 minutes then once we’re home he entertains himself a bit and ‘helps’ me make dinner. Sometimes he uses some of his telly time (30 mins per day).

If its a night we have something on, such as his dance lesson, or me at rugby training we walk straight home, make and and eat dinner and straight out again.

cherrybakewellll · 08/09/2020 11:45

Mine get half hour technology time which they can use any time before 5pm dinner. After dinner it's bath and reading, then they chill out in bed until tvs/lights off at 7.15. They're 6 & 8.

They play outside, play with their sister, some after school activities are restarting. Other than that they are left to their own devices.

Mumtumwobble · 08/09/2020 11:47

Homework and reading. Then I let them chill out by watching TV or playing Xbox. They have clubs 3 nights a week though so we’ve only got 2 at home and one of those they’re in after school club until 4:15 anyway.

ChooksAndBooks · 08/09/2020 11:50

Homework and basically whatever they want to do. Some of my kids have football or swimming, some have rugby or horse riding lessons, so some days after school can be quite busy and I think it's important that the other days are quite chilled.

They tend to play in the garden or upstairs in their rooms or watch some cartoons together.

BlackInk · 08/09/2020 11:52

My DC (8 and 11) generally have free time after school until dinner time. They get home around half 3. DD8 usually watches/plays on her tablet for a bit then plays with the pets. Sometimes she has a friend round to play. DS11 either plays XBox with friends or watches/plays on his tablet until 5pm, then he has an hour for homework and to get ready for the next day before dinner.
Sometimes we go and visit a friend/relative or go for a dog walk instead. Sometimes they play together.
Nothing very exciting usually as they need some downtime (new school year and DS has a long walk home).
DD does horse riding and Cubs once a week. DS does Scouts once a week, but that's not until after dinner.
I always have jobs to do (making dinner, making packed lunches, working from home...) so I'm not really able to provide entertainment!

minipie · 08/09/2020 11:55

Do you walk home from school OP? Is there a park or a playground you could go to on the way - at least while the weather is still dry.

If you drive - maybe swap to walking or scooter/bike and that will take up some time and get exercise.

GiveMeAllTheGin8 · 08/09/2020 11:56

I have one In playschool and one I’m primary.
Pick up from primary at 2.30 then straight home for something to eat.
We then head to the playground until dinner time . After dinner it’s baths / showers/tv until bed.
All after school activity cancelled and no play dates at the moment so we just meet friends in playground or park until the weather changes

ChickenwingChickenwing · 08/09/2020 11:57

This isn't a time I ever consciously 'filled'. My eldest went to gymnastics once a week for a while but it was because she wanted not because I wanted to fill the time. 2 of my DC are autistic though so the time after school is vital to them being able to relax and regulate.

Primary and pre school age though OP, don't they just want to play with their toys?

JadesRollerDisco · 08/09/2020 11:59

Sometimes go to the park or somewhere, used to do play dates obviously not at the moment. Extra curriculars. If we come straight home they either eat, watch tv or fight with each other. Usually end up with one having a bath, one on a device. We used to go to soft play a lot or the library.

Cheeeeislifenow · 08/09/2020 12:01

I consider bit the same as an adult getting home from work. It's downtime, chill out time they can choose what they like to do(within reason) might be TV. Might be a book. Might be outside play.

GenericFemalePal · 08/09/2020 12:06

At that age, snack then free play, ‘helping’ me cook, playground if the weather is ok, me reading stories to them. More activities as they got older, like Beavers or gym. Then kids tea at 5.00, half an hour of TV, bath and bed.

puzzleboxes · 08/09/2020 12:08

Well we walk to and from school which is over a mile away, by the time we get home they both just want to chill and unwind a bit.

Generally they will want to watch TV whilst I get on with getting dinner ready for 5pm. When it’s good weather they’re also in and out of the garden. After dinner they do spellings/homework. Then it’s usually already time for baths/showers, PJs, story and bed.

Keratinsmooth · 08/09/2020 12:11

At the moment playground after school, making the most of the weather

DreamMeOffMyFeet · 08/09/2020 12:19

DC is 6 and does no clubs/after school activities yet as he's just not interested.
We play in the garden, he helps me prep dinner, brings Lego or other toys out or watches TV.
Occasionally we'll nip to a shop if we need something that can't wait until the next day when I can go to a supermarket alone.
Read his school book or homework/go through what he's been going at school.

Occasionally for a treat pre Covid I would take him to a local soft play and have dinner there but that was rare. (Have an annual pass which was a Christmas present so only costs the food etc.)

If I'm honest the majority of days we get in, he helps himself to a snack and settles down in front of the TV while I potter about trying to get general house stuff sorted then I join him so we have a snuggle on the sofa watching whatever cartoon he's into at the time and talk about our day together.

movingonup20 · 08/09/2020 12:22

Homework, toys, crafts, tv, computer ... what did you do after school? Years ago few after school clubs existed

FelicityPike · 08/09/2020 12:36

Change of clothes. Homework. Snack. Rest watching tv for 15-20 minutes. Then she potters around playing until dinner time.

AriettyHomily · 08/09/2020 12:40

Homework
Snack
Downtime

I LOVE that we don't have to get to x y z club anymore.

eddiemairswife · 08/09/2020 12:57

Mine are grown-up and thankfully didn't have homework at primary school. They'd come home, eat something (toast, home-made fairy cakes), get changed,go out to play or have friends over, read or watch TV. We didn't do after-school activities as seems to be obligatory nowadays. I never felt that filling every waking hour with things to do was necessary.

Pombearbuffet · 08/09/2020 13:12

Whatever they want. They’ve had to concentrate all day at school so need some free time.

Original poster
ImFree2doasiwant · 09/09/2020 08:00

Pre Covid, They were picked up by GPS as I was working til 5.30 2 days. So with swimming on a 3rd we only had 2 days of it. Now though I'll have 4 or 5 (for the time being!) and it seems a lot to just let them flop in front of t.v.

@minipie no we drive, I can't walk or bike, it's 6 miles to the first then 5 miles to the second, then 10 miles home. Grin

OP posts: