What Do you do between school finishing and dinnertime?

[ImFree2doasiwant]

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.

I'm WFH so I let them have TV/Tablet time while I log back on.

They also have toys they can choose to go and play with if they prefer.

You could try out different play parks on your way home? 30 mins run round a park, home for snack and a cartoon, that should buy you 60-90mins.

I did stop at the park yesterdaythough , it was such a lovely day. I think that'll be the idea while the weather is good.

@BlackInk I think that's the issue, now they're bigger and need less of my input (3 And 5) I am getting on with jobs while they watch tv or play. I feel a bit like I'm sticking the telly on and ignoring them.

An hours tv or ipad. Then homework. Then any chores they want to do towards there pocket money. Dinner. Bath. Into bed and read.
Tonight were going to the park. I enjoy seeing them chill out to be honest, as long as their homework gets done I don't mind them watching cartoons or playing minecraft.

I feel a bit like I'm sticking the telly on and ignoring them

My kids quite enjoy being ignored. I like to think of it as my kids like ignoring me. Even when I offer games or an activity they decline a fair bit.

DC chill, I cook dinner. There’s only one club back, and that’s once a week so I’m loving the down time and not running around taking them to and from clubs! Before bed they read but other than that it’s iPad/tv time.

If you feel bad then you could sit and cuddle them while they watch tv, they love that at age 5 and 3!

It’s a new one for us as well, as I am WFH and there’s no after school care for now. Normally DC would be in clubs until late. I’ve actually found the time goes really quickly. So far it’s been something like this:
Home (via playground if we fancy it); snack; play with toys; homework/times tables/spellings; crafts or board game with me; help with dinner; dinner; and then the usual bedtime routine. Usually no screens, which is our normal rule on weekdays, but also because I feel they’ve been so overused in recent months so need a break.

Homework, play in the (communal) garden with neighbours kids, else play with Lego, jigsaws, craft, drawing etc. They're allowed tv after 5pm, although I need to shift that a bit as they're older now and we eat later than 6. But if they're ready for bed they can watch tv whilst I get dinner ready.