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What do your kids do after school?

42 replies

SteveBuscemisRheumyEye · 18/04/2021 17:02

DD is 8. She had ASD and completely addicted to her iPad. We've decided to limit the iPad to weekends only, as she seems to have zero interest in anything else. She enjoys reading, but only specific things. She's also an only child so no sibs to play either etc. Hates going out to the park etc.

We start tomorrow and I know it's going to be hard and she will moan about how bored she is!

How do you leave kids spend their time after school? 3:15 til bedtime (8pm) is suddenly feeling like a long time 🙈

OP posts:
Checkingout811 · 18/04/2021 18:39

-Helping you cook dinner?

  • Baking
  • Writing out a list of ingredients for something she wants to bake at the weekend
  • learn something new together; a language, sewing, crochet
  • crosswords / puzzles / jigsaws
  • swimming
  • the park
  • bike / scooter ride
Checkingout811 · 18/04/2021 18:40

Oh and I recently spent £20 on Amazon and got my DD8 a tie dye set and a slime set. Hours of fun & she’s not bored yet!

ButeIsle · 18/04/2021 18:43

A visual timetable may help. Plan it together each Sunday for the week ahead.
Ask her what she like to do.
This will give her choices. If this is over facing a choice of two for each day...this or that.
Visually she can see the gaps in the week.
Visually she can see what is coming the next day.

If 'after school' is too long break this down into two sessions...first you can play with...,next you can..., even if to start with the 'next' is the iPad. Time limit each option.

Praise her play, support her play initially with toys other than the iPad. Positivity is great combined with ignoring the iPad play.

Long term you might be able to use the iPad to support her play. Once you know her likes, use YouTube to watch other kids building with Lego, can she film her own building. ( just had a thought, if it is something like Lego, make sure you leave it built so that she can return and continue. Nothing worse than it all being put away after 10 mins to be back to where you started the next day, again this will develop her focus, interest and extend her play overtime, even adding other resources to it).

Good luck.

Good luck.

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Equimum · 18/04/2021 18:49

We come home, have a snack, then do homework. DS1 is 8 and a bit of a screen addict so we have gone down the activities route. He goes to swimming lessons, Beavers and an activity club at school. On the other evenings, we maybe bake, play a board game, go for a walk, have a play date etc. Before we started after school activities I found filling the time really hard, as he’s quite tired and grumpy after school, and it was impossible to cajole him into things.

secular39 · 18/04/2021 18:53

AccidentlyonPurpose I agree and I say this as a parent of a child who is on the spectrum.

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 18/04/2021 18:54

It also depends what she does on the ipad. Does she watch/research stuff she's into? Does she apply it in real life? Like drawing for example.
Does she read?
Does she play games for a bit of escapism?
Does she listen to music?
Does she just watch lots of random videos and chills?

Any classmates that she's even marginally close to that also have ipads and play the same games and she could facetime them and roleplay online?

AccidentallyOnPurpose · 18/04/2021 18:57

@secular39

AccidentlyonPurpose I agree and I say this as a parent of a child who is on the spectrum.
I honestly wasn't trying to be a dick, but I can totally see how it came that way. Was doing chores at the same time so my replies were rather short and abrupt . Hopefully my longer posts will show OP I'm trying to help, not kick her when she's down.
Xmasbaby11 · 18/04/2021 20:38

I agree about not comparing with nt peers. Dd9's peers are all typically very busy doing hobbies, classes and socialising. They are more independent too. It's best not to compare as dd really couldn't cope with that lifestyle.

Volcanoexplorer · 18/04/2021 20:45

Mine do quite a few clubs and/or after school club on the days I work. So it goes Monday ds footie dd at home usually practising dancing, Tuesday ds and dd swimming lessons, Wednesday dd Acro and ds stays at after school club until 5:30, Thursday both at after school club until 5:30, Friday after school club until 4:30 then ds cricket. More clubs at weekends so Saturday ds footie and dd dancing Then Sunday ds rugby soon to be cricket so they’re kept busy. They are 8 and 5.

Volcanoexplorer · 18/04/2021 20:47

Sorry posted too soon ... I know a child with ASD would likely be overwhelmed by all of these activities though. Is there any way of maybe trying to introduce one club? Maybe swimming or Brownies? Just so you have something one night a week?

SteveBuscemisRheumyEye · 18/04/2021 22:00

@AccidentallyOnPurpose no I completely see you weren't being a dick. I'm just quite sensitive as I feel like I've tried everything and introduced so many things for her to do, but she's just not interested.

She has very serious separation anxiety, hence clubs are a no go. Most clubs won't let me stay. I think she's been put off by me making her go to things when she was a bit smaller, so now point blank refuses. Pushing it results in meltdown.

On screens she plays minecraft and Roblox, and watches YouTube of other people playing these games.

She doesn't like being outside, walks, scooter, park etc. She does like swimming and did go to swimming lessons for a while a couple of years ago, but then moved up a group and was frightened by the teacher (very gruff manner), and so has been put off lessons completely.

Sorry I'm not remembering who said what, but I do like the idea of a visual timetable planned at the start of the week - she very much needs to know what is happening which is why I think "no iPad, find something to do" would be setting us up to fail. Too late for this week (as she's obs asleep now!) but we can spend some time after school thinking tomorrow maybe (though I expect "there is nothing to do" will be the answer!).

OP posts:
AccidentallyOnPurpose · 18/04/2021 22:15

[quote SteveBuscemisRheumyEye]@AccidentallyOnPurpose no I completely see you weren't being a dick. I'm just quite sensitive as I feel like I've tried everything and introduced so many things for her to do, but she's just not interested.

She has very serious separation anxiety, hence clubs are a no go. Most clubs won't let me stay. I think she's been put off by me making her go to things when she was a bit smaller, so now point blank refuses. Pushing it results in meltdown.

On screens she plays minecraft and Roblox, and watches YouTube of other people playing these games.

She doesn't like being outside, walks, scooter, park etc. She does like swimming and did go to swimming lessons for a while a couple of years ago, but then moved up a group and was frightened by the teacher (very gruff manner), and so has been put off lessons completely.

Sorry I'm not remembering who said what, but I do like the idea of a visual timetable planned at the start of the week - she very much needs to know what is happening which is why I think "no iPad, find something to do" would be setting us up to fail. Too late for this week (as she's obs asleep now!) but we can spend some time after school thinking tomorrow maybe (though I expect "there is nothing to do" will be the answer!).[/quote]
Pools are open now, could you /DH take her swimming one afternoon? Not lessons, but just play and splash about and float and have some fun. Even better see if she'd like someone from her class to join.

Would she like playing roblox with some of her classmates? Does she have any friends on it? DD spent a lot of time in lockdown face timing friends and they went on roblox together and role played. Ofc I had to chase mums around to get account names /phone numbers but it eventually worked.

Can you suggest a walk in the woods with a classmate or going to the park? Obviously with you tagging along.

Mini golf as a family, and bring another child if you can?

Keep it casual, you'll probably have to be there a lot which means so much more work for you. Start small, one outing per week and build up on it.

If none of these are possible and you have the time and the will.. can you ask her about her games? Ask her to show you her houses, her pets etc. Ask if you can create an outfit. Can you join her in her games? If you can't bring her out into the world, can you at least join in hers? Watch some of the youtube videos with her. Suggest something new. Maybe show her some of the craft/drawing channels (Moriah Elizabeth is quite funny) then encourage her to try some too.If you know and understand more about what she likes and her interests you can tailor activities around them, you might be able to pick kids that are interested in the same things too from her class.

Are you guys keyworkers ? Has she been in school at all during the lockdowns?

A lot of the adults i know have forgotten how to socialise or are anxious about it, even more so a young girl with ASD on top too.

Ask the teacher for help too and see if they have an insight into her friendships/relationships at school.

It's a fucking exhausting battle I'll give you that, especially since it'll have to be done in baby steps and ensuring she feels safe and secure.

SteveBuscemisRheumyEye · 18/04/2021 22:33

@AccidentallyOnPurpose thank you for taking the time to reply again.

Yes, good idea RE swimming! We can perhaps go one day after school each week.

We are both keyworkers, but I've been working part time. She hasn't been into school because there was no way we would have got her there - it being a legal requirement is the only way we get her in. She doesn't like school. She was at a different school that she loathed - we had real problems with school refusal, her new school (that's she's been in since sept) is wonderful, and she tolerates it. I say she doesn't have friends but that's not strictly true. She is okay at school and other children seem to like her - she isn't particularly interested in them doesn't want anything to do with them outside of school. It's unfortunate that we've had lockdown as it means I've not met any parents properly!

Yes, you're right about showing an interest - I do try. Her other special interests are cats and pokemon, which I also try with (cats is the easiest!). It's just so hard to have "conversations" about gaming, cats or Pokémon on repeat.

OP posts:
hamandcgeese · 18/04/2021 22:37

@Notavegan

Watch tv mostly at the moment. Brownies, swimming also when allowed.
Is it a reflection on our after school routine, that my first thought reading this was, oh yummy great cake choice. 🍰
AccidentallyOnPurpose · 18/04/2021 22:45

Yes, you're right about showing an interest - I do try. Her other special interests are cats and pokemon, which I also try with (cats is the easiest!). It's just so hard to have "conversations" about gaming, cats or Pokémon on repeat.

Of course it is. It's more like she talks at you rather than with you I presume. It's not engaging enough to make you an active participant, but you can't do your own thing either.

If she likes Pokemon, how about getting Pokémon go on your phone and again go for walks, look for pokestops,look for them,take part in raids etc. I assume she doesn't have her own phone. That could help with the pre planned activities too. Every Tuesday and Thursday we go to 5 pokestops , or we hunt until we find 10 Pokémon or for 30 minutes.She can take a scooter or bike too. Clear plan in place with a clear deadline.

Are there any local animal shelters that do open days (in non covid times).

I think just for now, you need to just get her used to be out of the house, interact with someone (probably you😬) in a positive fun way during an activity rather and keep your eyes and ears open at how things develop at school. Then slowly build up on it when the opportunity arises.

I could probably give loads more ideas but it will just overwhelm you and definitely overwhelm her.

Baby steps, not too much pressure on yourself or her , take any positive interaction/outing as a win and forget about any "failed" ones. Change can happen, but it will take a long time so pace yourself.

As cliched as it is, this one really is a (long ass) marathon not a race.

HotSauceCommittee · 18/04/2021 22:53

My kids are NT and we don't make them do anything much after school. They've been to school so they can chill either downstairs with us or in their rooms. They use screens whenever they like really, just to give another POV.
If I came home after a demanding shift, I wouldn't like it if someone wanted to take my phone off me or make me go swimming when I was tired. I do love swimming, but cannot be arsed after work.
We might watch a bit of telly together, we might not.
I used to read to them a lot when they were younger. Now we just chat.
Relax and do what makes you all happy.

lollipoprainbow · 19/04/2021 08:07

Exactly like my daughter same age too and no siblings to play with ! Not that keen on school so afterwards she likes to come home and destress. Sometimes she likes the park but mostly she just wants to go home and draw, play roblox with her friends over FaceTime and go on the iPad. I worry that we don't do enough but she doesn't want to and I don't push her to.

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