Dinner after after school club?

[babycorn]

Potentially a stupid question, but this is my first time with this sort of thing!

Dd3 has started a nursery attached to a primary school and goes to after school club (for a king's ransom, I might add). First day today, and she had beans on toast and a piece of chocolate cake... at about 4pm.

What the hell do I do about actual dinner? I normally eat dinner with her at about 5.30ish, as by the time I've sorted her out and got her bathed and into bed, and tidied up and got ready for the next day, I am ready to get bathed and go to bed myself (lone parent).

Do I give her a snack? Or something like soup and veggies? And eat the same myself?
On the grand scheme of things, this is such a little thing, but I can't for the life of me work out what I am meant to do? (Looooooooong day at work today, brain has stopped functioning).

Please someone tell me what I should do

I never found it worked for me to eat with them post nursery. Best thing was a kind of pick and mix at 5pm, toast with peanut butter, grapes, cheese and crackers, some ham etc. Then I eat my adult food later. The whole 'family has dinner together' didn't work for us.

Does she get a hot meal at lunch? If so then I really wouldn't bother giving a hot dinner as well. Then you can either eat separately or maybe have a hot lunch yourself?

You probably need another few weeks to 'get the vibe'. That sounds like a decent amount of food, but when my kids started it was actually not loads, so I found I needed to feed them. After a year however, they asked us, and parents asked to increase portions. Then I found I just needed to give them a few bits when I got in (often a bowl of cereal. Don't judge me). It ended up being a massive blessing when we all tired by December.

Well you yourself need a proper meal, and if she eats at 4pm it's going to be a long time until her breakfast.

There might be days she doesnt tuck into a big plateful at the ASC, so personally I'd assume for now that she will eat whatever you are having for dinner at 5.30pm but be prepared she might not eat very much of it, and do not offer pudding, maybe save that for later. If she refuses to eat anything at 5.30pm then I'd say fine, and offer her something just before she cleans her teeth at bedtime, maybe just extra milk, or maybe even some rice pudding with applesauce, or banana and custard.

Beware also ASC might change what they offer. When my DD started school, her ASC offered a buffet table with a huge choice and let the kids go back and forth helping themselves. My DD couldnt eat a thing at dinner time, she arrived home stuffed full every day. A few terms later ASC made a change and just allowed one trip to the buffet and restricted the choice massively so it was usually just toast and marg, toast and marmite, apples, etc. They never mentioned this cost-saving change, and for a while I coudlnt work out why DD was coming home ravenous!

My children are / were always hungry so made then dinner - they usually got a single slice of bread and topping plus fruit if they wanted any so less than your child - I'd say supper about 7pm

Thanks for suggestions. According to her she had a slice of toast with beans. That's not gonna see her through plus lack of veggies etc.

Thing is I need a proper meal at that time, by the time I've got her into bed it's literally bed for me as well. Plus dinner time is literally the only time I see her all day...

Will make my dinner and some extra for her.