What time do you tell the dc you're done for the day?

[Mortgageportgage]

I don't know if I'm being mean, but equally for my sanity I need a cut off point.

Bedtimes are later due to summer holidays, dc are 4 and 7.

I've just told them I'm done for the day. No more snacks, no more playing, they've had a huge outing today, they've eaten their fill, they have a water bottle each etc.

I've got some jobs to catch up on, and want some down time. I've told them they can play in their rooms, look at books, do colouring or whatever, but if they can't entertain themselves then it's bedtime.

They've looked at me like I'm a She-Devil and the eldest has said I'm mean.

Do you have a cut off time, or do you stay as a super parent until bedtime?

After 7pm is what I call 'chill time'.

The oldest retreats to their room to game and the youngest gets some ipad time. But all painting/crafting/whatever shit they have made me do that day is done.

I have a "cup of tea time" when ever I need 10 minutes sit down alone

Mine go up to their rooms at half seven (eight if I'm in a good mood), but they can do whatever the heck they like in their rooms (no screens). I don't enforce sleep times. They can play, draw, read whatever. But they go upstairs.

Usually in the evening sometime. Mine are quite used to me saying ‘please go and play quietly for half an hour, you’re hyper/I have a sore head/we need some downtime’ at points, though. They’re a couple of years older than yours.

Sounds fine to me maybe need to introduce this as a cpncept to them over long time so they get it. So they know what they can do in their quiet/chill time. And when bedtime is

I don't tell them I'm done, especially at that age. I would have been done but said kitchen is closed, and it's lovely tea and chill time.

Sounds like you could do with a few more smaller breaks before you get to done. Self care is absolutely key to keeping an even keel! Mine yourself, 😉

Mine have screen time at this time, for this very reason

If you don’t want to use screens then I suggest you have your recharge “leave me alone” time earlier in the day when the DC are not tired or hungry. After lunch works well. If you ask them to entertain themselves at this time of day, without screens, it usually ends up with them doing something naughty, injuring themselves, or in a fight. Or all three. IME anyway.

Normally 7pm is chill time dd will either play in her room or sit on her switch, not tonight tho she's having lots off fun playing in the front with her mates and I feel mean bringing her in so probably be in half hourish I can't be up and down checking on her much longer.

Mine are older 13 and 11 but 7 pm (after dinner which is at 6 pm) is always the end. They can chill but they need to be in the shower and bed and lights out by 9.

They've have a fun day, they've been fed, they're safe- wind down time after 7 sounds perfectly reasonable and like a good idea!

I'd do the bedtime routine to help them wind down and understand that the day is done and then leave them in their rooms to read/colour/play etc.

I think it's easier for them to understand that way than it's not bedtime, but it's also not day anymore ....

My children are prone to wanting entertainment from me constantly. I’ve started having periods where “you can play whatever you want but I will be doing x”.

In terms of snack requests- I saw a family who had a ‘any time snack drawer’. Could you do that? Then when they ask for a snack point them there to get it themselves.

Inwonder if it is worth starting a new bedtime routing that include ‘down time’ for an hour before bed?

100% do this with my 6 yr old. He has to go upstairs at 6pm. We’ll do teeth and story and he’s free to play in his room afterwards for however long but he has to stay in his room. He’s usually snoozing away when I check in on him around 6.45pm. We’ve always had early bedtime in our house for everyone because we’re up very early.

I don't think this is true if they're not used to screens. My 5 year old can definitely manage to potter about playing with toys without bothering their sibling too much, although they'd like to watch TV given the chance (and sometimes do when I cook tea). I know what you're saying, but it's not like in the days before Chromecast or TV on demand there was carnage in all homes when CITV finished at 6pm. That being said, I don't think half an hour of TV before bed is a huge issue if that's what gets you some peace sometimes.

I'm done, in the sense that I'm not facilitating things like crafts, after dinner, so about 6.30. Happy for them to be playing in the garden etc, but I'm not doing lots of games alongside them.

Thank you all so much, it seems I'm not so far off in my levels of being done by 7pm then.

We usually have a grand routine with school, clubs, hobbies etc so by 7ish they are looking to naturally relax and think about bed. We're on day 4 of the holidays though and it's all gone out the window already!

Not something we've ever done. They pester for play time with us until bath and bed, then when they're finally asleep (later than in term time, more like 8-9pm) I go downstairs and prep all the food for tomorrow and do all the other life admin. Generally not done for the day until after midnight!

We probably interact with them more than most parents but I figure it's a short window until they're stroppy teens and won't want to spend time with us.

Same here Sartuy, x2 DD (3 and 5) are with us until bath / bed / stories etc, usually 8-9pm in the holidays. (Youngest nearer 8pm, eldest 8.30/9). Desperately try for earlier but they are amazing at stalling for time and would much play and have fun, particularly as daddy has been at work all day and they haven’t spent time with him. We are exhausted and nearly ready for bed ourselves but my 5 year old just won’t stay in her room and occupy herself, and definitely not 3 year old. It’s an absolute no from my 5 year old (says she’s scared etc, sees it as a punishment!). It would be a dream if I was free from 7pm in the evening!

My little one is only two, I’m usually done with him by around lunch time 😂
Just kidding, but he does love an early start which makes 9am feel like the middle of the day!

Frisbee them an iPad and have a glass of wine.

I definitely get to the "I'm done" time. Single parent, dc 6 and 8. All of the mornings and bedtimes fall to me. All of the holidays.

They argue, bicker, squabble a lot at times and its exhausting. I have been feeling today like I need to find a better way. But yes, they went to he'd at 9, definitely done 😖

I do the bedtime routine at 8.30pm
in the holidays (kids are 6&9). They can choose to mess about/play/colour/read afterwards if they so choose but there will be no snacks/extra bed time stories etc from that point onwards. And if they pester me after that time it’s straight into bed with lights out and no more chances. They are old enough learn I need time to myself, too.

Mine naturally tend to chill out in the evenings anyway so I don’t have to tell them not to bother me. If they did ask me to do something like crafts etc late in the evening I’d just say ‘it’s too late now, we’ll do it tomorrow’.

We used to have "quiet" time after baths and tidyup time. They could stay downstairs and read or play quietly with no TV but they couldn't disturb.

By 7/7.30pm I'm dooooone.

After dinner I am done. I've bought DS (4) a cheap MP3 player from Argos and some headphones and we uploaded some stories and songs to it. He absolutely loves it and it's a good way for him to wind down before bed as screens make him hyper- plus I love trying to work out what song he's attempting to sing along to 😁