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Original poster

What do you do in the evenings after school/work?

23 replies

Afterschoolrun · 21/09/2023 19:24

So aside from all the activities you're doing with your kids like swimming etc where you take them somewhere for a class etc what do you do with your kids after school and work in the evenings?

We've got in a rut of watching TV and then having dinner then maybe the odd board game then bed.

My daughter has said tonight 'you never do anything with us it's so boring' despite having a room full of toys and a merlin pass we use most weekends as well as 2 nights a week at activities. Now spoiled brat outburst aside it made me think maybe we should get into some new after school habits. So I'm here for ideas and expecting a bit of judgement!

OP posts:
Original poster
Afterschoolrun · 21/09/2023 19:24

Forgot to add kids are 6&2 girl and boy.

OP posts:
Popskipiekin · 21/09/2023 19:26

Err, we chill. Home from school or club, playtime, homework, dinner, screen time, bathtime, reading, bed. Sometimes we do a board game. Sometimes we all run about like idiots. But nothing else during a working week. Ask your DD what she wants to do? Is she expecting Merlin pass stuff in the weekday eves as well (!!) ?

Ragwort · 21/09/2023 19:29

Ask her what she'd like to do? Or suggest homework/reading!

My DS is grown up now but on evenings when there wasn't an after school activity it was park or walk if summer/light evenings, then a bit of tv, board games, or he'd play on his own, maybe a bit of crafting ... dinner, bath and bed. I didn't expect to have to 'entertain' him all the time .. DC need to play independently-or just be a bit bored sometimes- it's not the end of the world to be bored.

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ssd · 21/09/2023 19:32

After work i sit on my arse.

Landlubber2019 · 21/09/2023 19:33

when my kids were younger we always enjoyed playing short games, orchard toys were brilliant at that age. Now it's Uno if they don't want to hang with their mates !

Lighttodark · 21/09/2023 19:44

Snack and tv time
homework / play
dinner
more play (if time)
bath
reading
bed

in that order

Original poster
Afterschoolrun · 21/09/2023 19:52

Lighttodark · 21/09/2023 19:44

Snack and tv time
homework / play
dinner
more play (if time)
bath
reading
bed

in that order

Playing with them? And what sort of thing? Or them playing alone.

The age gap is not really helping me as if she sets up a load of barbies then my son comes over and destroys everything It all just ends in tears. I also have to cook dinner, clean up etc then do bath time. I should add my husband is here too but doesn't get home til 6pm ish.

We often do loads of orchard games etc but she gets bored easily for example we'll do a game then she wants to do playdoh, then drawing and this is all within a 20 minute time span. Then she'll get really obsessed with a game (uno) and want to play it every night for a week then will never want to play it every again. It's strange really. We often go for a walk/the beach/the park in the evenings in the summer - usually 3 nights a week at least. We often go to softplay (maybe once a week) or trampoline Park in the evenings after school in the winter. She also has a switch and is allowed to play that which she does some evenings for a little while.

I'm not sure what she wants from me, it felt like a real barb to the heart tonight when she said that, she said it really calmly and it's upset me so much.

OP posts:
Newtothis2005 · 21/09/2023 19:52

Just the normal stuff - make dinner, watch tv, play with whatever toys they like, I might stretch to some colouring or play dough.
In the week we are all busy and tired so really nothing too ambitious.

Badaba · 21/09/2023 19:55

After dinner I usually jump into bed and stay there. Any kid of mine who feels bored or feels the need to call me boring is welcome to find their own fun or risk me giving them some chores/more homework.

The guy has clubs every week day except Friday. I'm a human being who needs rest.

Original poster
Afterschoolrun · 21/09/2023 19:57

Maybe I should add in another activity. She does swimming and gymnastics maybe that's not enough! So clearly has a lot of energy to burn.

OP posts:
Lighttodark · 21/09/2023 19:57

Afterschoolrun · 21/09/2023 19:52

Playing with them? And what sort of thing? Or them playing alone.

The age gap is not really helping me as if she sets up a load of barbies then my son comes over and destroys everything It all just ends in tears. I also have to cook dinner, clean up etc then do bath time. I should add my husband is here too but doesn't get home til 6pm ish.

We often do loads of orchard games etc but she gets bored easily for example we'll do a game then she wants to do playdoh, then drawing and this is all within a 20 minute time span. Then she'll get really obsessed with a game (uno) and want to play it every night for a week then will never want to play it every again. It's strange really. We often go for a walk/the beach/the park in the evenings in the summer - usually 3 nights a week at least. We often go to softplay (maybe once a week) or trampoline Park in the evenings after school in the winter. She also has a switch and is allowed to play that which she does some evenings for a little while.

I'm not sure what she wants from me, it felt like a real barb to the heart tonight when she said that, she said it really calmly and it's upset me so much.

Show quote history

They are usually happy enough to play alone with their toys after being at school all day (both dc in school). I understand it’s harder for you with the toddler. Sometimes they will do arts and crafts. Some days there are clubs so the afternoon/evening is much shorter and there’s only time for tv then dinner.

why don’t you ask your daughter what she would like to do and try to do that once or twice a week?

bigageap · 21/09/2023 19:59

At that age I’d expect some pretty chilled evenings if other evenings you have activities! kids need to learn to be bored/entertain themselves!

Original poster
Afterschoolrun · 21/09/2023 20:03

Shes always been so good at entertaining herself and playing really well. Then recently she's been enjoying playing with her brother etc. Now it's like she's not happy either way. She wants to be alone but also with someone. She wants me to think of ideas but then doesn't want to do them. The toddler is easy and chilled and plays nicely with or without me, but my daughter has become a bit of a different beast 😄 She has this mind thats constantly firing. I think I'll sit her down tomorrow and say right what do you want to do and go from there.

OP posts:
soundsys · 21/09/2023 20:04

Oh god I don't have the energy to do things mid-week as well! It's downtime for me and them!

Usually by the time we're back from school/tea time club/ activities it's really just:

Flopping: usually with a book, sometimes in from of the TV
Sometimes the kids will play a game or do Lego or draw
Tea
Homework/music practice
Getting ready for the next day
Bath
Playing (them not me)
Then we read together and then they go to bed

DNAwrangler · 21/09/2023 20:07

yes but do you have lots of energy to burn? In a couple of years her brother will also want to do a couple of activities…

CoodleMoodle · 21/09/2023 20:13

I have the same age gap and remember it being tough when DS was 2! DD's favourite thing was Lego and DS's favourite thing was trying to touch said Lego, which drove them both nuts... Three years later it's much better, I promise! They play together a lot now, but can play apart as well.

After school we've always just chilled out at home for the most part. I'm quite relaxed about screens etc, and some days they watch a bit of TV or play a game, some days they don't. We see DM at least once a week, and go to the library once as well. One night is bath and hair wash (we only wash their hair twice a week or it's unmanageable) which I can stretch out for quite awhile! Oh, and DD does Brownies on a Tuesday, and DS will do Beavers when he's old enough.

TolkiensFallow · 21/09/2023 20:13

6 year old girls do seem to have a bit of an oppositional phase…maybe it’s just that? You sound pretty normal to me.

Our dd6 does one afterschool club, swimming and rainbows in the week but I don’t like to do clubs at weekends as we like to do family stuff.

So the other 2 evenings is reading, games, tv, dog walk. Nothing much.

blackheartsgirl · 21/09/2023 20:15

Sounds you already do a fair bit.

I don’t know, I’ve got 4 dc 2 are adult and 2 are teens.

we did stuff midweek ie brownies/guides/football/dance, I played the odd board game but mostly they were encouraged to chill whether that was reading/tv/ playing by themselves etc.

if they complained they were bored they were swiftly found chores to do

by the time I’d worked all day, come home and cooked tea and prepared for the next day I was knackered 😂

Goldencup · 21/09/2023 20:15

She's 6 so year 2 ? I think a couple of nights a week is probably enough. At that age Dd did riding x1, swimming X1 and ballet. DS did football, riding, judo and swimming. As others have said park after school if light and dry enough. We also did roller blading sometimes, but I think that was later.

kolepen · 21/09/2023 20:25

Mine does extracurricular clubs 4 days after school, and there's not much time to fill after that. Sorting out dinner, eating, chatting about our day, a bit of playing in the garden or playroom or listening to Yoto stories or music. Spellings and music practice, and a bit of homework. Clearing up after dinner, checking everything is ready for the next day, bath and bed. Very little screen time as there's no TV in the playroom.

On the day without clubs I prep dinner beforehand so I can focus on DD, we do the main homework for the week and do a craft or baking activity that I've prepared beforehand.

confusedanonn · 21/09/2023 20:29

We do a mix, my kids don't do any clubs as I can't really afford it but we do have a local farm pass and a merlin pass.

Sometimes we go to the local park or woods with or without the dog.

Go to the local theme park.

Go to the farm - in winter we would just go to the softplay.

Go for a bike ride.

Play dates.

Go to the local park with school friends.

Sit and watch iPad/TV/playstation till dinner time.

Crafty stuff, paint or playdoh.

Play in the garden.

We did sometimes used to go to a local trampoline park after school that did a deal for unlimited bounce and dinner for a good price.

If I had more money I would probably do a club each, then a mix of what we do now with things like family swim, trampoline park, cinema, dinner out, ice cream and walk.

Generally the kids are tired and just want to chill, and I bet if I asked them their favourite thing to do would be to have play dates with their friends.

frozendaisy · 21/09/2023 20:33

Get some things, can be stocking fillers(?), like Story Cubes, if you haven't seen them they are dice with characters, pictures, youbtgroe 3 say and make up a short story with all the pictures in.

Top trumps? There must be a Barbie set out now.

Doodling book?

We used to do chill stuff in the run up to bedtime and things like top trumps you can hold in one hand and play whilst also playing with toddler

Can you do things like set up a tea party with her Barbie's and his teddys or have Barbie hospital where his teddies need treatment.

Or put the last our of cbeebies on? Used to be chilled stuff lead up to bed

MammaTo · 21/09/2023 20:33

I don’t think it’s a bad thing for her to be bored tbh.

Let her draw or entertain herself. I don’t know what more you could fit into an evening after work/extra curriculars/cooking tea etc. I really don’t think it’s our job to fill every minute of a kids awake time with activities, it might be nice for some independent play.

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