AIBU to ask what you do with your kids after school?

[Joolsy]

I have 2 DDs, age 6 and 11. I am starting to feel like they don't really 'need' me to play with them any more (esp DD1 obviously!). We tend to get in from school, have a snack, then they'll play on the computer together for an hour or so. Up to a couple of months ago DD2 and I would play together for another hour or so but lately she's been happy doing her own thing & when I suggest something to do together she's not really interested. Just wondering what other families do & whether I should just let them be independent, but leave it up to them if they want to do something with me - feeling a bit redundant lately!

Unstructured time is good; school is so structured.

Mine have about an hour (DS) of doing nothing/ listening to music/ watching TV to decompress from school, the rest of the time is homework/ playing out/ having friends over/ going to friends/ football training. I only play with my youngest, who is only 4 - the older ones often cook with me or I help with homework or watch them perform impromptu shows - and I drive them about atlot as we live rurally and everything is spread out - but they play together or with their friends.

On the nights when they don't have any sport or anything on mine tend to just potter, bit of TV, few games on the Ipad, older one talking to friends on phone (mine are 14,11 and 7), they'll go out in the garden if it's nice. They each have one chore a day which they have to do after school, nothing huge, just something that shows they're contributing like a load of laundry or cleaning the windows in their bedroom. School can be a long day and I think they need some chill time. We're more structured on weekends when we'll have a day out, family walk etc. It's good for them to enjoy their own company and occupy themselves I think.

Park loads, library, girls brigade, karate. Also nose round the charity shops in the square a lot. Co-op.

We don't do anything interesting, but I do try and spend a bit of time with them out and about before coming home. Big two are 8&10.