What the hell do you do with kids after school?

[TheMessyCleaner]

Dd started school today and I have also changed my work hours from 3 long days to five short days so I can pick her up from school every day. I made that decision on a sunny afternoon when we both had the afternoon to spend in the park and a picnic. The reality has now hit me that I now have to work every fucking day and it's going to rain for seven fucking months straight.
I feel like my whole routine has gone up the spout. I also have DS (3) who now has to put up with being in childcare more (only a day as dp has one day off in the week.) When I asked my friends what they did they reeled off a long list of expensive after-school activities which will only be suitable for dd and not ds and also involve driving all over the city after I've just spent all day behind a desk.
Option B is that I take them home and let the m watch hours of Octonaughts before bed. In the summer it will be so much easier but right now I just feel I've made a huge mistake and should have just chosen a school with an afterschool club.
Help!

After school clubs, playing in the garden, arts & crafts, homework, cooking, reading, board games, tv, playdates.

Op, what made the summer so different?
I continue to do what I did in the summer just in warmer and more water proof clothing, otherwise I'm miserable without fresh air!!

I find those hours a bit stressful because we have 3 DC ages 8, 5 and 20 months and the older ones really want my focused time and attention while the toddler is at hte age of needing constant supervision and also tries to disrupt all their activities- eg DS2 was doing a puzzle yesterday and DS3 kept grabbing all the parts he'd done and throwing them on the floor. And the older two fight a lot. But generally we do a mix of:

Ferrying the older two to music lessons (2 separate nights)- I play in the park with the other two while the lesson is going on.

Coming home to play- no screen time on weekdays except Fridays so do a mix of playing in the garden, craft type projects, play doh, kinetic sand,
puzzles, reading, playing football or basketball, building forts, imaginary games, lego playing with toys etc
Going to different parks or out for a bike or scooter ride
Once a week treat going for ice cream or hot chocolate
Occasional outings to beach, lake, library, cafe, local place of interest etc especially on early finish days.

@BalanchineBallet glad it's not just me! She's not a bouncing off the walls type either just finds it easy to have a busy day then sleep 8-6.