To ask for examples of your after school routines?

[Corblimeyguvnor1]

The past year has thrown all sense of routine out the window but now my 2 primary DC are back in school, I want to get back on track.

I'm struggling with after school. They are OBSESSED with Minecraft and would happily sit on screens from the moment they get in til the moment they go to bed which obviously, I don't want.

At the moment, we let them have 1 hour playing games on their tablets as soon as they get in. I feel like it's good for them to be able to do something they enjoy to wind down after a day at school rather than make them do extra school work/read etc the minute they get in the door. But after that, they just want to sit and watch TV - and to be honest, that's often the easiest option as it means I can get on with dinner etc. Homework is done at the weekends - they're quite happy doing it then.

What do other people do? I don't want them on screens all afternoon but they just whinge and moan they're bored which I'm not one to give in to but I need to give them alternatives. When you set 'screen time' does that include ALL screens - devices and TV? What other things do your kids do at home after school? They have clubs but these haven't started up again yet.

At the moment they're using all their "free" time to read. But they go through phases of Lego, jigsaws, craft, colouring, playmobil and whining

The phase of whining made me smile!

Mine are 5 and 7 and currently same as you. It really does my head in but atm they just need to relax a bit after school. However after Easter am hoping that football/beavers/other activities will start up up again - aim for both boys to do one or two of an evening each week which will hopefully bring down screen time.
We’re also pretty flexible at the weekends atm.

So, seems that generally, most think that Minecraft isn't that bad and a fair few of you are pretty relaxed about screen time. Feel envious of those who've said they have screen free days and manage to stick with that!

I just feel like I can't even remember what we did before Covid kicked in and I'm worried my kids are losing the ability to entertain themselves without screens! Maybe when their clubs start back up in the flesh, that will help.

I could have written this. We have 10, 8 and 5. Have had the same discussions, and lockdown has massively exacerbated it. We have a timetable now to try and manage the Minecraft/Adopt Me obsession. Same as you, an hour after school. Was going to be tv only but all they want to do is gaming. Then tea 5-5.45. Then quiet time - school reading, magazines or something. Then they are allowed tv before bed, and no I don’t count this as the same as gaming screens, in fact I prefer it as I feel it’s better for them to watch some drama, follow a narrative...issues we have though are that they have got into online chess. There is an ongoing debate as to whether this counts as ‘screen time’. They are doing it on a screen so I want to limit it, but they and dh argue it is educational so different. I feel it should be done within screen time not in addition! Also double screening - 10 yr old with tv on while gaming on Nintendo. This feels wrong to me! Anyway, we have constant drama over it, particularly when time is up and they don’t come off the screens without nagging. Mostly I am just hanging on in there until clubs restart as that makes it all much less of an issue as were out of the house so much more!

I think these threads often attract those with picture perfect routines. It's a weird time at the moment, everyone is tired and getting used to a new (but familiar) routine and the weather is still quite shit and no clubs/playdates etc. I'm being quite easy on both myself and my kids re screen time and plan to try and get a better balance after Easter!

I pick DS2 up from nursery then it’s a mad dash to collect DS1 from school, get in change clothes, have a snack at the table, the children play for a bit, 5pm a scooter ride or walk, have dinner about 6.10.

After dinners it’s 30mins of IPad then Tv and play until Bath time at 7.45 and then it’s teeth, story or school reading book and in to bed for 8.15

Mine have iPads when they get in at around 4pm until tea time at around 5.30, then it’s bath, stories and bed. Except today we went to the park after school.