To ask advice what can I do with my kids this eve?

[Rollonannualeave]

They have been on laptops too much today. 11 year old is mouthy an doesnt want to do anything. I am single parenting and due to the time of month I have zero energy. Shall I just let them crack on with YouTube this evening or are there other things I can do with them?11 year old will moan like hell about a walk or anything like that.

Give them time limits, being on all day isn’t healthy. Mine used to spend too much time online too, so no judgement as it’s not easy being a single parent and getting jobs done etc, but if they’d have got mouthy they’d have been straight off. Cinema, bowling? Getting late I guess already, film and popcorn?

Sometimes you've just gotta do what you've gotta to do. One day won't hurt and I'm sure they'll see it as a treat.
Alternatively, a happy medium might be that you grab some snacks and choose a movie that you all sit and watch together for some nice family time where moaning may be kept to a minimum and yet energy pay out is small.

Play a good old fashioned board game - crack open the monopoly

@Zanatdy zero energy for driving to bowling or cinema this evening!

I'd go out for a local meal together

Torches and snacks on a log in the woods always got my 11yr old away from his screens.

Wow things like meals and walks in woods at night require energy I don't have. Nice ideas for future though.

Board game might be an option though.

Can you get some popcorn and have a movie night at home? Still a screen but altogether. Get your duvets down and make a cosy nest on the sofa?

Or download a flight scanner app and lie in the garden watching planes and seeing where they are going? Probably only works if you’re near an airport!

Or look up some riddles for kids on the internet - my kids love trying to solve riddles for some reason and it can last an hour or so. Or a blind taste test with random things you have in the kitchen?

Eating out feels like way less effort to me than cooking and playing a board game at home!

Play card games.

Takeaway, movie night. They choose the film.

I was going to say similar. If a meal out is too much then i'm not sure what to suggest. Perhaps think of something for tomorrow and plan a day with minimal screens. If you don't have the energy for anything then forcing them to do something tonight is a battle you just don't need.

Take away, movie night, ice cream, no phones.

Mine are currently drawing at the table whilst I cook. They quite like a word puzzle/crossword as well which is fairly quick to source online and you don’t need to go out. Get them to cook for you? Sometimes we all just read in the same room?

And plan something for tomorrow. A walk or bike ride. Find something going on in your local area over the next few weekends.

Tell them how phones are affecting them and how it's better for all of you to take time off them

That's a brilliant idea. My 6yo would love that