I don’t know what to do with son after school

[Pumpkinpastie]

My 5 year old started reception full time in September.
He’s an only child.

When the weather was still nice and it wasn’t pitch black by 4:30pm he was playing at the park across our road with some of the neighbourhood kids. Or we would play with him over there, he could go on the swings , kick a football around and so on.

Now it’s dark and freezing, I have no idea what to do!
He always seems full of energy when he gets home from school and usually ends up jumping on the bed.

I can’t really afford a club or hobby (I’m on universal credit and a low income, just about managing my income)

I have enquired about beavers , but he can’t start until he’s 6 and even then there’s a long waiting list.

Mine has also just started reception and I'm having the same problem. Actually if he was an only I may find it easier 😂 as all he does is argue for hours with his equally tired just started preschool 2 year old sister. Will be watching this thread for ideas!

My six yo is the opposite, school knackers him out so I let him chill Infront of the TV for an hour or so while I do dinner etc and then after dinner bath and then we'll play with toys or whatever. It's tough in the winter when it's shit outside though

The library is a great shout. Lots do a story time session after school and even if not, you can spend ages choosing some books, reading some books, being warm somewhere you don't have to heat etc!

Lego
board games
Uno
reading
model building
play do

NO SCREENS

Can you take him to the park on the way back from school or via a detour? Let him have a good run around and then come home an hour later.

He should also be able to play by himself at this age, Lego etc

I find after school so, so hard. It feels like the longest few hours ever.

Personally I would totally ignore the no screens brigade if it works for your son. My lot love a chill/veg in front of the TV or iPad for a while, as part of a mix of activities. Screens are not the devil.

As for physical activities, it is hard at this time of year in the cold and dark. Our local sports centre has a soft play that costs £2.40, might not be manageable every week but could it be a treat once a month?

I take mine on errands quite a lot - walk to the shop for a pint of milk or a loaf of bread or post a letter. They complain about going but once we're out for the walk it's lovely chatting and enjoying the cold air and the dark. Soon we'll go out to walk around and look at the Christmas trees.

Keep an eye out for any free clubs as well - our local football club is great and does quite a few free classes in the community.

This is why I hate Winter , it's such a pain when it's dark .If it's not raining I would go straight to the park after school until it's dark at least he has had fresh air then .

Buy you and him hate with a light on. Then you can go to the park and play football for 20 mins. Could you get him a scooter for Xmas? It's fun to scoot about and burns off loads of energy. A swim once a week/fortnight if you can afford it. Going for a walk with light hats on looking for Xmas lights. If you go along the same route get him to look out for new lights that have been put up. Hot chocolate when he gets in. Jigsaw puzzles, Lego, Play Mobile, are things he can play with alone. Also cheap things are dot to dot books, Where's Elf/Where's Reindeer (seasonal Where's Wally type books) are on Amazon for about £5 each. Toy cars, books a blu ray/dvd he might enjoy.

Also Top Trumps and maybe to play in the bath.

What time does school finish? I’d still be going to the park for half an hour after school-it won’t be dark then!

I have a similarly active child same age. Our routine is tea as soon as she's home, then shoes on and we go on a walk for half an hour with a torch - she loves it. We usually just walk to the shops and buy something for supper like hot cross buns, then come home. Bath, supper and play in pjs until bedtime.

My daughter just doesn't cope well being cooped up. She needs a walk, like a dog, in all weathers!

That's very unusual

We have the same. We break the week up so

mon - Lego club - free at library

tues - craft/baking at home

weds - swimming

thurs - long bath night - with slime/bath bombs/Gelli baff

fri - library to change books for the weekend.

DD likes the routine and apart from swimming it is free as have the bath bombs/slime anyway and whatever we bake goes in lunchbox/cake tin.

These activities take us up to teatime and then I’m happy for her to have tv/iPad after tea.

If I could swap the Lego club for reading at home I think that rountine would suit me too @Bethebest

Is there a soft play centre nearby? They often do cheap monthly memberships.
My local one is £5:50 a month and you can go as many times as you like! It's literally the same as one entry fee. They are doing it so you will but their food but you don't have to.

In the winter months I take my DD once or twice a week after school.

If you can find one with a good cheap membership deal, tell all the other school mums so they can come too and you and the kids can have someone to hang out with.

Approach your school. If you’re on universal credit there should be clubs in half terms he can attend for free. Also ask them about music lessons? Quite often they will be free, can he have a free after school place? School may also be able to point you in the direction of more clubs that are funded x

Other than soft play, we also do YouTube exercise videos, sticky kids is good. My DD has SO MUCH ENERGY so I do feel your pain in trying to keep them entertained, it can be tough when they just don't stop.
Inviting friends round for tea is another good one, keeps them busy and you might get invites back (although dont rely on it - my 10yos best friend's mum is terrible for inviting back, his best friend is round loads)

Winter is so annoying isn't it? In the summer, mine play in the back garden for hours

Head torches, or beanie hats with a built in headlight. They usually take CR2032 “coin” batteries and are brilliant. A light-up football sounds wonderful, I’ve only seen dog balls that glow in the dark.

Baking or any messy crafts are hell with a young child who’s already tired.

He really doesnt need to unwind with screens from 330 to bedtime ..as one poster suggested. Though im sure many children do...children unwind from their often quite sedentary day at school by running about and playing.

Op i think its great you prefer to go to the park....keep doing it! I used to take mine to any oark that was even slightly well lit. You will find sone parks have lighting.
Get torches and snacks and see how long you can stay out

Walk to the library...gi swimming (where i live its free fir kids ) ...walk into town look in windows at xmas lights

Can you offer to have other kids for regular playdates? Two of them will have fun together.

Its shit thst kids end up on screens for hours in the dark

I know you mentioned u are low income but i would also find out if there is a low cost after school club in school or a nearby church? It may be small fee and as a once a week ge would get to be social and gives you a day off etc often they have tea there too

For cheaper activities how about a local boxing club? My son absolutely loves it - it is really good exercise. It costs £2 per session at our club and you pay it in the day so only pay if you go. All the boxing clubs in my area are like this rather than asking for a set amount per month via standing order.

They’re suggested often because work well for lots of people.

I love a craft activity with my DC. You can often find bumper packs of supplies for cheap in supermarkets and discount shops, plus you can recycle toilet roll tubes/milk bottles/cardboard boxes etc. for a quick and cheap activity.

I don’t think comparing buying cupcakes to making them works… I don’t bake with my kids to make something that’s particularly good. I do it so they can benefit from measuring, mixing, and seeing something from start to finish (Mixing plain yogurt and flour together does make a fairly decent flat bread though, if you wanted to make something useful to go with dinner).

If you don’t like crafts and baking, fair enough. But that doesn’t make it ‘the most impracticable idea ever’.

I remember one covid winter doing lots of walks before bedtime to look and see peoples xmas trees through their windows. And all the twinkly lights

I always found my kids played better at home if they had a friend over...also then they could run abiut the park. You do have an hour or so before total dark. And by end jan i think its light til 5

Swimming
School may have after school clubs
Library
Wrap up and walk around and admire the Xmas lights
Lego/trains/cars etc at home
Get him involved in making dinner and setting the table
Painting, arts
Trampoline Park
Wrapped up and in the Park.take a flask!

Dance videos with actions: Koo koo kangaroo and Danny Go on YouTube.

Get a high Vis jacket and go for a walk. Nice at this time of year because you can take in all the Christmas lights.

Also, look at squirrels (like beavers, but for 4-6year olds)