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.

I run a community library and we have Lego and challenge cards, board games, crafts and tea/coffee in the library every day. The library in our local town has a Nintendo to play on too.

Doesn't he just want to play?
My reception DC usually just does one of:

• faffing with the playmobil
• lego or duplo
• drawing/colouring/paint sticks
• varioys blanket/cushion forts/"a house for my cuddly toys"
• marble run
• playdo
• hama beads... so many hama beads

Also likes helping in kitchen so:

• bit of baking/decorating biscuits
• helping me mix batter etc
• peeling the carrots

• then we try and fit in the reading from school/bits of homework they send.

Firstly the mess. Maybe I’m doing it wrong but you spend longer cleaning up than you did on the activity.

When they are 2 this is true, not at 5!

At 5 they can use a glue stick, colour in the lines, use scissors etc. Mine will sit doing this stuff for like an hour and if i give a damp cloth will wipe table when done.

Invite friends round to play. They can bounce on bed together or do lego or whatever.

Ours has one that's £5 called an after school special and they get a play and dinner and a drink which I think justifies the cost of the session, and there's no time limit fortunately on staying and playing.

If you can afford it OP, defo check out your local soft play as they might do similar deals to stay competitive.

Ideas from my house. We go for a walk to see Christmas lights or for a walk around Ikea sometimes just to stretch our legs. This time of year, we also make Christmas cards to send to family. Cuddle up and watch cartoons together with a hot chocolate. Play Uno or Guess Who. Sometimes she just amuses herself with Playmobil or drawing and writing or doing kid stuff, I leave her to it and catch up on some work.

Go to the park on the way home - ideally with other kids - and he can run around/go to the playground well before it gets dark.

I don't think kids need to watch TV to chill out - I used to keep it for when I was making dinner.

I really agree that kids don't need screens to 'unwind' necessarily after school - yes of course some (one of mine is autistic and does need it sometimes) - do but my high energy boy was just wired after following rules/ doing what school wanted - even at 5 when there is still some play in the day

I also wonder if people realise how sedentary school is? From year 1 they are mostly sitting down. The only 'chill' they need is to shake themselves about ! and get all that moving/ talking etc out of them.

It's very sad that this is the case - wouldn't it be great to pick them up knowing they had been doing hours of outdoor play/ social stuff - (as they are in most parts of the world until 7) - but hey it is what it is and reality is kids need a run about

I think there should be free after school clubs for every child - with focus on play - paid for by govt - would help working parents and be amazing for children's mental and physical wellbeing

Theres space to jump up and down. As a pps suggested, a yoga video or you both do some kind of kids workout video/dance to music. Painting at the table, any other game.
Walking in the rain is ok!! Go for a walk in the darker evenings sometimes and look for xmas lights as suggested!

Walk everywhere. Invent reasons to go for a walk/scoot/ride - get something from the shop, post a letter, go to the library. Do junk modelling, better still, have a friend over for him to do that with, if he's that sort of kid. Get him doing circuits with you, he can help you plan them and set them up. Drawing together, on big paper (cheap rolls of lining paper). Go visiting, and find other children for him to play with. It is so much easier for children to entertain each other than for you to be the sole entertainer all the time.