What do you do with your kids after school/ nursery ?

[gabbyshouse]

My DD

My DD is 4 and a half and starts reception in September.

She's at a school nursery so does school hours 8:30-3:30.

I've noticed she's increasingly unhappy about just ' going home ' after school and wants to do something, like play with friends or go somewhere.

I thought she'd be too tired really and would normally just take her home, give her dinner, play a bit, chat, a bit of TV and then bath bed time. When the weather is nice she goes outside on the swings, plays in her sandpit, slide, trampoline etc.

She keeps crying and asking to do things after school.

Is after school a good time to have a play date or is that too much?

At our gym they also do sports groups for kids from 4:30-6:30. I sent her today and she seemed to have a nice time.

Play dates good idea - or after school activities/clubs on school grounds.
How about swimming lessons or other leisure centre activities you mention?
Is there a park/playground nearby you can take her to burn off energy before tea?

We went to the library today but usually we do just go home, she’s still quite happy to do that. She’s not 4 till end of next month so one of the younger ones and she does get tired, she really needs to be in bed by 6-6.30 otherwise she just can’t cope (because she’s up at 5.30 latest no matter what time she goes to bed!)

We live on a road with quite a few other children of similar age or just a little older and they’ve started to play out a bit more together (with parent supervision) so we usually get home, have a drink/ snack and then she does that until teatime.

The library was quite nice actually, only did it after school as we had books overdue, but it was actually quite a nice peaceful activity and I might make it a weekly thing.

From September/ Reception there will be a couple of after school clubs she can access, is there anything at your daughter’s school?

Straight home, homework and then prepare dinner. DS sometimes plays in the street on his bike with other DC in the street.

My children always need more downtime but it’s perfectly normal for play dates and activities after school for children who can cope.

I’d book her a regular activity a week and maybe one play date and see how that goes.

We used to stop in the park and play. Sometimes an early tea with friends, or a picnic on the beach straight from school. I think we started after school clubs once she'd settled into Reception. At that age we were always home by 6ish to relax, bath and bed.