what do your dds/dss do when they get home from school?

[cardy]

We usually get home about 3.30/3.40, as soon as dd1 (6) walks through the door she switches on the tv....she would happily watch tv until her dinner is ready (5pm). I think that she (and I) should do more. I've tried suggesting 'let's play outside/do some drawing/play a game' and she says she just wants to watch tv. She even eats her snack watching tv.

However it's all different after tea and after rerading/homework - from about 6pm her and dd2 run around climbing fighting (sometimes), but generally being a bit loud, crazy etc.

I must add this is on the days that she doesn't do something after school (gym, dance). She's not generally a lazy person and loves sports, running around etc..

What do yours so? Should I make more effort? Shall I just let her do what she wants?

I've changed our routine recently, and now they have to come in, get changed and put their shoes away. Then they can have a snack whilst they watch 10-15 mins of TV and then they have to do their homework, put it back in their bags along with a snack and water for the next day. TV does not go back on indefinitely - they must do a mixture of TV, playing, reading etc.

This does not happen without a lot of nagging on my part, but it's early days and it will happen - cos I'm the boss, heh heh

Fridays I let the tv go on after they have done any homework and it stays on as dd(5) is generally very tired by the end of the week. Mondays is ballet, Wednesday is swimming and generally we go to the park the other days for an hour or so on the way home, or they play out the front with the neighbouring children. Apart from Fridays, the tv doesn't go on until 6pm after supper and baths, in the attempt to quiet them down before bed.

They are both running around the house playing 'life-savers' now. They did do 20 mins of cbeebies on-line when I turned the TV off at 4.30.

Usually, ds1 comes home, we have a snack, then he plays, (sometimes with friends round, or out visiting) until 5ish (except Mon which is shinty). We have a rule of no TV until 5 because that is when I cook tea (& he & ds2 will watch TV or a recorded program with out fighting ... usually).

Sometimes that hour and a bit after school can be really hard going though, especially to get ds1 playing in some form (preferably outside after a day in school!) and not just annoying ds2. Occasionally we do something like cycle to the library or park for a change. Ds1 usually protests loads, but we go anyway and as soon as we're off, he's fine and enjoys himself.

I've kind of got mixed feelings - I can kind of understand that when she gets in she just want to chill out and watch TV and usually 3 out of 5 evenings she does something after school or has a friend round/goes to a friends.

I guess part of it is ME wanting to do something with her.

It's just a tricky balanace to get right.

DC take ages to walk home, then they get a snack. They faff about until they can be arsed to do hwork (can't watch tv until it's done). That's like pulling teeth to finish. Then they squabble about what to watch on telly. Don't want to do afterschool activities and rarely get invited for playdates. Pretty dull life.

DS (7) was in swim lessons Friday afternoon which meant we didn't get home until almost 6pm those days, but he found the lessons too hard, a relief for me when he quit because other DC drove me batty while DS swam. I sometimes suggest one of the 'drop-in' activities they could go to after school or in eves (just turn up), but they usually say no.

Fight mostly

lol at tiredemma!

Mine do mix of above. Currently there's something mindless they like on telly when they get in so it's that while they have a snack & drink, that's wind-down time. Then homework & tea before bed.IF they've done everything & they're showered & in their nighties at a reasonable time they get another half-an-hour but on Fridays a little more as bed-times flexible.

They have had a pretty full-on day at school & we all like our chill-out time (on here mostley I guess!) so it's fair to let her have some too!

When I come in with DS1 from school, he gets changed, does homework, then either plays upstairs with dd or in the garden til tea at 5. Then they potter around while I wash up, then its toast and milk and In The Night Garden at 6.20, which is the earliest I put the TV on unless I am desperate for peace. Time after school is really hectic, not much time to chill once we get in, but they do relax after tea.

Mine are only just 6 and 3.5 (nursery two days a week). My reason for posting the original post is that I feel that I should be doing something with them in the short time available on school days - e.g playing games, do making/colouring activities, play outside, go to park. Whereas in fact I guess they just want to chill-out and do something less structured after having had quite a long a stuctured day at school.

Also, just recently they seem to get hyper about half an hour before bedtime (from 6.30 until I can manage to stop them!), having spent the first hout when they get home slobbing in front of the tv. I'd love to swap these energy level around.

wow - that sounds perfect "quiet play with lego etc until bathtime", how old are they?

When the weather is nice they do play in the garden when they first get home...but I'm not very optimistic about that for the next 6 months!

My DC don't generally get home until 6pm, so it is all we can do to fit in bath and supper (not to mention homework) before bed. DS does crash in front of the TV for a short while, and I am afraid I let him - IMO he needs some "downtime" after a full-on day at school, usually some after school sport or other, and then after school club. Occasionally he will go and play outside instead.

DD has her "riot time" after DS has gone to bed - I don't really mind her going to bed later as she can sleep at nursery.

OK - I think I might have to encourage the playing in the garden after tea before bathtime, although it'll be getting dark early within the next month. I just don't think dd1 one had the phyical/mental energy to do anything when she first gets home - she needs a substantial snack and at least 30 mins of downtime before she'll even tell me about her day.