What do all you CMs/Nannies do with your charges after school?

[travellingtime]

Especially a bit of a challenge now its dark so early and getting colder but what can you suggest for almost 3yo (DD) and almost 6yo (DS) to fill the gap between school and tea that doesnt involve spending a lot of money or parking them in front of tv / computer?
DS not a big joiner interms of after school activites/clubs, so cannot really go down that route

• Have a friend over to play
• Baking
• Playing with toys
• Torch walks in the woods
• Long baths with lots of bubbles and toys
• Making stuff - crafty things
• Reading together
• Making dinner/pudding
• Coffee shop for a treat
• Building dens with chairs & blankets etc
• Making Christmas cards/decorations

Or as most kids do - watch some TV.

Board game.
Walk with torch to our local garden centre.
When xmas decs are up we may go to another garden centre (by car) which usually has lots of xmas lights, singing snowmen that sort of thing.
Lego

let them play?

That's what we do most often after school. They play with their toys/with each other.

Other than that; homework, trip to the park, friend over to play, craft/art activity (we'll start doing xmas cards, xmas tree, paper chains, snowflakes, calendar for Grandma etc soon), read, go swimming.

We do Lego, colouring, sticker books, craft things sometimes, baking cakes or dinner, sometimes library if not too tired, park/garden if warm enough, letters, some days CBeebies, reading. Sometimes a friend to play.

Today: snack, made chicken fingers with 4yo, free play with 1yo (who misses her while at school - they love free time together), made cards, colouring/stickers, tea. Tidy up, bath.

Nearer Christmas we will start doing craft things & making gingerbread etc/presents. A lot depends on tiredness levels & weather.

Homework
Reading
Make tea (children help)
Bake cakes
Watch tv
Play in garden
Colouring
Have a friend round for tea
Go to the library

We will also soon be starting christmas crafts.

Tbh my eldest charge has activities most days after school so we have very few free evenings, mostly they just enjoy the opportunity to play by themselves.