Routines for afterschoolers?

[lunavix]

I'm wondering about a few things for afterschoolers.

First what do you do with afterschool clubs? I've moved hjouse, and where it was possible to walk in about 2min to and from school it was never an issue we just went back for whoever was staying on. Now I've moved it's a 25min walk, so we can't - two of the children are in teams they love, and the third doesn't do afterschool clubs this term. My own two may be okay with staying at the school watching (under5s) but there might be problems in bad weather, however I feel bad saying they can't anymore.

Second do you have designated snack times? Mine are allowed two biscuits and as much fruit as they like so I frequently hear 'can I have' 'can I have' 'can I have'

And third, if yours are allowed to play outside, do you just put up with doors slamming all the time? Mine are constantly in and out!

In answer to the questions:

After school clubs - I drive so use the car on those days for backwards and forwards, I too have 25 min walk

Snack time - soon as we walk in the door, I think biscuit and fruit as you do is absolutely fine, but maybe offer all at once as they prob be starving then say no more as dont want to ruin dinner

I leave back door open all the time when they are out they are only allowed out when I say, and I pop in and out watching them,

Hope this helps, but just go with whats comfortable for you, after school clubs are a pain, sometimes think I am too soft as I know cms who say no way can they get them from them

Good luck

I live about 10min walk from school and go back & forth for after school clubs on 3 nights. It does mean that we are only in for half an hour before we go out again, but at least it cuts down on the amount of time they are in my house!

I'm the same with snacks - they can have one pengiun or similar and then its fruit only. They all go home at around 5.30 for tea anyway.

If they are outside, I generally sit out there with the little ones, while the big ones spend most of the time asking my neighbour for the ball back! (Oh and I sit nearest the door and generally yell 'WATCH THE DOOR & MIND YOUR FINGERS!'

I have to drive to collect from school, so I don't collect any children if they have any after-school activities, as we would spend forever going backwards and forwards.

Some of the parents are back in time to collect their own children from school. If they're not, they make arrangements with friends, or have even picked up other minded children (my schoolchildren have been coming for so long that everybody knows everybody else now).

If there was a sudden problem or emergency, then I would pick-up, but it's rarely happened.

We have snacks immediately on our return from school - we have what we have, and then that's it!

If we are playing outside, then the patio doors are left open so we can all go in and out whenever.

• afterschool clubs. I've got in my handbook that parents should consult with me before enrolling on any scheme as drop off/collection may not fit in with our routine. I'm considering giving notice on one this term because next term I'll have younger ones that day and they'll have difficulty walking the distance and I won't have enough seats in the car for all the bottoms present!

• snack time is as soon as we get in from school (except when we have to get on to football first). Everyone sits down and then tables are cleared for arts/crafts or board games. Once tables are cleared no more food til they go home or have a booked dinner.

• back garden currently out of use due to blown down fence dh is replacing at the rate of about 3 months per panel . So we all go out together to park or we all stay in. Doors are always locked. All out or all in.

Right.

I'll instigate a snack time (maybe two, they eat a lot!) and they'll have to get used to it!

I've told parents we'll trial two of the three schoolies doing afterschool clubs and see how my littlies/schoolie who doesn't do clubs cope. Although one announced to me last week he's doing another! I said to him that I'd need to talk to his mum lol

Still not sure what to do about outside. I have two littlies, and three schoolies. I have a back garden but it's not big enough for the big ones, but they have permission from parents to play out the front, as we're in a quiet close and lots of children play out there. At the moment they're out there pretty much the whole time after school, but my ds is struggling with starting a full day at preschool and so I've been trying to keep him inside doing quieter activities. This means I have to keep the front door shut which means every five minutes they're coming in saying 'can I have a biscuit' 'can I have a drink' 'I need the toilet' which I don't mind - it's what I'm here for! but my dd's bedroom is above the door and every time it closes she wakes up which is proving a problem.

It'll be cut down significantly once I instigate snack times but not sure what else to do. Any suggestions?

Could you use a stairgate across the open front door (the sort that has an inner gate which opens) so that the older children can get in and out? I used to use one across my back door.