Could you share your evening routine with me?

[loosechange]

I've name changed for this or I will out myself.

I have three children, the youngest of whom is about to start school. I work part time, and DH and I don't usually get in on my work days before six.

I am trying to work out an evening routine for the children to incorporate listening to them read,musical instrument practice, a small amount of down time (aka television) and getting them to bed, interspersed with a few after school activities for the older two. The oldest will have some homework also.

I usually give them a quick snack when they get in, milk and a biscuit.

Previously we have ad-libbed it, but it mainly involves me barking orders like a sergeant major, and with three to listen to reading it will all fall apart.

There is a little scope to do some of this in the morning, but we usually leave the house before eight.

Any advice would be gratefully received.
TIA

I have two, you gets just started school also. We also don't get home until 6.30-7pm. Our routine is something like:

6.45pm Home and everything put away ready for the morning ( school stuff/ work stuff)
7pm -7.30pm dh or I prep and start dinner, whoever isn't listens to kids read and helps with homework.
7.30-8pm Eat together, catch up with each other's day
8pm-8.30pm play game with kids/ Lego with them/ piano practice with them
8.30-9pm one of us helps them get ready for bed/ reads to them/ lays school clothes out, the other tidies from dinner.
9pm onwards kids usually asleep, dh and I do whatever

How many days a week do you work?

We eat at 5 and at age 4 the DC would have a bath at 6.20 then teeth, books and asleep by 7pm.

Only three, so it's not too bad.
I am aiming to get the littler two in bed before half seven, the youngest will be wiped out with school and the middle child needs her sleep.

How old are your other dc? Honestly I know you'd ideally like to read/listen to them read every night but sometimes it's not practical if you work 3 days then I'd read with 1 each night instead of all 3 every night. Also who has the children from after school until your home from work? Could the eldest not do homework at this time rather than waiting until your home? I'd say don't be a hero you don't have to do everything with all of them every night, do they need a bath every night or will sometimes a good quick wash be good enough also if uniforms are fairly clean I'd put it on them again day after rather than messing about organising fresh uniform every day

How old are they?

Oh it is SO much easier now that they are older. I get home at 6, do dinner if dh isn't doing it, maybe have to help Ds with some homework......and that's it. Then I laze about on MN drinking wine until Ds takes himself to bed about 9 pm....
It is WONDERFUL when they grow up!

4,6 and 8.
Homework at the childminders is a good idea.
If is easier than two years ago, good to hear this will continue to improve.

Does your eldest get home work every night? My older 2 are 8 and 5 (y4&y1) they get homework on a fri that doesn't need to be in until the following Wednesday. I'd concentrate on the reading with the younger 2 encourage Dc1 to read to themselves