What do you do with your toddlers in the evenings after nursery?

[kate1516]

I work full time and usually have a couple of hours a night between picking up my toddler and his bedtime. I have to be honest and say I have slipped in to bad habits of getting him some supper then us both sitting and watching some tv before bath, book and bed. I am just a bit stuck with what else to do to fill the time in a nice way. He is always shattered by the time I pick him up (and me after working from early) so too challenging or stimulating things just lead to tantrums. Would like to get some inspiration for things to do please.

What are your evening routines please? Not the going to bed bit but the bit before bedtime starts.

Thanks

Thanks

A ha! Ta poocatcherchampion

Mine are 3 and 6 so a bit different as they entertain each other.

But generally we get home about 3.30 and do homework after a quick snack. Dd (3) has oens and paper as she wants homework too so I ask her to draw a picture about her day or make a card for someone.

Then they play for a bit while I make tea. Sometimes ds gets his iPad but usually they go off t play a game.

So there is your answer you need another one to entertain the first!

Ds is at full time nursery and is unbelievably exhausted when he gets home at 5pm. We watch telly, he plays with his cars or trains, he picks at some food and then up for bath at 6pm.

I am glad that so many of you resort to tv too. I thought most people hated tv watching in toddlers. I do take him to the park on the way home in summer but he is usually too tired for that and just gets annoyed easily

Nope. We walk in, I pop something on tv (usually a Disney film to be honest), DH or I make something for dinner (she's always starving when we get in), feed her, get her changed and ready for bed, into bed by 8pm. She's always in a terrible mood when she gets home (hungry and tired) so it's managing that and doing everything as quickly as possible with minimum fuss.

We're usually home between 5:30-6. DS will ask for "eating" and he'll usually have toast/crumpet/ or sometimes just a rich tea biscuit and a banana.
He usually settles on the sofa and watches CBeebies bedtime hour and drinks his bedtime milk while "piggle" is on. Bathtime is 7pm.
Not a lot goes on after nursery to be honest - I like it to be snuggle wind down time and discourage him tipping all the toys out just for a short burst!