Please tell me your after school routine

[Daffodillove]

Trying to stop my two DSs (age 8 and 11) descending onto their screens like vultures when they get home. Would love to have a more positive routine for them when they come in. What does your after school time look like? Thanks!!

What it does look like, or what it's meant to look like?

It should be
4pm return from school
Between 4 - 5pm reading / homework / music practice
5pm DC dinner
6pm bathtime / bedtime routine
7pm bed

We have a no screens on school nights rule, because it was messing up DC's sleep and ability to behave

I don't mind them having screen time if they're tired after school and not wanting to do much else. We try and go to the park for about an hour straight after school which reduces it.

Mine are younger and the school aged one also has a couple of clubs a week.
4 ish home, depends on if the toddler walks. Put away, coats, shoes and empty their bags.
4 - 4.30 playing, reading, crafts. Free choice
4.30 - 5 TV
5 dinner, we practice spellings while eating
6 bath, chores, stories
7 /7.30 bed, depends on age

Thank you. That’s really helpful. I think we need to insert hobby time like reading or music so the screens aren’t the default.

@Furrbabymama87 I totally agree that there’s nothing wrong with screens especially when they’re tired. I just don’t want them to be the default activity all the time!

Mine are 6 & 9,
Home at 3.30 - shower and changed
4-5pm reading and spellings
5pm tea time
5.30 - 6.30 chill time/ tv/ switch time/ facetime grandparents
Both in bed around 7pm
my 9 year old reads till 8pm 6 year old fast asleep by 7.10 pm 😄
I've tried it a few ways if I let mine chill 1st nothing at all gets done, so the boring stuff 1st then chill for us 👍

Get in and washed up, a quick snack and then some chill out time watching tele, art, tablet. Dinner and then bed shortly after.

Depends on the weather. Yesterday it was lovely so we built a campfire and had burgers for tea and played on the trampoline/ ninja line/ swings. Came in at 7 and it was bath/ reading and bed. A half hour computer time for two eldest (11 and 9)

If it's nice I try and spend as much time outside as possible. We live rurally so lucky to have woods/ river on our doorstep. Balances out the screen time.