What do you do with children after school tv/activities

[Ladybug85789]

After school my children have a number of activities most days depending on their age, but after that once food is eaten, baths (not everyday) they spend most of time watching TV playing games on iPad etc. After a long day at work or when off work, cleaning making food I'm also absolutely shattered and hardly sit down until after 10pm. We do have trampoline and swings in the garden but it's not a big space so they don't use it that much, also I don't take them parks after school that much maybe once a week if that depending on the weather. What do other families do/ what is your routine I feel bad when they are mostly on The TV and feel
like a bad parent. I'm a single mum to four oldest being 7 and I work in a school part time.

I think that’s fine and you need to cut yourself some slack, you are doing brilliantly! We all need downtime including you and your children.

My kids watch tv, play with each other or draw. Mainly lay on the sofa and watch tv to be honest! I don't see nothing wrong with it! They both have an after school activity one day a week each and by the time I've done dinner and washed up I'm fucking knackered and want to sit on my arse. They are 6 and 9.

Sounds fine. Tbh at that age mine still preferred toys like Lego to electronics but as they get older they use the electronic to socialise.

My DD5 does rainbows and swimming in the week. I also work full-time. By the time we're home from activities and fed etc.. she gets her tablet for 45 minutes before bed. It is calming for us both!

I really don't see any issues

Kids are knackered and TV after school is fine. However, we had to stop TV because 5 year old was having tantrums about it and our 1 year old was to overstimulated by it to fall asleep so now we put on music. We all have a list on Spotify and take it in turns to be the DJ. It has worked really well! The kids dance to songs whilst we clear up

They just play/chill out.

They only have the TV on after dinner and before bath time, so about 15-30 minutes depending on the day. I think that's fine.

My school aged DD is only 5 so she's pretty tired once she's had an after school activity and dinner. She has maybe an hour to play before bath and bed, usually with her toys in the playroom or garden. Usually she doesn't watch TV or use her tablet, just because she prefers toys. Sometimes does crafts or listens to a story on the Yoto.

Mines 6 and he just loves playing out on his bike or football with his pals. He's only allowed tv/electronics at weekends.

Mine are 5 and 9. We go to the library once a week, and DD goes to Brownies one evening, but otherwise we just come home and do whatever. DM comes over sometimes and they play with her, but otherwise all bets are off after school! On a nice day they might go in the garden for a bit, or play one of their games together... But for the most part they just want to chill! Sometimes that's TV, sometimes it's playing a video game (usually together or with me). I'm fine with it, they're exhausted after school and a bit of screens does them no harm.

DS does after school clubs twice a week and swimming once. We try to keep him occupied without screens until tea (5pm) then in the bath at 6pm. He's then allowed YouTube between 6.30 and 7.30pm. We go to the library, the park, do homework, reading his books, Lego and maybe a bit on his Xbox.

My children aged 6 and 7 do activities such as martial arts swimming cricket after school, I do not let them go out by themselves on the street I know at their age I was out with cousins friends playing on the streets. The younger ones happily play with toys and outside, it's mainly the 7 year old I'm concerned about as he struggles to sleep on a night and I think he has energy he needs to use up but mainly wants to watch tv. I take them up at 8.30 but it can get to 10.30 till he will fall asleep which makes me feel that I should be doing more activities at home with them and maybe leave the cleaning etc but then that would also just pile up. I work as a primary school teacher so have to be up early and I'm also at university doing my masters part time which is what I work on most nights.

DD goes to the park most days after school as it’s on our way back. At home she sometimes draws or plays with toys but will also often crash in front of the tv-I don’t blame her!

Have I read that right - you are a single mum to four little ones, with a demanding job and also studying? If so, whatever you decide about TV limits etc please be proud of what you are achieving.

My kids didn't get home til 4.30 or 5. They'd decompress for a bit, do homework then have dinner. After that an hour of TV is fine before bath and bed.