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Original poster

What do your primary age kids do after school?

29 replies

whatisdarkmode · 19/09/2023 18:56

It seems back to school has fried my brain and I’ve no memory of what the kids used do after school…on days when there’s no clubs, before dinner & bed. Other than screens, please share your ideas. Ages 4, 8, 11. Ta!

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NuffSaidSam · 19/09/2023 19:01

We might go to the park if it's nice.

Otherwise they just play.

They've been in adult led activities all day, it's time for them to find their own fun.

Original poster
whatisdarkmode · 20/09/2023 06:16

Thanks @NuffSaidSam
Anyone else care to share? Esp for 11yr olds?
ta

OP posts:
TeamSleep · 20/09/2023 06:20

I have 6 & 8 and agree with pp, either park or play. A bit of screen time is fine I think too. I can’t really help with ideas for the 11 year old as I haven’t got to that age yet. Do they not play at that age? What are they into? Crafting? Reading? Have a friend over? Homework? As a teenager myself I remember talking to my friends a lot after school and watching tv.

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Tenashelflife · 20/09/2023 06:50

It depends on the day:

  • sometimes they play together without any input from me and I feel like I'm winning a mumming
  • new toys (usually second hand) means they've got something new to do
  • yesterday they both whinged at me while I attempted to cook. I then shouted at them and feel guilty this morning
  • sometimes, because im human and also work, I just can't be arsed to entertain them so I stick on the TV
All is fine.
YouAndMeAndThem · 20/09/2023 07:10

Mine is only 5, but usually she goes outside, draws, or plays barbies, sometimes plays nicely with her baby bro but not often 🤣. Sometimes we go to the playground but I usually I don't have time as I need to make tea and do all the evening chores. Homework too but that is hard work at that age!

Londoner4 · 20/09/2023 07:17

DS 10 and DS 8

Often go to the park after school if weather is good. Up to an hour and a half in the summer months. Lots of other children to play with.

Reading and spellings as soon as we get in. Any other homework fitted in on days that there’s no activities.

Devices time looted to minimise use during the week.

Scouts/Cubs once a week
Swimming once a week
Rugby once a week.
Football training Sat morning
Football matches Sun morning

Any time in between all that they play Lego together (currently project is making a Lego animation), play with their younger siblings, watch tv, draw, play board games (and argue!).

Londoner4 · 20/09/2023 07:19
  • limited not looted

although I do take them away when they are badly behaved! 😂

ImthatBoleyngirl · 20/09/2023 07:21

DD11 is at gymnastics 3 nights a week and on the other 2 days she's playing with her friends or doing homework (begrudgingly 🤣)

LegoCatLikesTuna · 20/09/2023 07:31

Would also like to know as if I didn't intervene it would just be constant screens. Otherwise they play football in the garden, DS aged 6 and 9

HauntedPencil · 20/09/2023 07:32

They have busy lives with a few evenings each of hobbies so honestly on these days we call them "chill evenings" and especially in the winter they have tea and then chill out.

HauntedPencil · 20/09/2023 07:33

I'm trialling a screens ban during the week (aside from watching tv) and it's working well.

CrispyTofu · 20/09/2023 07:34

Age 6, no screens. We only have 2 weekday evenings with no after school activities. We have tea at the park once a week if it's not raining, we go to the library one day every 3 weeks, splash park with friends if it's warm, we often have a games hour or 2 - junior monopoly, cluedo that sort of thing. We litter pick once a week but often do this as well as another activity rather that it being the only activity. Sometimes we go on a bike ride or nature walk/scavenger hunt. Depending on the time of year we might plant some seeds, do some gardening, my DS also likes to wash the car so sometime we do this.

It might sound like we do a lot but it's all very relaxed and led by my DS, I just make suggestions. I love this time together and find we have quality time and my DS will tell me all about his day or we'll listen to his favourite songs and sing along while we wash the car/garden etc

Tregothnanny · 20/09/2023 07:49

An hour on the switch after school.

Cubs is one day a week,
Computing club one day a week,
Sailing x 1 day a week,
Park on Thursdays if it's nice

Summer = Beach after tea

Now it's getting gloomy and rainy DS is curling up with a blanket and reading. also we've watched loads of things on Disney+ - the National Geographic stuff is fascinating! It's all very chilled out.

I finish work at 5 and I find it so difficult to switch off and rest. So I've prioritised teaching DS to switch off after school to rest.

ShutTheDoorBabe · 20/09/2023 07:56

Do the older ones go and call for their friends on the street and play out with them? That's what mine do. Other than that I just let them chill out at home, after homework if they have any, and either read, play together or (and I know you said not to say this) watch TV/phones.

PuttingDownRoots · 20/09/2023 08:01

10&12
They meet up with friends
Do homework
Read
Watch TV
Board games
Lego
Art
Bike rides

However there is something "on" every night between the two of them.

Tregothnanny · 20/09/2023 08:02

During lockdown we had lots of success with

Boardgames Monday
Arty / comic book making Tuesday
Baking Wednesday
Strategy Thursday (marble runs!)
Pizza and lazy Friday

😂 but then depends on your children!

Yourebeingtooloud · 20/09/2023 08:05

Mine have no screens at home during the week. So they play, read, practice their instruments & sports. 10yo usually has a Lego project on the go, 11yo does a lot of art. They do have a fair few hobbies too so every evening has some kind of activity -music lessons, drama, scouting, sport.

ETA: we found that when screens were an option it was all they wanted to do & they had zero inspiration for anything else, which made them less fun to be around. Hence the outright ban on weekdays which pushed them to find different things to do. A lot of people feel it’s draconian but it works really well for our family.

DinnaeFashYersel · 20/09/2023 08:10

Mine do

Scouts
Football
Basketball
Netball
Running
Swimming
Volunteering with animals

Previously also tried

Dancing
Gymnastics
Fencing

olivehaters · 20/09/2023 08:27

On the days when there are no clubs we go to the park a lot especially in the Friday.
my 8 year old plays out with neighbors a lot on roller Blades/bike. My 9 year old games a lot, it’s a battle. My 5 year old does a lot of art/drawing. We often stick a film one. Sometimes we play uno.

KidsFeather · 19/10/2023 08:09

Consider setting up a 'homework hour' for the older one, followed by creative playtime or board games for all ages. It's a good way to balance learning and fun.

ShutTheDoorBabe · 19/10/2023 08:15

Play out with friends.

Simonjt · 19/10/2023 08:20

Generally he plays at home, gets lego out etc on those days. On a Wednesday rather than walking home he goes to the park to play first.

Somewhatchallenging · 19/10/2023 08:24

My DC did a variety of:
dance
gymnastics
ice skating
Brownies
swimming
musical instrument practice

ReadyForPumpkins · 19/10/2023 08:32

Not adult led activities after school, surely. DH and I work, and the DC2 plays at home.

Is the 11 year old in Year 7? I have now put DC1 phone and tablet to lock after 3pm so she can't watch viral videos all afternoon.

chickpea1982 · 19/10/2023 08:36

Does anyone else find the responses above intimidating?! My kids watch a lot of TV and play a lot of computer games after school. They have a few clubs, and sometimes do other things like see grandparents, so it's not all screens (but mostly). I tend to be pretty exhausted after work and the school run, so I'm busy making dinner and dealing with the baby until bedtime. This has made me feel like a bad mother...