What to do with 4.5 yr old ds1 after half days at school

[PetitFilou1]

I'm really struggling as have ds2 who is six weeks (and dd who is 3 but she is at nursery on Mondays and Tuesdays). The trouble is he doesn't want to do anything when he gets home except watch tv, won't entertain himself and just says no to anything I suggest doing with him - particularly to going out (if I try and take him out, he just whinges which drives me mad particularly when I'm feeling so tired). He misses his sister but I can't cope with all three of them at the moment, at least not for the majority of the time. I feel at a loss - help?

Is there a playground nearby? Our after school rule is that if the weather is at all "passable" then we go straight there from school. Today it's pouring here so DS is on the xbox, but I feel OK about this as he is usually outside.

School is more tiring for them than you think. They need chill out time as much as possible, or they will be little nightmares by early December. I would let him watch a fair amount of tv (up to 2 hours/day no problem, and quite possibly more), personally, since you have a very little one, and it does mean peace for you.

He's not too old for some afternoon parent-tot sessions, if there are any locally.

snack straight away and then let him do what ever he likes - school is mental overload at that age.
If he still bugs you when he's got the tv on then he wants undemanding company so put something out of the freezer in for tea and watch with him.
We go to a playground straight after school too.
It will get better and 3 that age is very hard.

My dd is same age, same situation (minus six week old baby, but plus 22 month old). I give her lunch, then let her watch DVDs for an hour or so. It gives her a break, and me too, and she is genuinely tired after school, even half days.

Then I tend to have (easy) playdates...but know this is much tougher with such a young baby. dd much more likely to go out without complaining with friend in tow!

I wouldn't be too strict about TV. He's probably knackered when he gets home and it's not necessarily a bad thing to let him veg for a bit. You can always set a time limit of an hour or so and then he might be more inclined to do something more energetic!

Elibean
Don't you live in Oxfordshire? I'm sure I 'talked' to you when we were pre moving house

and thanks to those who've replied @(sorry am one handed hence lack of punctuation)