is anyone willing...

[loosinas]

.... to share with me what they do with their kids after school?? my son is in reception so its been pretty easy going ive let him veg in front of the tv a lot cos it was really tiring settling in... but now hes more used to it I'm wondering if i should do more purposeful stuff with him in the evening... get the paints out or reading or stuff? also should i just chill and go with the flow if he doesnt want to change out of his uniform or be stricter ? thanks!

I have a son in reception and year 1. If there uniform has no stains on from lunch I make them get changed right away. If its dirty they keep it on. Straight after that we do any homework right away then I cook tea while they play though usually they play in different rooms. We have tea at 5 30 and after tea they get pj's on and can watch tv if they want til 6 30 when we have books before bed.

I also get the "work" out of the way...then if the weather is not bad..in the spring anyway...I make mine play in the garden for while.

Then they eat, then I let them do whatever they want...paint or play....I dont put the TV on unless they ask...and they don't usually which is surprising...unless they're reall zonked and sit on the sofa...and then they thiink of it!

I think it is a great idea to let your reception DC veg after school if it suits them. Mine really needed to do this, I think. Then I noticed her getting really ratty so we cut down on the TV. Snuggling up and reading them a story can be lovely. But at this stage they are still adjusting to the school day so I would definitely go with the flow.

My dd is five and in year 1. Most of her homework gets done over the weekend, so we let her set her own agenda after school - we talk about the day quite a lot, then she normally wants to veg in front of the TV for a while. After one or two programmes, we turn the TV off and she typically spends the rest of the time before dinner playing in her room or dancing in the sitting room - or in the summer, we might take her to the park, or she might play in the garden. After dinner, she tends to read quite a lot - sometimes to me, sometimes just to herself, or occasionally, she still likes me to read to her instead. And that's about it! :)

She does go to Rainbows once a week, and usually has a playdate on at least one of the other days - either at our house or at one of her friends' houses. She does a couple of other activities at the weekends, but I try to keep weeknights free as far as possible, because I think they do need some time to just chill! :)

Just go with the flow and let your dc dictate the pace!

My dd is very social, too, squidgy - she'd play with a friend every night if given half a chance, but she knows that it's not going to happen.

Some kids definitely need more social contact. DD is an extrovert and gets her energy from being around other people. Her mother, on the other hand, could probably exist quite happily as a hermit. So there has to be some compromise.

Bless him. :)

Reminds me of when my dd first started nursery at two and a half. No tears at all when I left her for the first time, but she cried buckets when I came to pick her up because she "hadn't finished playing"!

Could he join any after-school clubs where he could mix with other children in the evenings?

Oops - x post.