Do you have an evening plan?

[Mallowmarshmallow]

I've just seen a similar post on the secondary education topic.

I feel like this isn't something we nailed last year with my son in reception.

Do you have a schedule that allows a balance of relaxation, reading, dinner, other stuff that needs doing that has worked for you?

Children all lower infant school or preschool age, so probably will adapt as they get older.

3.30-4pm We go to the park on the way home for thirty mins to get the wiggles out.
4pm-4.30pm Come in, have a hot/substantial snack e.g crumpets with cottage cheese or almond spread on toast.
4.30-5pm we do any school related reading/spelling etc. I’m not a believer in homework so try to just get it done for the sake of easing my child's day.
5pm-5.30 TV for kids and I make dinner
5.30-6pm Reading/play with daddy
6-6.30 eat dinner together
6.30 up for bath
7-7.30pm We read a chapter of the current story and then settle for bed.

I found that my children both read better in the morning before school than in the evening, so we do breakfast then reading then uniform, teeth etc then they play till it's time to leave for school.
Homework is currently done on a Saturday morning leaving the weekend free then for other things.
Our routine will no doubt change when my eldest goes to secondary next year!!

No need for such regimentation the kids get that every day at school.

Aim to read, cook dinner and relax.

Plenty of time for plans and timetables

Mine comes home, has a snack and a drink and does any homework/reading that has been set. I make dinner while he plays. Dp comes home around 5pm, we all eat together, clear up after dinner and around 6pm we will either play some games, watch a bit of tv or go for a short walk. 7pm is get ready for bed time so wash, pj's teeth etc. Then a bit of story before lights out between 7:30-8pm depending on how tired he is.

On evenings we don't have any activities, we generally come home (via the park if it's a nice day) and have a snack/ drink - then reading/ any homework/ piano practice that hasn't been done in the morning. Then they amuse themselves until dinner (usually watching tv to be honest), then it's bath and DC3 has story and bed. DC1 then reads while DC2 has ipad time, then I read with DC2 before they go to bed, and DC1 has ipad time.

Not really regimented, but we generally get anything that needs doing done first before relaxing.

Snack at pick up and a run around in the school playground with their friends for a while (weather dependent) then scoot/walk home, that takes us to 4.15/4.30 as we are not that close to school. Then reading/spellings straight away when they get home. Then TV or play. Tea at 5.30, bit more play, bath bed.

We have 3 hours of clubs every night so we need a plan! But it's not set in stone; we change it as needed.

Mine leave school with the inevitable question 'what's for snack?', then we go home, depending on which day they either have a strop, play playstation, go out with other kids, or moan and whine. Then we rush out to whatever selection of activities are on that night, tutoring, swimming, brownies, football etc etc Feeding the kids before, or during or after the activity. Then home- more playing or TV or computer. Then I log into MN and waste too long reading the updates. Then l realise they are really late for bath and try to fob them off with a shower....which may or may not work. Then clean room , story and bed. Or something similar.....

We have a snack and chat about the day on the way home, get in and I make us a drink then we sit on the sofa and read together for a bit and do any homework, then depending on the night DD either goes to clubs or plays while I make dinner, eat, bath, play a bit longer then bed. Practising times tables and spellings is done in the morning on the walk to school.

DS is year 11, he gets in from school, grunts a vague acknowledgement when I ask how his day was, does his homework, eats, plays xbox.

DS1 is a musician (he’s in Year 3) and plays nearly 2.5-3 hours of music a day. So that dictates our schedule. I also work. The nanny picks them up from school. Home and a snack.
DS2 does some homework and then plays. DS1 does 1 hour of music (he does 30 mins in the morning). Then they have dinner.
DS1 does his homework.
They play together.
Bath, and DS2 goes to bed. DS1 plays between 30-60 mins of music.
But our schedule is a little unique because of DS1’s musical demands. But typically we used to aim for:
Home and snack.
Homework or some worksheet plus reading for 30 mins (20 mins of reading).
Play time
Dinner
Music practice
More play time
Bath and bed with us reading to them separately.

Snack and then homework/reading
Pack bag for next day
Play or watch tv until dinner if time
Dinner
Bath
Play or tv/ finish homework if not already done.
Story & bed

Changed a bit on nights when there were after school activities. Times changed a bit as they got older and dinner/bedtime got later. General order pretty much the same.

Found it easier to do hw straight away because it gets it out the way. Some children might need a bit of down time first.

We usually go to the park after school or they play in the garden to let off steam. Then have a snack. Kids will get homework done/watch tv/play then dinner at 5.30. Then bath at 6ish and then get to bed at about 7.30