Share your tips with Birds Eye: how do you manage the after-school evening routine? £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[EllieMumsnet]

With the new term officially up and running, getting your DC back into a good routine after the holidays can be tricky; from juggling after-school clubs, homework, chores, mealtimes and bedtimes. Birds Eye want to know your top tips on managing your family's evening routine.

Here’s what Birds Eye have to say: "Evening times are extremely busy for young families, and at Birds Eye we’re committed to helping mum and dad when it comes to easing stress at teatime. Our entire chicken range has just been awarded Mumsnet Rated, following an independent tasting panel judging us on our taste and quality - this is something we are incredibly proud of. All of our chicken is made with 100% chicken breast, and can be cooked in 20 mins. It is also packed with protein, and has no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and makes a great addition to a nutritionally balanced meal. Convenience without the guilt, freeing up your evening for other important tasks."

So, do you opt for great meals from the freezer? Is there a no-TV-until-homework-is-finished rule? Or maybe you take inspiration from this ‘fidget spinner chores’ and turn your evening routines into a fun game? Whatever it is, Birds Eye want to hear it!

Share your top tips on the thread below and every MNer who posts will be entered into a prize draw. One lucky winner will be randomly selected to receive a £300 Amazon voucher.

Thanks, and good luck.

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

[cathwarbur]

After home from school, Kids played for 1/2 hour. Did a few chores untill dinner. Then homework for as long as needed (with dads help) then watch telly or on the tablet for an hour, then get ready for bed, watch a bit of family TV and then Bed

[WhosTakingDeHorseToFrance]

My little one has just started school so it's straight in for a cuddle and a chat. We then have a snack and do a little bit of reading. Playing until tea time then after it's bath and bed.

[buckley1983]

My LO has just started school - so we are still finding our feet in terms of a routine after school! I don't return home from work until 6 - but OH works early morning so is able to pick LO up from school usual time. They have a leisurely stroll back & some quality time together - tea will be something quick & easy - fishcakes & salad or similar. A quick stroll after dinner then wind down with bath, stories & bed.
We're thinking of starting to batch cook at weekends or invest in a slow cooker to ensure we have a healthy, warming meal for the winter evenings - salad just doesn't cut it in the colder months!

[juju3]

I don't - it manages me

[stimpy1]

It depends on activities but generally we have no computers in the week as it only causes arguments. I always allow them a snack and some TV when they get home to wind down before dinner and reading time. I would like to say they then all of them sit down a play a board game together before a quiet, peaceful bedtime .... but it rarely works like that!!!

[AngelwingsPetlamb]

As soon as we get home, either from school or from after school club I make my dc something to eat and drink, a snack to tide him over until dinner time otherwise he cannot settle. In the meantime I ask him to go and get changed out of his uniform or if he is fresh from sports club I organise a shower for him.
After that he has some down time with his snack and to or game. We then make a plan to tackle homework before or after dinner or both, depending what it is and how much there is.
Bedtime is always around the same time. We always pack the next days school bag and kit the day before and we always get the next day uniform out and ready with clean shoes etc.
Bedtime is announced by me at least half an hour before and the about ten minutes before so the risk of moaning is minimalised.
At bedtime I supervise in the bathroom and then tuck dc up in bed where we either have a little chat or read a bit of a book. Ending with a hug and good night kiss.

[LeeR1985]

No real issues here. I make sure any homework is done first and foremost, then I make something to eat, sometimes a freezer meal, sometimes fresh depending on my mood. Once we've had tea it's playtime :)

[Sid98]

Home cooked and ready meals

[sbruin1122]

ipad, then dinner then bed. simple!

[frances93]

I'm lucky in the sense I work from home and my husband picks our lg up from school, so tea is always ready when she gets home. After tea she gets changed and any homework gets completed, no wifi password or tv until it's done

[Spices001]

We always eat dinner at the table, no tv, just chatting about the day or whatever comes up, sometimes we just chat nonsense ;-)

[kkhimji]

I make sure I prepare dinner before I leave the house and leave plenty of time as there is a lot of traffic.

[kkhimji]

Cook meals beforehand and warm it up after

[compy99]

too young for homework, but would make sure homework done before leisure time. Birdseye products are always in the freezer and very handy for when time is tight.

[glennamy]

School homework, meal planning i.e. I have prepped it ready to go, time for some electronics, then the gath routine followed by bed! A couple of hours of personal time before our bed time! :D Repeat Sun - Thu :D

[glennamy]

*bath routine :D

[xcxcsophiexcxc]

I usually Cooke from frozen foods, or reheat meals I previously made in bulk

[pinkjjf27]

we lost my husband last year so we are still getting used to a new evening Routine. I am a teacher so we have a different routine in terms times its much more relaxed in the holidays. When they are are all in bags and lunch boxes are put in the right places. notes are placed in a memo box in the kitchen. I let them chill while i get dinner . They all have their chores be that laying the table, watching the baby or feeding their pets.. If there is home work we focus on that if not we have craft time or family games. If there is a club we may have a meal from the freezer but this will always be a meal i have good cooked from scratched. I batch cook or use my slow cooker. An hour before bed time after baths or showers. we have quite time and this is reading drawing or cuddle time or no TV no tablets no phones no noisy toys. I then tuck them in read stories pray to daddy and say goodnight

[farhanac]

Everyone helps prepare the evening meals

[Cathp808]

Our routine is that my children do any homework as soon as we get home after school. I make the dinner and then we all sit up the table with no phones, ipads etc and talk about our day.

[mollymoo818]

I like to try and be organised and have a routine but of course a lot of the time that just goes straight out of the window. Batch cooking and food from the freezer is a life saver because it allows me more time to help the kids with their home work and to supervise them to make sure that they finish their chores.

[voyager50]

He's allowed a drink and a small healthy snack after school then he has to do homework to get it out of the way. When it's finished he can watch tv while I'm cooking the dinner. He then has to get his bag, PE kit etc ready for the next day.

When I do meals from the freezer they are ones that I have batch cooked in advance.

[finleypop]

Uniform must be hung up, then homework is to be done before free time. We mostly eat home cooked, but always have something in the freezer for a quick meal

[phillie1]

Homework as soon as they get in, to get it over and done with

[devito92]

all sat watching tv with our meals on trays i'm afraid