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

[vonniebab2]

I always batch cook so tea ready after homework is done, then some playtime before a little TV and bathtime

[happysouls]

Snack after school for an energy boost, homework before tea and then evenings free. If afternoons are needed for particular tv programs or time playing out then homework is after tea but if this doesn't get done then plan A comes back into place!

[katkatgu]

Bulk cooking at the weekend to save time during the week!

[AuFinch]

Unfortunately for us our routine is not really a routine due to my OH only arriving home from work anytime from 630 to around 8pm which he usually does around once a week/5 days or so (including weekends).

So the routine is, if he is going to be back around 630 our son is allowed some fruit but waits for tea together. If the OH is going to be back later I tend to dive into the freezer and make a tea for our son and then I make one for me and the OH later as its unfair to make our son wait until 8pm to eat (and i think its too late for him to eat then and to be honest the OH is literally falling asleep as he eats as he tends to burn the candle at both ends at work). I always have in the freezer a selection of things that can be cooked for one. I also do pasta dishes, rice dishes, and various concoctions made from allotment booty! Our son does not mind and actually looks forward to eating on his own as he usually gets something with pasta and it means he avoids the veggies that are usually up on the menu! So we have a mix of our son eating separately due to time (which is probably about once a week), and also sitting together and discussing the day and other things - we usually make family decisions while eating together.

[helly27]

My daughter sorts her bag and blazer then has some screen time before homemade dinner then after either homework or bath depending on the day, then we may watch a tv programme together before going upstairs and if she doesn't take too long to get ready for bed I will then read a chapter of the latest book we are reading

[queenoftheschoolrun]

Check school bag and re-pack for next day as soon as we get home. The DD usually plays outside until tea.
We all sit down as a family to eat together and discuss our days. Then homework, reading, bath and bed. And repeat ad infinitum...

[giddyypixie]

Our routine is get in at about 6.15pm, my son goes for his shower whilst I/my partner cooks dinner (something quick and easy generally). Then we all sit down at the dining table and eat together. Either it is the a case of ruching off to evening activites, or some TV time as a family then bed!

[Schmoo35]

It's always a super rush when I getting in from work! Thankfully my youngest gets her tea at the childminder but I still have to cook for my oldest. It's really hard at times as we only eat as a family at the weekend but I always sit with my son while he is eating so I can ask him about his day. He generally does his homework while I am cooking, after he has finished he normally goes on his Xbox while myself and my daughter take our dog out, then it's bedtime at 7.30 for her and 8.45 for my son.

[TorNayDoh]

They can do what they like before tea (clubs notwithstanding), at tea/dinner we all sit round the table and have a chat about how everyone's day has been. Sounds like a cliche but it's the time I really get to tune in to what's going on with them. No screens after tea or they are too wound up for bedtime!

[KittyKat88]

My DDs have clubs on Mon and Wed so I have to take that into consideration when planning meals. I share responsibility for school pick-up with my DH, so if he collects he prepares the meal and I do the same when I collect. Mealtimes can be quick and easy (e.g. bung something quick in the oven like chicken nuggest and chips, DD2's favourite!! or spag bol from scratch if more time) Depending on what homework might be due the next day, our DDs have to complete that before watching any TV. They normally get to see a little TV whilst waiting for tea to be ready, and possibly afterwards if time: they do have to get bags and uniform ready for the next morning and this must be done before the bedtime routine kicks in between 7-7.30. It's all go, go, go!!!

[stefalfie11]

We stick to quite a simple regime actually, the kids get a half an hour break to have a snack/play as soon as they get home from school. Then it's time to sit at the table in the kitchen without any gadgets (unless using them directly for research) to do their homework. Afterwards it's normally dinner time then they get until about 7 to play/watch some tv then its bath and bed.

[rockshandy]

In our house we have a few hours between the school run and when we need to leave to collect DH from work. So in that time we get homework done and they usually watch some TV for a while and relax. Then we collect DH and as soon as we get in I put the dinner on.

I meal plan so that weekday dinners don't take longer than half an hour to prepare and cook. If there is something I can prepare earlier in the day I will do, but once I return to work that won't always be possible.

I do try to make homemade meals as much as I can but we do have things from the freezer too. Frozen veg like peas/broccoli/steamfresh packets are a particular go to for me because it is important that we get a balanced meal. So I might make homemade wedges with some battered fish and peas. Or I might use my own pasta sauce that I batch cook and freeze and then add some dippers or fish fingers alongside.

We then have more involved or time consuming meals at the weekend.

After dinner the DCs clear away the dishes and then go and play in their rooms until bed time. I have to say I am really enjoying the less stressful routines now that they are older.

The only tricky day is a Thursday when we go to a club straight after collecting DH. On those nights we have a freezer dinner or sometimes grab a takeaway on the way home. Thankfully my DCs can cope with the later bedtimes now, they couldn't so much when they were little.

[tallandlong]

have dinner prepared, homework first, then eat, then its there free time choice.

[iut044]

Plan meals in advance and cook in batches .

[Sezza110]

when the kids come home, they have an hour or so to relax and eat, then they have to do their homework for 30 minutes before they can do anything else.

[JoGodfray]

I have 5 Children ages 3 up to 12 and I have always struggled up until recently with meal times. The Children all have activities after school most days so I found that meal times would never be where they would all sit down at the same time and I found it difficult having to make so many different meals. It also made them quite fussy too knowing I would be making so many different dinners. I have now moved dinner time to 6pm knowing they can all sit down at the same time. I usually slow cook something I know they all like. At first I had the usual I don't like that etc but they have settled a bit more recently. Life is getting easier!!

[MillyVanilli222]

I try and prep meal ingredients for the week to make cooking faster and easier - that way, we have more time to spend as a family!

[thesockgap]

We have a half-hour chill out on getting home from school (drink, snack, chat etc) before any homework has to be done. They usually spend an hour or two on homework before eating tea at around 5.30-6.00. Then presuming there are no evening activities, they can have the rest of the evening to themselves - TV, reading, playing or whatever. I find it's always best to get the homework out of the way first as it's not hanging over them that way.

[meepmoop79]

They have a snack and a little reloax when they first come home. Then its either practise spellings/reading.
Then we prepare dinner, whilst we try and get the children to do some chores (tidying their bedrooms being topmost).
Then dinner.
Read to the children, and then geeting them off to bed.

[Ikea1234]

Evenings are straightforward - usually! We have a rule that we all eat together round the table with no phones, tablets etc. I always have some meal staples in the freezer, like Crispy chicken grills, which are great with wraps and salad, fajita style. Simple, tasty, it's meals like this that keep me sane all week! Homework has to be done before dinner, and then it's s time for a little tv and gaming. Then bed. Then peace!

[sweetdiversion1]

Straight after school homework is done and then a bit of chill time for the kids. Then it's dinner and baths afterwards. Generally the youngest stays downstairs til 7.30 and gets half an hour in bed to read. The has to be in bed by 10.

[freefan]

I love the evenings and there are two days when we are pushed for time and have quick dinners after school before clubs, the other 3 school nights are much more relaxed and we all sit down to eat together. I find preparing a weekly menu works wonders.

[yoeydavis]

the routine gets easier in the autumn. as soon as we get home from school the kids crack on with homework while i make dinner. then we eat, have showers, watch a bit of tv then it's bed time. easy!!

[ameswright2906]

I am not a cook so for me it's usually frozen food like fish fingers or chicken nuggets or microwave lasagne. They get home cooked meals at school every day so that's good enough for me. Any mess they make, they have to clean up after themselves and before they are allowed to play on their iPads, they have to put their toys away.

[sarah861421]

Keep a routine, some free time every night and something organised either a club or a game etc and time for homework