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

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we do not have a fixed routine or many rules around dinner time. When the DCs were young and I needed to work longer hours we were more regimented but things are very relaxed now. My only rule is we eat at the table with no phones glued to hands.

Home made meals and no tablet during dinner. Then cuddles and a book before bedtime.

Luckily there's two of us so one does the tea while the other gets the lunchboxes and uniforms ready

I usually make something out of the sunday lunch for Monday, so it is a healthy bubble and squeak on Mondays, I make a lasagne (full of hidden veggies on Tuesdays (and freeze half) Wednesday and Thursdays are swimming and cubs, so it is a crispy nugget, salad wrap in the car, and Friday is Pizza night. We always eat together with no TV's or tablets, and the reading has been done. The menu is not set in stone and there are always plenty of birds eye in my freezer for a fish finger, tea and Basa Fillets in a Sea Salt and malted vinegar Batter for mum and dad.

We all get in late in our house - the DC are at after school club until 6, I'm home around 6.30. After such a long day we're all tired so the kids watch TV for about 15 minutes while we make tea - often it's something that's been batched cooked in advance so we're eating around 7pm. Quick bath, upstairs at 8, they're usually asleep 8.30 / 9 which is too late really. But time is limited in the evening so any short cut or hacks would be welcome!

i allow one hour for electronics every evening and this is granted after tea and homework, so this is a good motivator. cleaning teeth and getting ready for bed is still always a battle though!

I cook whilst they do their homework then whoever is finished first helps tidy up so we can all sit down together to eat and enjoy a relaxed evening.

I meal plan the week before so I know I have the ingredients etc I need to make all the meals. We try to eat as a family at least a few times a week and my daughters help with setting and clearing the table.

Snack when they get in - piece of fruit. Homework done whilst dinner is being made in the kitchen. Dinner and a chat about their day then bath and reading before bed.

We have a bit of time to relax and have a snack, then homework is supposed to be from 5-6 while I get sorted and make the tea.. it usually involves a lot of 'have you started yet'

My children and older now, but when they were younger, it was not as regimented as some of the posts I have read above. We were pretty laid back.

Get in from work at 6. Dh does bath/bedtime with our youngest (2) while I cook dinner. I listen to middle child (6) do his reading book while cooking dinner. Eldest child (7) reads independently. We eat dinner. Older 2 take themselves off to bed one at 7.30 and one at 8 (they have showers in the morning so no bath). My husband and I make lunches for the next day and clean up the kitchen then I have a bath and we sit and chill.

I always cook from scratch unless i'm completely knackered. I'm always trying to teach them a little something when it comes to cooking, feel like it's a useful thing to know.

But yeah, no TV or games consoles till work is done.

It doesn't take long to cook fresh, and it's much healthier for us all. I sometimes chop vegetables in batches so I don't have to chop the next day or two, if the DC have classes that are later in the evening, but it's totally doable - pasta, rice, noodles - all super quick to cook. Never need to rely on the frozen body parts of poor chickens who wanted to live.

I try to use the slow cooker as much as possible so dinner is ready when we get in. If it's a brownie or swimming day we opt for beans on toast plus fruit rather than stressing about cooking a full meal. I tip their bags out as soon as we get home to ensure I see and deal with any letters from school or homework and we do reading at the table after dinner so it's done before they run off for a last play before bed. I try to remember that as long as they are fed and happy, and we can fit in a cuddle before bed, that counts as a successful night. It's easy to get stressed about the small stuff.

Kids get a snack and chat about their day then homework before any tv or computer. Dinner time is a phone free gadget free time

My DCs are still little so apart from reading with the oldest, there isn't too much to do after school. I let them play until dinner. I pre-plan the meals so that they are as pain-free as possible plus it gives me time to spend with them. They are settled down and in bed by 7.30 pm.

I hate that time of day. I have 5 DC, 4 of whom are at school. They all arrive home tired and hungry and demanding. There are the various dramas to unpick (2 teen DD's) and I am nagged for snacks constantly until we eat dinner. Dinner is all together when DH gets home and is usually about 7pm. By then, I just want some peace. After dinner, the DC all go upstairs to shower and then they aren't allowed back downstairs after that point but they can read or whatever in their bedrooms until lights/gadgets off time. When they go upstairs, I eat biscuits and try very hard to unwind.

Our routine is:

Home
Snack
Make tea (Indian night tonight), I'm not above using a jar of sauce
Eat tea
DS2 pyjamas on and bedtime TV or tablet
DD pyjamas on and bedtime TV, tablet or reading
DS2 reading book and bed
DD homework and bed

Our routine is snack, activity - reading, colouring or playing outside etc
What snd when DC have tea friends on whether it is just for DC or a family meal if DH is home in time for us all to eat.
Food choices can be limited if we are all eating together as DS is v fussy. Pasta is always a popular choice but am trying to expand that a bit and have used Birds Eye chicken as burgers and in self-assembled wraps. As winter kicks in we'll have more stews and casserole style meals which I can prepare before pick up and the will slowly cook in the oven,

We are still finding our feet with a routine and have several after school clubs to get to so I try and prepare as much of the dinner in advance and do batch cooking to ensure we have a nice dinner each night.

With grace when they are particularly little. Accepting that sometimes we need to shelve plans so that they can rest/have a break.
They're only children once so we try to keep a balance over the course of the week between seeing friends/doing activities and just chilling out at home.

Evenings are manic as Me and dd on,y get home at just gone 5 and DH an hour later and we like to eat together. Meals are planned when we do the food shop so we know what it is each night. If I've made anything in the slow cooker extra portions are made and frozen as healthy ready meals that just need warming in the oven. Mon-wed it's something quick and easy as DH and I are both at work and if there's any prepping like veg etc I get it chopped the night before if I can. Rest of the week I can do a bit more. Strait after tea it's reading book and spellings with DD while one of us washes up. She gets about 10 mins of TV then it's time for bed. One of us makes sure she's washed/teeth brushed and does a story in bed. The other walks the dog.

Prepare evening meals in advance and get the children to help with laying the table, then we have family time together at the dinner table talking about the days events.

A shared diary so everyone knows what clubs, play dates etc.
Meal planning.
A rota on the fridge which tells each family member their chores for the day, including music practice, spellings etc.
Not filling every minute of the afternoon//evening. Leave space for impromptu park trips, tv sessions etc.