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

[daisyduke66]

It's nice to have a chilled evening with everyone enjoying time together, especially over a meal - so already prepped or everyone pitch in and help, so more time for sitting, eating and chatting :)

[ha2el]

If it's a busy schedule then it's oven chips and fish fingers with beans or peas. Time is better spent with your children because they grow up so quickly!

[StillNoFuckingEyeDeer]

Every evening is different. There's a club/activity every night, all starting at different times, giving variable lengths of time to feed the DC beforehand. If it's nice we tend to come home via the park so they can spend some time outside. If we're in a real hurry, I'll feed them a pizza with tomatoes, cucumber etc. or pasta with pesto.
Before bed they get their tv show to watch and a small snack.

[Leanfun]

Arriving home have a snack, change clothes. Have half an hour relaxation then homework. I usually make sure dinner is prepared beforehand and have a week's meals planned

[baconbap]

homework after tea

[clauski]

Weeknights can be easy if the kids have had a school dinner as may give them a lighter option like a sandwich and some fruit. But always good to have some quick and easy options available like egg, beans or convenient frozen options like chicken nuggets which will always go down a treat!

[greensmith68]

have a basket by the door were all letters, lunch box and flask goes they go get changed have a drink and snack do there homework and play unless they have a club tea is normally something in the slowcooker we always sit down as a family to eat and talk about the day then they have 30 mins to play or watch tv while i tidy the kitchen then they do there reading have a bath and watch some tv then bed at 8 i can then read any letters or party invites reply if needed do pack up and prepare tea for the following night

[purplepandas]

Definitely get any reading / spelling work done before fun. Never happens otherwise as children are too tired. Bags away when we get in. Uniform out for the next day at bedtime.

[sarahw2]

My two sons play for four football teams between them, so that means a LOT of training during the week. We usually don't get back until really late, so having quick, convenient food in the freezer is essential for us.

[zebedee01]

Homework before playing out. I cook one evening meal and we all have the same (some of my friends cook for the kids then cook for themselves later on). And we have set bedtimes!

[clarabella12]

as soon as the kids come home they do their homework first then they can have 30 mins computer time while I'm making dinner.

[JayJay1874]

Homework after getting changed (with a little snack reward). Home cooked dinner as often as possible. Sort their stuff for tomorrow before playtime.

[upthehammers]

we go through bags, they do homework or play whilst i get on with dinner (sometimes frozen depending on how hectic the day has been) then it's bathtime, reading then bed ...though obviously my 5yr old sometimes has other ideas!

[piggypoo]

Get home, homework is done so it's out of the way then we have dinner,, depending on any activities or clubs that night, depends on what we eat, Friday nights everyone is free when we come home, we always have Bird's Eye Fish Fingers, peas and mashed potatoes, we had this when I was little, my DD and DS's love it and DH does too, it's so nostalgic and really makes us feel close as a family. The best things always stay with us!

[BeeMyBaby]

I preplan meals and make sure weekday meals take no longer than 90 mins to prepare and leave everything which takes longer to the weekends.

[cathyov]

With three daughters we made the week ahead fun by on a Sunday letting each choose a meal for the week ahead - then fitted that into the week's schedule and as they got older they still put in their weekly request!

[katieskatie82]

dinner , homework, freetime, shower, bed. That's what we stick to !

[Ethan260908]

It is almost non existant and I make it up as I go along as one day never seems to follow another. However I am extremely envious of those above who seem to have a system in place to make life a touch more organised

[Annimousey]

My eldest only started school this month so we've been getting used to a new routine, but for the most part it's been relatively easy.

DS gets back from school with his dad at about 4pm. He'll relax by watching TV for a bit. Dinner is usually ready at about 5pm. We all sit at the table together and have a rule of no TV/gadgets as dinner is family time so we can discuss how our days have been.

After this we'll go through my DS' book bag to see if he has anything which needs sorting or doing. He hasn't so far but he's only a couple of weeks in.

At about 6:30pm, we'll put his 2 year old brother to bed as they share a room and my 2 year old used to keep the eldest up for ages antagonising him so we worked out that if we put the youngest down first, he usually has time to fall asleep before eldest goes to bed.

At about 7pm, we'll get eldest's PJs on and we'll read his school reading book together, then it's brush teeth and bed. :)

[molly57]

Try to cook from scratch as often as I can. Birds Eye is a great brand for quick and easy when time is short.

[pongopig]

I usually plan what we are eating each weeknight, so I know if I need to buy anything at lunchtime or on the way home or if I need to take anything out of the freezer. I try to get get uniforms ready the night before, and any PE kits get unpacked, washed and repacked the same day.

[strawberrisc]

My daughter hates doing homework with a passion. There's nothing really I can do to make it any easier but we do have a rule that she continues to wear her school uniform until her homework is complete.

[bex552]

Homework is always first! Over and done with then!

[lolamia91]

snack, tv, homework, tea, chill, bath and bed! all using a reward chart!

[becky004]

Our routine is quite easy, homework gets done while food is prepared. After tea is Xbox time or going out to play time, bath is at 7.30 pm, then TV until its time for bed.