Mumsnet users share with Sky Kids what they could get done in 30 minutes

[EllieMumsnet]

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It’s fair to say that once you become a parent your efficiency skills reach their ultimate potential...gone are the days of spending spare minutes procrastinating about the million-and-one things you need to do. Now, when your DCs are watching a bit of telly you can complete the work that previously would have taken you five days of faffing. In half an hour you've changed the beds for the entire family, responded to your important emails, cooked a meal for four people (with dessert), and painted your toenails an exotic shade of blue. With that in mind, Sky Kids would love to know what you can do in the 30 minutes your children are having some down time.

Here’s what Sky Kids has to say: “The Sky Kids App is the perfect solution to keep your kids occupied during their (and your) well-earned downtime. …..With thousands of shows on demand including Paw Patrol, Ben 10 and Horrid Histories and interactive games for all ages like Art Studio, you can buy yourself some free time (enjoy that home pedicure!) safe in the knowledge that the available shows and games they're watching are age-appropriate and of course, entertaining.”

Do you have a to-do list ready and waiting for when you get a spare 30 mins so you can zap through it all? Perhaps when the children are watching Paw Patrol you manage to call and check in with family members whilst simultaneously preparing for a meeting you have the following day? Or maybe you sneak off to another room, finally able to treat yourself to a relaxing bath or watch your favourite TV show while the children watch theirs?

Whatever you’re able to get done, share it on the thread below to be entered into a prize draw where one winner will win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck
MNHQ

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Sometimes 30 mins means I can tidy up after the before school chaos and load the dishwasher. Other times 30 mins means peace while I read my book. Mostly 30 mins means responding to emails and lurking on mn :)

There is so ku h housework that could be done - ironing, cooking, dishes.

But I'd like to think that with a free 30 mins I'd sit down and have a cup of tea.

Shower and have some food without it all being stolen by someone whose just eaten sandwiches, crisps and a yoghurt!

Clean the bathroom and hoover

In 30 minutes this morning I:

Unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher
Put a wash in
Hung up a wash
Answered an email
Made a phone call
Made a cup of tea
Drank tea
Sorted the wool needed to repair a blanket
Sorted wool to make a new blanket
Tidied kitchen
Changed printer ink
Printed document
Found birthday card and
Write out card and found a stamp.

30 minutes - unload/load the dishwasher, put on a wash. Clean the kitchen by wiping down surfaces, putting things away, sweeping the floor and giving it a quick mop...

I prepare dinner while catching up with a bit of TV on the tablet while DD has an hour of watching what she likes, she usually gets bored after 10mins and plays but I find the TV on in the background distracts her enough to not keep coming to me

In half an hour on an average evening I can bath my 3 children, make them their hot chocolate before read, and read bedtime stories

What I could do in 30 minutes: Put a load of washing on, prepare a meal and clean a bathroom.

What I would rather do with 30 minutes: Have a bath and listen to an audiobook.

A real coffee and radio 4. Bliss.

Put all the clean washing away and sort out my box of odd socks.

For that special time I make next days dinner by putting all my ingredients into the slow cooker, then do the on-line shop for delivery at the Friday night. (that way I don't forget anything as I have that time to think !)

30 minutes is the perfect amount of time to enjoy a cup of tea!

Or I could start to tidy up the whirlwind of mess my DD created that day.

In the 30mins toddler watches tv I can breastfeed baby and let her have a snuggle on me!

Have a nice, peaceful number 2 on the loo without being cheered and congratulated for doing a wee wee on the toilet, or being asked when I'm going to flush etc etc! :') Anxiety plus irritable bowls means I am usually in the bathroom multiple times a day, or for longer than is 'normal' for a toilet trip! I usually take a book in with me and hunker down!! TMI?! :P

dishwasher and mop floor
prep tea
iron uniforms.
cup of tea
answer few emails.
chill
read
sit

I put the dinner to cook in the slow cooker. Quickly tidy the kitchen, then clean the washbasin and bath in the bathroom. If by chance I still have time, I'll grab a quick mint tea.

My most productive 30 minutes of the day is when we get home from school. I clear and wash out lunchboxes, empty the dishwasher, hang out the washing and put another load on, hoover the downstairs and I quick clean of the bathroom. I then feel like I can sit and chill, have a cup of tea and catch up on my emails until it is time to cook dinner.

I can actually conqour the world in 30 mins.

I usually take my time to prepare and clean the kitchen so that I can listen to some music by myself without the children around.

But if I need to get as much done as possible in 30 mins then I can clean the kitchen, prepare the dinner and tomorrow's lunch, load the washing machine and the tumble dryer and then empty the kitchen and bathroom bins.

If I'm being good I'll wash up, empty the washing machine, fill it again, have a quick whizz with the vacuum and generally tidy around.

If I'm being bad I'll read a few chapters of whatever book I'm into and ignore all the jobs that need doing...This happens more than it should 😶😂

I normally cook the dinner and get the washing up done. I actually think I'm less productive now i have children as I feel exhausted most of the time!

It's surprising how much you can get done in half an hour. I've got a quick 30 min cycle on my washing machine so I'd get that on, have a quick tidy of the house whilst gathering all the washing up from each room and making the beds. I'd then wash up and then put away the washing that I washed the previous day!

For that 30 minutes, I will fill my slow cooker with chopped onions, leeks, potatoes, carrots and diced chicken, a stock cube and a kiss - that's dinner for tomorrow made, more time for family the next day too.

Although my Ds is nearly 12 he is autistic and he loves sky kids. He catches up with his favourite shows which at the mo is lab rats I use the time to perepare meals or tidy the kitchen. He needs constant entertainment, he can’t just sit and occupy himself so it is a lifesaver