Mumsnet users share their tips for easy evenings with Sky Store and The Incredibles

[EmmaMumsnet]

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Evenings can sometimes feel like they’re over before they’ve even begun. With this in mind, Sky Store would like to hear your tips for making your evenings easy - so that you still have the time to sit down as a family and enjoy a good movie night in together.

Here’s what Sky Store has to say: “This week we are celebrating the release of the most anticipated animated sequel of all time – Disney/Pixar’s Incredibles 2 in Sky Store, so you can create your perfect movie night in with your family tonight.

With Sky Store evenings are incredibly easy! You can download this family favourite straight to your TV at the touch of a button, so it’s ready to watch as soon as the kids get home.”

What tips do you have for an easy evening? Maybe you meal prep so you spend less time on cooking? Do you have tips for getting your children ready for bed in record time? Have you discovered the secret to making the kids tidy up after themselves? Perhaps you watch new films at home instead of taking a trip to the cinema?

All who post below will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 voucher for the store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

MNHQ

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Dinner prep during baby's nap times or a slow cooker job so it's ready for dh coming home and so we don't have to try and cook when the baby is tired and clingy just before bed. Bath and bedtime routine after dinner so can have the rest of the evening to relax!

Again, slow cooker or an oven with an automatic timer!
Homework is done before dinner, baths before dinner and when DH comes through the door at 6pm dinner ready to dish out 15 mins later.
Always eat at the table too. I dont know why but separating eating and relaxing seems to make things easier for us.

On a weekday once I collect DS from his after school clubs, and DP is home to watch the baby, I cook quick meals like stir frys, tray bakes and pasta. While dinner is cooking DS will do any reading or homework. After dinner we watch a bit of TV before DS gets himself ready for bed. At the weekends I get more time to cook, which I love. With a baby, going to the cinema is impossible, so we watch movies on Sky, Netflix and Amazon Prime. DS loves our movie nights because we get loads of snacks in and all cuddle up on the sofa.

Meal prep once a month and stick slow cooker dump bags in the freezer.
At night take out the next days slow cooker dump bag to defrost- in morning add ingredients so slow cooker and when you get home tea is ready!

I try and prep tea earlier in the day. I also like to make sure we have activities to do, even if it's just colouring.

We stick to the same routine so the DC know what to expect - tea, TV for 10 mins, bath, pjs, teeth, book, bed by 7.30pm.

If I want an 'easy' evening I'll cook something simple like pizza and maybe let them watch a little more TV then usual.

It gets an even easier evening when they are in bed then I just lie on the sofa watching my TV!

Try and have dinner either ready to eat or ready to quickly chuck together. A little bit of TV afterwards so they get some down time (as don't get home until 6.30). Hungry and tired kids are impossible so once those two things are taken care of, usually the rest of the evening until bed time is relatively pain free

quick meals: spagetti, wraps with chicken, lasagne

I leave as many meals prepared as possible on Sunday afternoon, so I just need to re-heat or prepare minimally in the evening on weekdays.
After school we usually read together, or I potter and tidy while the kids play. We then eat and watch something on together on the sofa. Often I won't want to watch what my kids are watching, but I'll sit with them reading a book or relaxing online. More - if lucky, quiet - play after, teeth and up for bed and stories. Our routine varies of course but when we're tired and it's dark out we do this. Also I make sure we always have lots of material in for crafts, pens for drawing, books for reading.

In the week our evenings are usually a bit busy- after school stuff for the DCs, marking books for me (teacher), DH working shifts so sometimes out, sometimes asleep.

We always have one relaxed family evening on the weekend though, usually with a take-away or easy meal (pizza, picky bits, that kind of thing) and take turns to choose a movie.

Even with the DDs getting older and our very busy lives, these evenings are much looked forward to and a great way to spend quality family time.

We do spellings/reading/homework straight after school and then have tea at 6pm so aftrr tea we can relax and don't have to rush around getting things done

Get up earlier!! My son is just too tired for reading/homework after school, so we have down time and family time in the evenings then do the reading and spellings before breakfast instead! He’s fresher and more interested so it’s not as much hard work

I love cooking from scratch but have a two year old and 3 year to stop them fighting over the iPad I put the you tube app on sky Q this gives me half an hour to prep dinner, without trying to referee between them

I try to prep food in advance but the best way to an easy night is for it to be your other half’s turn to put the kids to bed! We take it in turns so at least we get a good relaxed night half the time!

Do meal prep - something like spaghetti bolognaise or pizza then early bath and pyjamas and snuggle up on sofa to watch a film or something like Strictly or Bake off.

Routine. Dinner, bath, teeth, stories, bed . Sometimes supper if needed. No negotiations! But my dc are still very little tbf!

Everyone sits down together to eat and helps tidy up, so everyone is ready for an easy evening at the same time & take it in turns to choose the films, which keeps everyone happy.

I have a 7 week old baby. When my partner gets in from work he takes him and I start dinner. By the time dinner is ready my partner has settled him for a nap so we can have dinner and sometimes get a cheeky film in too before he wakes up!

Try and stick to a routine. Get reading done before TV goes on. With more and more evening activities it is tough to get everything done so we have easy teas on those nights when we are only back later. Tend to batch cook and freeze portions.

I do tea time prep in the early afternoon and the pack lunches for the next day. Then it's tea, chill time and bed for the kids while I relax for the evening

Friday/Saturday (barring Strictly) night is 'movie night' so it's a supermarket pizza in the oven, pyjamas on, the film is pre-selected the so there are no arguments over what we watch, so I get to relax, bed-time is preset after the movie finishes, and it's just teeth to brush, and smiley faces after watching a feel good family movie.

Plan dinner, get homework done and then dinner, early bath- warm pjs, heating on,curtains shut and f time with some hot chocolate.
Everyone’s chilled and relaxed,snug and warm and it’s a relaxing evening ready for the next day.
Children up to bed after the film I have a quick shower, wash up and tidy round and get bags and clothes ready for next day.

All home at 5.30. we relax and have a cup of tea, feed the baby, then at 6 either me or my partner bath the baby and get his pyjamas on whilst one of us gives the house a quick tidy and clean. Baby in bed for 7 without fail. Then someone preps dinner and we eat at 7.30. bed for 9-9.30 usually too! So we have time to watch a film or binge watch a series, or do any work we need to do.

I’m a sucker for routine. It works for us! I use the slow cooker, or have the occasional take away/chip shop meal. We’re all in by 5 at the latest. We eat dinner by 5 at the latest then kids have baths whilst I wash up and clean the kitchen. I tidy up in the morning before work. After the kids have baths we have some down time, watch tv together. The kids are in bed by 8, we read a story, job done. Plenty of time for me to watch what I want and eat the secret stash of chocolate 😉. Saturday nights are movie nights so the routine is relaxed and I share the sweet stuff 😂

Pizza delivery and a film. Curtains closed, kids bathed early and lights low. Popcorn 🍿 for later.