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

Insight Terms and Conditions apply

For us an easy evening is just focussed on sorting our daughter's bedtime and then only starting our own cooking etc after we have done that. Does generally mean we don't get a massive amount of time left for a film once we have eaten though!

Either slow cooker or tray bake meals where everything can be easily cooked together. I find set times for meals, homework, getting ready for bed etc really helps so the kids always know where they are and how long they have for things. All children cope better with routine and knowing what's coming next.

We always make too much so we can keep back up meals in the freezer.
If I'm organised in the morning the slow cooker is great otherwise takeaway but that's rare as it costs so much.

Keep to a routine but don't be too rigid

a family friendly film or game

I generally like to prepare and know what the next nights evening meal is, It makes it so much easier. Prep and go is the way for our house.

Plan the food in advance and stick a movie on. Get my daughter to tidy up with the bribe of some desert and it works a treat!

Make dinner in advance and try to get the kids to bed early

pre-plan meaks and i use a slow cooker , which is so handy for our family , it means i dont have to spend loads of time making dinner while the kids are around

Get a list together in the morning of what has to be done and what would be good to do. If you can get the essentials done then you can relax in the evening.

Routine!

Saturday night, bedtime routine runs like clockwork and dinner served up early to make sure that there is time to watch a premiere on tv with hubby.

i get everything ready for tea before the school run and the kids have game hour before bed so i get peace!

Television, music, books, games ... it all becomes so much more boring when the kids have gone to bed!

Stick to a time to send them to bed have some reading time before bed and of to bed without lights no drinks no tablet computers and no food!

Easy evening, order pizza for delivery and eat junk watching tv with the kids in pjs, now washing up!

It's all down to routine for my family!

Fajitas and the greatest showman!

Stick to a routine, in fact start a routine!

Prepare dinner during the day, by making something like a casserole or a spaghetti bolognaise that can be warmed up later, and try to do all other chores early evening so that you can spend quality time together later.

We watch films at home rather than the cinema (as its farrrrrrrr cheaper - and one of my pet hates is people biting their nails and spitting them out, we went to see Skyfall at the cinema and this man behind but about 3 chairs to the left did it for the entire film it was really irritating and disgusting)!

We call it "Operation Film" - We have our evening meal then the op starts, everyone does 15 minutes of manic prep - wash up and leave the pots to drain, get the nibbles and drinks out, tidy up the living room, curtains, lights, bathroom visits, dog out for a pee and a chew treat, phones and computers offline, blankets and pecking order of whos turn it is to have the best seat and then were off.... press play and relax (no nail biting allowed)!

The weekend evenings are amazing, we tend to have a really quick cook meal or one that can be put in the oven and not need much prep. Then its eaten in the lounge while watching a film.
Weekdays are a sit down at the table together talking about each others day and then the homework etc.

be prepared. Meal prep during the day so you dont have to do too much in the evening.. Get the kids involed in an evening activity to tire them out too. My son has football twice a week and its the easiest nights to get him to bed as hes so tired! x

My youngest goes to bed about 7 so I ask my two older daughters to get into their pyjamas then and they go back downstairs to watch TV, saves time later!

We usually have a movie night on a Saturday and have popcorn etc and kids can bring their duvets down and get cosy :)

homeowrk as soon as in from school, then easy pasta meal and then cuddle up on sofa for a disney film