Find out how Mumsnet users wind down with their kids after school

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It’s September, and for most families that can mean only one thing – back to school. And with that comes the daily duty of whisking everyone out the door on time, helping them out with homework, and guiding your kids through playground politics. To say term time is jam-packed is an understatement – that’s why we’re so keen to hear how your wind down with your kids after the day’s hurly burly.

Here’s what IKEA have to say:
“We all know that every child is different. The same applies here: where one might like to sit and colour, another might want to play football in the garden. The secret is to make things easy for them, keeping all their favourite things organised and easy to find. That way they can happily while away the hours with minimal fuss.
Speaking of reading, a great way to nurture it is to give your child a dedicated space just for them and their books. Keep theirs on the lowest shelf, give them a comfy chair to settle into and they’ll be away.
Arts and crafts are a great way to relax too, and brilliant way to nurture your child’s creative side. Encourage their inner Picasso by keeping all of their supplies in easy to find containers right by their desk. Don’t forget to keep your carpet from turning into a masterpiece though – a plastic floor protector is a lifesaver here.”

So, what are your tips for winding down after school? Do you have certain activities you can bank on to keep things calm? Maybe there’s a toy or game you’ve got, ready to play with when they get home? Or maybe it’s a spot of drawing that does the trick?

Whatever you do, we’d love to know. Share your tips for how you relax and wind down with your children after school on the thread below and be in with a chance of winning a £300 IKEA voucher.

Thanks and good luck!
MNHQ
Standard Insight T&Cs apply

pointedly ignore each other and catch up on Netflix

if their cries get loud enough I may throw some trans fat laden snacks into their pit

Just me?

We love to chat about the day and thngs to look forward too.

We often have our own family X factor/Britain's got talent/come dancing
which we film on our phones and always raises a few smiles when we look back on the contestants after our evening meal! so much to say I do not think you will be seeing any of our family on live TV anytime soon.

Feel sorry for the children of Bernard
They get fed snacks made with lard
Ignored after school
Am I too cruel?
Answers on the back of a postcard

We do crafts paint. sew or colour in. Sometimes we make bread or bake something we are going to eat for tea.

We always stop off at the park on the way home and then find something quiet like drawing when we get in

The walk home is a great start. Chance to chat about the day and burn off some excess energy. Swimming lessons once a week and gym club also help.

we like to do some crafts with an afternoon snack

we always have a little chat on the way home from school , then have tea and watch a little tv . We usually then do home work and reading books before she has a little time playing

Relaxing on couch. Sometimes watch TV or do some craft like seeing or drawing

Like Bernard, I too subscribe to the benign neglect school of parenting.

Throw snacks in their general direction while I take a nap.

I once woke up to a milk pond under the dining table because my 2yo poured himself a drink. Did I cry? Hell no; life skills innit.

cooking food, then maybe putting on a good film they enjoy, possibly one they have seen numerous times before

Who says I’m benign Themyscira?

Bernard, this is a parenting website, for WOMENS THINGS

Usually encourage a bit of downtime..my daughter chooses to watch tv and son likes to play with his cars.

I totally agree with IKEA that every child is different and is important to find interesting activities allowing the children to fully participate and have a fun, and being in a country where the weather is unpredictable, it's important to have outdoor and indoor play - so outdoor play is walks the the park/woods, playing on the climbing frame being pirates, and making dens indoors - being in our pirate ship at sea - Imagination is the most amazing thing for a children to let loose on, be creative and having fun and letting all that latent energy go, and eat and sleep better, and I think improves their mental health improves too.

At present my daughter can't wait to get home to watch the next episode of 'A Series Of Unfortunate Events' on Netflix with me

Generally we sit, have a snack, and chat about what has happened with our days.

We like playing with role play toys like kids' kitchens - isn't too taxing and you can usually coax a few details out about how their day was while you're playing without them noticing!

To wind down with daughter Sophia
I take her to shop at Ikea
We have meatballs and tea
Enjoy refills for free
Then relax pissing nice warm urea

After Olivia has done her homework which I help her with when I'm there I read her one of the children's books in rhyme that I've written for her which she loves

They usually play out when we get home and then we have dinner and relax then.

We like to play boardgames as a family! This would help us get a few more!

Dear MNHQ please take pity
On Thisters who's word play is pithy
Just give us the prize
Before somebody diez
At the hands of our good friend called Betty

My son always wound down after school as there was a local playground right next to the school, so he could let off steam with his friends. After that we had a short walk home so it was ideal for chatting about the day.