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

860 replies

AbbiCMumsnet · 01/10/2019 09:36

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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
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Find out how Mumsnet users wind down with their kids after school
OP posts:
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11
Ronia · 14/10/2019 12:48

The boys love to play Lego together when they get in (one from school and one from nursery). We catch up on the day on the bus home so they want to sit and play when they get in.

Lindseymorris29 · 14/10/2019 12:52

After homework is complete, it's the kiddies time, which usually means having Alexa very loudly, and dancing, bouncing and singing.

TractorTartofThigh · 14/10/2019 12:56

I give mine broth without any bread then whip them soundly and put them to bed.

ThemisA · 14/10/2019 13:03

Reading, watching tv, cooking and crafts. Walking the dog.

feefeegabor · 14/10/2019 13:04

We sit down, have a snack, have a chat about our day and put some "silly" TV on.

MyBestFriendKenny · 14/10/2019 13:07

Sometimes a trip to the park on the walk home, then a bit of reading, a snack and drink and time to do whatever they want to at home for a while.

Moongirl16 · 14/10/2019 13:20

When we get in the door, I start cooking dinner while my little one does her homework and changes into her fleecy onesie to get cosy.

We sit down to dinner together - something comforting for the autumn/winter evenings - and then play a board game. It's a lovely opportunity to spend time together without distractions. After that - some TV and then reading in bed. Perfect relaxed evening.

cocochips · 14/10/2019 13:21

We go for a walk and prepare dinner as a family

frogsbreath · 14/10/2019 13:32

The days I collect from school
We walk the route Ds chooses and have a chat. Get home, play a game together and choose music to have a dance to before I make the tea and do house jobs and he can do what he wants.

legfaced · 14/10/2019 13:33

walk home, snuggles and snack and a bit of play before bath and stories.

Pmliu · 14/10/2019 13:33

I usually get them into their comfy clothes or pyjamas, then we relax by watching a family movie and they tell me about their day at school while we relax together.

gd2011 · 14/10/2019 13:36

We all take the dogs out for a walk.

racheybr · 14/10/2019 13:38

they definitely need to refuel with snacks and drinks and then seem to benefit from some unstructured time to do whatever they wish (within reason) even if it is just rest before dinner time. I think a lot is expected of kids at school when they are very little and they need a little more space and independence to put them right ready to do it all over again the following day!

sarah861421 · 14/10/2019 13:41

a good chat on the way home, and then a long walk or a board game

WhiteKnuckleRide · 14/10/2019 13:44

We like to play card games as its a nice way to switch off from everything else, have fun and relax together but still keeps our brains engaged.

liamell · 14/10/2019 13:47

we talk about their day, we get into our pyjamas and we read for half an hour

Marg2k8 · 14/10/2019 13:49

My children are adults now, but after school tended to be the time they wanted to go to friends or wanted friends to come to us, not a chance to wind down.

BL0SS0M · 14/10/2019 13:49

A chat on the walk home from school about her day then snacks and some time on the trampoline before homework

ThighThighOfthigh · 14/10/2019 13:49

OK, someone needs to work on this for me:

We all likes to drink pints of gin
Down by the old Jamaica Inn
We loves to go wreckin'
And smash all the skullz in

LOU2ASH · 14/10/2019 13:57

Relaxing on the couch.

queenoftheschoolrun · 14/10/2019 13:59

Chatting in the car on the way back from school. I'm actually glad now that the council wouldn't give us a bus pass to our nearest grammar school as these chats are so important as DD can offload all the frustrations of the day. Once we get home she has a drink and some fruit and snuggles down with her book. Lucky girl!

emmag1925 · 14/10/2019 14:13

We unwind by having a nice family meal and talking about our days

sophiefx · 14/10/2019 14:23

We have iPad learning app time for an hour after school. My little girl enjoys learning and I enjoy the peace! Haha

glennamy · 14/10/2019 14:28

The same routine, walk home, homework, playtime then dinner. The bedtime routine, bath/shower, story time and bed! :)

pennwood · 14/10/2019 14:37

Talking in the car about the day on the way home prior to a drink and snack before dinner. In the summer it is playing outside, and on the cooler days reading their school book along with a cuddle.