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
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A warm drink, chat about the day, quick look through spellings etc and then some snuggly tv time or art stuff before I get on with dinner.

hmmm ThighThighOfthigh, how about

I drink pints of gin with my young
after school is done
it makes the time fly by
until bedtime is nigh
and the serious drinking is begun

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

Then chill in our slankets while pissin?

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

Then fuck off by doin some TWOCin

I find the walk home from school is a good start as we're able to talk about what they've been up to on the way home. I also suggest that we sit for a story or do some drawing just before dinner time.

We always draw or read together.

I make them a nice drink of milk, some fruit and we sit and chat about their day :)

relax with a movie

prepping the evening meal together and having fun while we do it then eating and chatting together

We often get home and have a food fight.
Because homework and play dates are just shite.
Please let me win
I'll share out the gin
With the needy and those in respite.

We all have a relaxing bowl of crack washed down with Bacardi and Coke.

We snuggle up on the sofa and watch Jeremy Kyle together.

Get out the Brio trainset and make the longest track with bridges and sidings, the imagination we put into each new layout is just the best, I will make the tea (or if the slowcooker has been on - I won't need to) then we will watch something on Netflix

I use to give them sandwiches and after go for a walk together. Then a cooked tea

Play board games

We get a good chat on the walk home from school. If the weather is nice enough we stop off in the playground for a run around. Once the kids have let off steam they are always much more calm and relaxed.

We talk about how their day has gone and ask what they'll looking forward to the next day.

I pst them down to relieve them of any jewels they may have picked up, then I send them to clean their weapons before tea.

Mine have got all the day's housework to do, cleaning, washing, cooking, clearing up, after all, you don't have a dog and bark yourself.

We come home and have tea together, we chat about our day and what we plan to do for the rest of the week.
We take the dogs for a walk to the local park, DD loves running around with them and throwing the ball for them.
Then we do the usual bed time routine, so start with a bath then into pj's. We read a few books of DD'S choice, possibly a small snack & then to bed.

We all spend joyful time helping me do myself up for my 'turn' as Auld Bagge in 'Fetish Corner' at the Gentlemen's club.

Ps. Tickets are BOGOF this week folks so bring a friend!

Usually sit down in the kitchen away from the tv, make a snack and some drinks and talk about how the day has been and what they want for tea.

Sit looking at screens in different rooms.
Occasionally spit at each other.

We stagger in the door and say 'fuck it'
Sling an organ or two in the bucket
Take a shit in a sock
Kick their dad in the cock
And then piss on a duck as we pluck it

We chat about their day in the kitchen whilst I'm making food. In doing this they are getting to spend time with me, I get to make dinner and they get to learn about food and cooking