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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
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11
arat · 14/10/2019 19:53

Quite tricky in our house as they get back at different times, but the one rule we follow is sitting down together for our meal and then no homework after that.

sarahm1234 · 14/10/2019 20:00

Snacks and winding down with the tv

rachelmccraith · 14/10/2019 20:02

Chat about our day, a little bit of tv together, homework and a hot chocolate before bed

swebb1985 · 14/10/2019 20:08

Outside play if weather permits. Colouring and chatting if it's wet.

freefan · 14/10/2019 20:08

We visit the park on the way home if it's dry and have a good runaround, then chat on the way home, homework is tackled at the table while I whizz around making dinner, more chatting and double check they're managing.
After tea we usually watch a film or play some games before the baths and stories start.

Straysocks · 14/10/2019 20:12

The teenager retreats into his phone for a bit whilst the youngest and I make tea. We eat and chat and share news. We don't have a great deal of space but we can still manage football & badminton inside. Often a bath with candles, more often homework. Definitely need a mad half hour and then some chillng out time. Always stories (reading, telling or,writing).

TiggersAngel7774 · 14/10/2019 20:18

My sons autistic he loves to grab ipad and zone out until dinner. Then i chat about his day with him

giddyypixie · 14/10/2019 20:33

Chatting in the car about their day at school, then homework when they get home. A nice family dinner round the table and an hour of family time in the living room before bed.

DavidHolland · 14/10/2019 20:55

We do lots of after school clubs/extra curricular activities most days, but Friday is our relaxing day.

After getting home, the kids can play outside, or we can craft inside and they help make dinner if they wish. We watch a film or play board games and just generally spend time together

59Mackie · 14/10/2019 20:56

When DS (8) gets in he likes to chill out in his room for 10 minutes or so and get changed. He then comes down for a drink and either some iPad or TV before we head out for after school clubs

iloveadsxx1 · 14/10/2019 21:35

We are currently doing phono graphix in our family to help our son who has been diagnosed with dyslexia, it is so nice to sit around the table for a hour and do lots of fun writing, and drawing to learn in a fun way, we use it as family time to wind down

tobypercy · 14/10/2019 21:36

my son will almost always be happy to settle with a book

LeeR1985 · 14/10/2019 21:44

We usually put some music on and do some drawing to wind down. No TV or tablet :)

Bluearmy351 · 14/10/2019 21:46

I usually play football as soon as i get in clothes off boots on for 30 mins footy

cozza777 · 14/10/2019 21:53

We have a thirty minute walk home so that definitely helps them in winding down then a drink on biscuit on the sofa before homework eeek

Bemystarlord · 14/10/2019 21:53

We try to make sure we have a routine so that the children know what to expect. When we get in its put school things away and change into play clothes, then its a drink and snack and free time to wind down and relax. After dinner its time for after school clubs and any homework. Then showers/baths reading and bed. We try to keep ot the same during the week as it works well for us and also is less stressful especially for my child with sen as she needs the stability of routine.

katieskatie82 · 14/10/2019 22:00

i get the kids to unwind on the walk home from school. They tell me about their day and when we get home we have Dinner and unwind watching a movie or tv afterwards x

Sparklepants3 · 14/10/2019 22:02

Once we'll home we'll get some snacks and chill out in front of the TV for half an hour generally chatting about the day, and also what homework needs to be done after tea.
We sometimes play some games or do some reading instead

beckyinman · 14/10/2019 22:11

Something outdoors if we can - kick about, tennis, tig - something to wear them out haha

twoastars · 14/10/2019 22:28

My oldest (6) gets stuck straight into helping make dinner and enjoys the routine of peeling, stirring and laying the table while my 4 yo likes to focus on colouring a section of the paper tablecloth as we listen to music. It's my favourite part of the day.

earnshaw47 · 14/10/2019 22:30

on the way home from school we walk through the park, they can run off their energies then

lewiscro · 14/10/2019 22:33

Snacks, cbeebies and talking about the day

pfcpompeysarah · 14/10/2019 22:36

We talk about how the day has gone, anything I may need to know about and prepare for the next day. I think then it is just a case of reading, watching a bit of television until homework and teatime come around.

Twitney · 14/10/2019 22:42

Dog walk then early bath, quiet tea time and lots of stories, we take it in turns choosing books.

lostbadger · 14/10/2019 22:43

I let him play by himself while i make dinner. The downtime away from people is good for him after the stress of work. Then we talk about the day over dinner.