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

860 replies

AbbiCMumsnet · 01/10/2019 09:36

This activity has now closed.

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
ThighThighOfthigh · 15/10/2019 12:04

GIVE US MONEY.

Themyscira · 15/10/2019 12:04

Of course not, @KitMarlowesCodpiece, it's classic MN one-upmanship. Who will win the mummy Olympics? IKEA shall dispense reasonably priced, self assembly required medals shortly.

In the meantime, this afternoon my DC will eat multiple packets of crisps while watching American YouTubers jump into paddling pools of slime.

SoftBlocks · 15/10/2019 12:14

Usually a chat about the day while walking home, then a drink of water and snack. Then homework and then some art/ crafts or a bit of tablet/ television. The exact order varies according to what after school activities are happening.

DanglyTasselsOfThigh · 15/10/2019 12:44

GIVE US MONEY

AND A POÄNG BOUNCY CHAIR!

KitMarlowesCodpiece · 15/10/2019 12:51

I will waive my £300 voucher if I can have one of the cuddly toy sharks and a bag of meatballs.

barearsedloverofthigh · 15/10/2019 12:55

We want a REAL shark and buckets of organs! We've earned them fair and square.

KitMarlowesCodpiece · 15/10/2019 13:01

But what about my meatballs?

ThighThighOfthigh · 15/10/2019 13:06

GIVE ME A CEILING

ThighThighOfthigh · 15/10/2019 13:07

Meatballs are sheep's doddles covered in sauce.

BernardBlacksWineIceLolly · 15/10/2019 13:07

😂 at the two parallel threads

Thread 1: milk, fruit, snuggles tra la!

Thread 2: skullz, booze, sex with ducks and pissing!

It’s like nobody can see each other

ThighThighOfthigh · 15/10/2019 13:08

We can see them. They refuse to see us.

ThighThighOfthigh · 15/10/2019 13:09

We're The Matrix, they're Paddington 2

Jenacles · 15/10/2019 13:12

The nice walk home relaxes us! We chat about the day, usually collect a bunch of stones and sticks for his 'collection' and then home for dinner

barearsedloverofthigh · 15/10/2019 13:15

I'm more like teletubbies on speed.

KitMarlowesCodpiece · 15/10/2019 13:19

I thought sheep's doddles were prairie oysters.

Anyway, IKEA, that's my deal. I would cost you approximately £285 less than anyone else on this thread. I would also be good publicity in that your slogan is 'The wonderful everyday' and there's nothing much more everyday than a shark and a bag of meatballs.

DanglyTasselsOfThigh · 15/10/2019 13:42

Meatballs are sheep's doddles covered in sauce

Still nice tho'

DanglyTasselsOfThigh · 15/10/2019 13:43

Bernard it's the Thighland 'coat of invisibility' at work again!

jtl1131 · 15/10/2019 13:48

We do lots of jigsaws and reading after the initial 'mad hour' then a bath and bedtime story to make sure they are calmed enough for bed

jhocknull · 15/10/2019 14:24

A drink and a biscuit and a chat round the table is the perfect way to wind down.

HairyDogsOfThigh · 15/10/2019 14:24

I know I'm a little bit weird,
But my house is completely Ikea’d.
After school we build flat packs,
And stack up the Kallax,
Our storage is beautifully tiered.

JoyceDivision · 15/10/2019 14:29

Our evening are me picking DC up after school, flying round for stuff I usually need from shops, sort out bickering, whip.up some food, out to a club, back home, homework, wash, debate why brushing teeth is a social expectation and not just because of The Man, read, bed.

Then DH gets him and we stare balefully at fridge to see who will cave in and cook.

youllhavehadyourtea · 15/10/2019 14:33

Bernard - I thought my snuggles with Jeremy Kyle was subversive, but the Thighs won.

DanglyTasselsOfThigh · 15/10/2019 14:35

IKEA is the place for me
IKEA is the place to be
With bouncy chairs, POÄNG, you see
I enter IKEA with the utmost glee

(I hope I get some gear for free!)

KitMarlowesCodpiece · 15/10/2019 14:53

I've written an affectionate parody of a well-known song that I hope will get me my shark.

Give me shark (doo doo doo doo doo doo)
Need a shark (doo doo doo doo doo doo)
Just one shark (doo doo doo doo doo doo)
Blahaj shark

Shark at home (doo doo doo doo doo doo)
Sofa shark (doo doo doo doo doo doo)
Tasteful shark (doo doo doo doo doo doo)
Blahaj shark

Shark me up (doo doo doo doo doo doo)
Want a shark (doo doo doo doo doo doo)
Love the shark (doo doo doo doo doo doo)
Blahaj shark

HairyDogsOfThigh · 15/10/2019 14:56

After school we all head to Ikea where we hide ourselves inside various pieces of furniture until the store closes. Then we emerge and play 'making supper' in the kitchen dept, we take imaginary baths, and when we've exhausted ourselves bouncing on the Poang chairs, we make ourselves comfortable in the display beds until morning.