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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
LadyCarolinePooterVonThigh · 17/10/2019 06:53

Maybe he's grateful for the hint kit, and will get you one for Christmas?

Or maybe you'll get to December and he'll be all anxious because he doesn't know what to get you. You'll say "But there is something I'd really like. I told you." and he'll rack his brains and say "I'm sure you haven't said anything." So you put the shark in your Amazon basket for him, along with some hardback books. You were going to wait for the paperback editions but hey it's Christmas.

All year long you have been listening carefully for any little hints of things he might enjoy, plus you think laterally and find things you know he will love. At a certain point you realise you have rather overbought. You think maybe some of these could go in the birthday pile. You become worried he could die before his birthday, due to being a bit old. You worry you might die and he won't know about your birthday stash. You think maybe you should wrap them to be on the safe side.

You need that shark, kit, and you need one NOW.

LadyCarolinePooterVonThigh · 17/10/2019 07:10

Oops that was off topic! Sorry to all at IKEA ;-)

DanglyTasselsOfThigh · 17/10/2019 07:27

Caroline were you 'projecting' a bit there by any chance?

LadyCarolinePooterVonThigh · 17/10/2019 08:03

No dangly heaven forbid! Just felt sorry about the shark (poignant)

ThighThighOfthigh · 17/10/2019 08:10
LadyCarolinePooterVonThigh · 17/10/2019 08:23

I think kit has touched us all.

KitMarlowesCodpiece · 17/10/2019 08:25

LadyCaroline Are you spying on me? You have pretty much described my life.

DH is going on a diet of salad and oily fish. I'm not having him getting too old to get me my shark.

KitMarlowesCodpiece · 17/10/2019 08:26

LadyCaroline

I think Kit has touched us all

Hey. Ix-nay on the ouched-tay. I've still got the tag from my last spree and I don't want the fuzz finding out.

LadyCarolinePooterVonThigh · 17/10/2019 09:29

We are very feely in thighland

KitMarlowesCodpiece · 17/10/2019 10:19

It sounds less bad if you call it 'palpating'.

LadyCarolinePooterVonThigh · 17/10/2019 10:35

Good tip!

ThighThighOfthigh · 17/10/2019 10:38

Pupating, just sayin'.

HairyDogsOfThigh · 17/10/2019 13:42

Piss taking

badgermum · 17/10/2019 14:06

My son gets an hour on his video games before homework then dinner after school, this works well when it's school term time.

ThighThighOfthigh · 17/10/2019 17:09

Instead of video games he could go twocking.

KitMarlowesCodpiece · 17/10/2019 17:29

Maybe he's practising on Grand Theft Auto?

I used to love that game. I used to steal cars, park them all up in a parking lot, and then launch a rocket into it and watch the conflagration and laugh.

SirProjectofThigh · 17/10/2019 18:46

WHY CAN’T YOU SEE US?

ThighThighOfthigh · 17/10/2019 19:37

PROJ I HAVE A WEAPON, I'M IN THE MOOD FOR DEATH 💀

ThighThighOfthigh · 17/10/2019 19:38

Kit when i occasionally play with one of my adult son i get them to shoot everyone in the willy.

ThighThighOfthigh · 17/10/2019 19:41

Right, this is bullshit. You've driven me to this, I'm suffering from chronic megalomania and no one is helping.

Dangly! bring Betty AND Sharon. It's time to do some beheading.

ThighThighOfthigh · 17/10/2019 19:42

IKEA how dare you! Give us money and a shark NOW.

KitMarlowesCodpiece · 17/10/2019 19:49

Thigh I only had the very oldest version with the crappest graphics. No willy shooting for me Sad

HOWEVER, I was a MASTER of murder where my Sims were concerned. Death by satellite. Death by flies. Drowning. Fire. Starvation. I did them all.

ThighThighOfthigh · 17/10/2019 19:55

Kit mass murder is the only sensible solution when presented with the option of controlling the whole world.

DanglyTasselsOfThigh · 17/10/2019 19:58

Oh could I have a glass of your Sauvignon Blanc please Kit ?

ThighThighOfthigh · 17/10/2019 20:15

Dangly! you know they provoked us! This.....is WAR and REWENGAY.

Could I have Sharon instead please?