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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
kittykomp · 17/10/2019 21:32

lots of arts and craft

HairyDogsOfThigh · 17/10/2019 21:32

We won't be beaten by a sponsored thread . Ludos Come Baaaaaack.

HairyDogsOfThigh · 17/10/2019 21:33

Ludos, would you like to stroke Kit's shark?

KitMarlowesCodpiece · 17/10/2019 21:37

Hairy Who WOULDN'T like to stroke my shark?

Seriously, though, who? I'll smite them with Tracey the Mace. My shark is lovely and I will not have it snubbed.

SirProjectofThigh · 17/10/2019 21:43

To be fair, we’ve helped them get this up to 24 pages.

ThighThighOfthigh · 17/10/2019 22:28

We asked for a section.

barearsedloverofthigh · 17/10/2019 22:47

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

SirProjectofThigh · 17/10/2019 22:48

I think you may just have blown your chance of the prize there bare

barearsedloverofthigh · 17/10/2019 22:51

Oh, yeah you're right Proj. Thrustine said it has to have a smiley face to win Smile

barearsedloverofthigh · 17/10/2019 22:52

WINNER!!! Smile

SirProjectofThigh · 17/10/2019 22:52

Much better

ThighThighOfthigh · 17/10/2019 23:26

We need to do Crowdfunding and buy all the ikea sharks in the whole world.

barearsedloverofthigh · 17/10/2019 23:50

They'll absorb all the piss in the moat and it'll be a big squishy sharky mess!

barearsedloverofthigh · 17/10/2019 23:51

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

barearsedloverofthigh · 17/10/2019 23:52

Soz your thread got broke

nakedscientistOfThigh · 18/10/2019 00:13

IKEA is a very large store
Over bathrooms and bedrooms we pour
We go in for a jug
A fluffy blue rug
And leave with 200 times more.

KitMarlowesCodpiece · 18/10/2019 00:43

Imagine a whole moat full of sharks!

Lulualla · 18/10/2019 00:48

We come home and have a snack and I try to find out about their day but usually get told “nothing much”. After snack, we play board games. At the moment the favourite is Pirate Cove.
Game goes on the footstool, and we sit round and play. They chat more and I actually find things out. We chill out and it means screen time is cut down but without the arguments. Then it’s off to sports clubs and dinner.

CoffeeAndEnnui · 18/10/2019 01:09

Puddle jumping!

We have super cheesy matching wellies and when DD has had a trying day and comes home looking tense I yell "Wellies on!" and we run over the road to pogo about like nutters.

In drier weather pillow fights, sofa star jumps or anything equally silly work well to defuse the tensions of a school day too but puddle jumping is always the ultimate way to exhale!

nakedscientistOfThigh · 18/10/2019 09:35

The dartboard amuses mine
Then Neighbour's scaffolding to climb
The chores get a bash
On the receipt of cash
Then noisily we will dine

ThighThighOfthigh · 18/10/2019 09:40

We have sandwiches and chat about Ikea Smile

nakedscientistOfThigh · 18/10/2019 09:41

Get down from there young Dan!
Be careful! (if you can)
Please sit still
( you never will)
A boy the size of a man

tashadouglas · 18/10/2019 09:51

We all enjoy a snack and watch either some kids TV or depending how tired they are, a film together.

mesb210776 · 18/10/2019 10:00

colouring/drawing or lego if it's raining or a run in the park to burn off some energy if it's not raining

nakedscientistOfThigh · 18/10/2019 10:13

Work is a stressful concern
We haven't got money to burn
Eldest's out with a mate
Youngest's stays up late
But, hey it's nearly half term!