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
Standard Insight T&Cs apply

We talk on the way home about what they've done that day, or she has an after school activity (e.g. allotment club, creative club, swimming lessons, MMA, etc). When we get home my daughter likes to draw/paint and then do some writing (she loves to write stories) or build dens with her brother. After tea we watch a Julia Donaldson movie (e.g. Stickman, Zog, The Highway Rat) then it's bathtime and stories. She reads to me for half the time and then we switch. We then use the meditation app Headspace and meditation music for sleep.

We each have little crank handles on our back and we wind each other’s anti clock wise until we are still.

We like to follow the Sokushinbutsu method of winding down. We stop chatting, we eat nothing, we drink nothing, we sit still (no snuggling). Slowly our organs begin to fail. On the forth or fith day, the dehydration finally takes its toll and we are pronounced dead.

That's so uplifting, Arse ❤️

Hmmm. My DD and I sometimes go to a favourite little cafe for a cake and chat after school, or we chat in the car on the way home. But once home, and after a snack, DD retreats to her room to play, and I start emptying and refilling the dishwasher, whilst listening to an audio book.

my son is normally wired after a day at nursery, so we normally snuggle up and watch a film.

Once homework is done we like to watch a movie or play a game together.

We love to go for a local walk, bike ride or get out in the garden if the weather is good as we all feel better after some time outside. If it's raining then we like to relax by playing with Lego or playing some music on the keyboard.

I am also sadly (cackles) childless and now aged 61, it's too late for me. I feel very 'othered' and even triggered by all the stories of delightful snuggles, etc.

Will there be no IKEA voucher, shark or POANG chair for the likes of me?

baking session at the weekend!

We love to while away the hours building flat pack furniture.

j/k - We'd probably go to the playground :D

Youngest gets under her blanket for a bit of switch off time.

Depending on the weather, we usually walk home from school and often stop off at the park. They have a snack when they get in and watch some of the kids TV. Once tea is ready we sit together at the table and chat about our day

We kneel and give thanks; Praise Her.

Then we have a snack, drink, snuggle on our IKEA sofa before I send them out to work at one of my 24 hour garages (expanding into sustainable energy and 100% vegan products; afterall, I'm thinking of their beautiful future).

We read, play games, lego, dinosaurs, cars, drawing, watch cbeebies etc

walking home and chatting about school

We have about a ten minute walk home from school, so we chat about their day and make sure they are ok. When we get home we crack on with the homework and by the time they have finished that, tea is ready so we chat some more around the table. After tea they have free time to do whatever they want before bed. We don't really wind down as such, we just have a routine that works for us.

Something that will make us laugh. So watching silly cartoons, snapchat pictures together or dancing to something with actions.

Is there a trick to unwind?
To laugh, listen, be kind
Bring yourself to the table
As much as you're able
and leave all your baggage behind.

Ladies (and other Thigh holders)
I see DEAD people Or it might be Thigh people?
May I join you on a trip to Thighkea?
I will buy my own shark and bring a scimitar

Watching "Nothing to Declare" and reading their school book.

Is this the invisibility power of Thigh Thisters?

Feeeeeeel the power

We piss in a bucket and water the TILLANDSIA with it

We can see you. You’ll have to follow the thighway to Thighland.

Swoons and grabs sword

I will pack my meagre clobber and move to Thighland

We live in a magical land and welcome those with scimitars.