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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
OP posts:
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11
alison991 · 21/10/2019 19:23

Walk home and a snack and a chat

mwatmough · 21/10/2019 20:10

Spending an hour in the gym

HerRoyalSpookyness · 21/10/2019 20:14

I get home late, but once I'm home it's reading books/homework, tell me about their day and then we curl up and have stories or watch some TV together.

KitMarlowesCodpieceOfThigh · 21/10/2019 20:31

We engage in gladiatorial combat to decide who's going to eat that night.

Pretenna · 21/10/2019 20:45

Colouring or painting together

myusername12345 · 21/10/2019 20:48

sofa time with reading or tv

cathryn1 · 21/10/2019 21:15

We like to have a colour, then a bath then a read in bed

Smellophant87 · 21/10/2019 21:27

We often have activities to dash out to but if not we snuggle up and watch a film before the dinner time rush!

dirtypop · 21/10/2019 21:37

chilling on the sofa reflecting on the day

maria08k · 21/10/2019 21:57

We play board games and read story-books together!

BrendasUmbrella · 21/10/2019 23:17

We look at her homework when we get home so she won't need to be anxious about having enough time in the evening. Then the school things are put away and she relaxes playing with the cat, and the rabbits who live in the conservatory. We read after dinnertime when it's quiet which is a peaceful way to segue into the bedtime routine.

wooohooo · 21/10/2019 23:40

All help to prepare Tea, one way or another, then we sit down and talk about what we have all done that day

Sleepybumble · 22/10/2019 00:00

I find if my husband and I talk about our day DD will share more detail than if we ask her what she's been doing today.

pinkspideruk · 22/10/2019 00:20

we actually sit to eat together, no screens, no toys just sit around the table and eat dinner and talk about our day. It helps us find out what everyone has done and if there are any issues too and encourages H and D to be open and also to feel comfortable talking to people

Bellroyd · 22/10/2019 06:47

By spending time with them - make a coffee, make them some tea, sit with them while they tell you about their day. Anything oter than plonking them in front of technology. Kids needn't be a chore - as adults we get a lot out of them as well and by spending time with them we can often help to put our own lives in perspective.

purplaa · 22/10/2019 08:28

Lots of arts and craft activities and playing games! :)

pixelwife · 22/10/2019 09:05

My children do thai boxing four days a week and actually although it's high octane, it's a great way of getting any excess energy out of them before we go home for dinner, bath and bed! Not only does it keep them physically fit, it has also helped greatly with their listening skills and discipline!

greensmith68 · 22/10/2019 09:10

a snack and a chat then snuggles on the sofa and watch some tv x

MaryDunlop99 · 22/10/2019 10:17

I usually combine shopping with catching up with the kids news.
I pick them up from school, and then we go and do a small top up shop, and then sit down in the store cafe for a nice drink, and I listen to what the kids have been up to at school.

barearsedloverofthigh · 22/10/2019 10:56

We get home and let out a long slow fart until all that's left of us is a saggy, empty bag of skin and bones on the floor.

toniuk · 22/10/2019 11:11

If the weather is good we go to the park

cpconnolly · 22/10/2019 11:30

painting crafting or baking is a good quiet wind down to ge them to dnner time - then bath and bed time stories

kimbers85 · 22/10/2019 12:27

we wind down with a hot chocolate and snuggles under the blanket

WombleishofTheThighs · 22/10/2019 12:37

I give my lil man and lil princess a nice big hot gin and orange on these cold autumn evenings. It gets them pissed and knocks them out, so I can go out on the razz away from them.

lorrainej162 · 22/10/2019 12:45

Chatting about what everyone had done during the day and making plans for the next day.