Hellobee Boards Topic: If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?

Hellobee Boards Topic: If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do? https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 15:50:17 +0000 avivoca on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2540636 Wed, 04 May 2016 09:41:43 +0000 avivoca 2540636@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We go to the park, take care of an errand (she usually gets a treat), take the dog for a long walk, or just hang out outside if it's nice. ETA: Sometimes we go to the zoo. It's so nice to go on a weekday and since we are members I don't feel like I have to make it an all day thing. nana87 on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2540621 Wed, 04 May 2016 09:34:23 +0000 nana87 2540621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I pick lo up at 3, and sometimes we go somewhere on our way home, like a playground, bookstore, or to get a snack. but most days it's just free play at home, so art stuff, playing in her kitchen, blocks, reading, etc. She usually "helps" dh make dinner starting around 5:30ish, so we have about 2 hours of just nice time playing at home most of the time before dinner/bath/bed routine starts. caterw on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2540612 Wed, 04 May 2016 09:28:29 +0000 caterw 2540612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Since it's getting so nice out, what about some special summery outings? We often go pick fruit at the orchard or go to local farmer's markets (we have 2 afternoon options here), eat ice cream outside, play with water balloons or the sprinkler, set up the baby pool, sidewalk chalk, etc. DillonLion on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2540113 Tue, 03 May 2016 16:48:24 +0000 DillonLion 2540113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @junebugsmama: That's a good idea. Thanks! She will probably just walk as opposed to riding in the stroller, but we could bring it if she wants. There are a few within walking distance. mrsbubbletea on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2540073 Tue, 03 May 2016 16:02:20 +0000 mrsbubbletea 2540073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ What about walking to a further playground so you get a little exercise in? If your LO can go in a stroller still I guess. looch on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539979 Tue, 03 May 2016 14:48:39 +0000 looch 2539979@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Ha, I get home at 4 most days and never once have we gone to the playground. Free time/unstructured play over here. Yesterday my son was playing with his cars while my husband put together a bookcase. I was making dinner. pregnantbee on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539946 Tue, 03 May 2016 14:19:26 +0000 pregnantbee 2539946@https://boards.hellobee.com/ We often go to the park on my "early" day. Sometimes we'll just run to Target or go food shopping, but the park is the most fun for us. And it's a mommy/son date, which he loves. Mrs. Champagne on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539941 Tue, 03 May 2016 14:15:32 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2539941@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I stay home, but usually before dinner we play outside now that it's warm or run to the grocery store if needed. ValentineMommy on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539935 Tue, 03 May 2016 14:12:55 +0000 ValentineMommy 2539935@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Both DH and I get home at 4. We usually take turns playing with them while we change out of our work clothes. Then I get dinner ready while they play with dad. We eat together (we eat early, like 5:30), then usually go for a walk or play outside if it's nice, or play a game inside if it's not nice out. Then the boys take a bath. Then I put DS2 down (around 7:15-7:30) while DS1 watches tv with dad. Then I join them for like 15 min before DS1 gets ready for bed. DS1 goes to sleep around 8:15 catomd00 on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539922 Tue, 03 May 2016 14:03:11 +0000 catomd00 2539922@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Usually the playground or go get a fun treat like a cookie or ice cream before dinner because you only live once! T.H.O.U. on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539920 Tue, 03 May 2016 13:57:56 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2539920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @DillonLion: We try to just remind her that she gets her 30 min of TV time before bed. Mrs. Lion on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539916 Tue, 03 May 2016 13:51:33 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2539916@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Playground or play outside in the backyard :) Anagram on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539891 Tue, 03 May 2016 13:38:12 +0000 Anagram 2539891@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @DillonLion: Mine wants to watch TV every day too, and I constantly have to fight it. I've found that if I preemptively start activities as soon as we get home, she's less likely to ask. So I come in the door, we take off shoes and wash hands, and then I get out the paint and paper, or the playdough and set it up on her play table. DillonLion on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539886 Tue, 03 May 2016 13:36:13 +0000 DillonLion 2539886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ @T.H.O.U.: She just wants to watch TV if we are home, so hopefully we can break that habit ;) Anagram on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539876 Tue, 03 May 2016 13:31:09 +0000 Anagram 2539876@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I get home around 4-4:30 every day and we don't eat dinner till 6:30. Right now, I have to pump around 5, so my schedule is come home and play with the kiddos (playdough, drawing/painting, a puzzle, etc), then ignore them while I pump and let them play alone, then either we head out for a short walk to the park (if we have a simple heat-up dinner), or I start dinner prep and I let LO1 dinner prep with me. Sometimes we walk to the grocery store to pick up stuff after I pump. It just depends. T.H.O.U. on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539870 Tue, 03 May 2016 13:25:27 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2539870@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Honestly, I like to let them have some time for free play. I feel like most of their day is structured. So outside time if possible (bikes if we can because they dont have those at school) and inside just free play time with their toys. Truth Bombs on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539868 Tue, 03 May 2016 13:24:26 +0000 Truth Bombs 2539868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ Playground all day erryday over here. jape14 on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539867 Tue, 03 May 2016 13:23:52 +0000 jape14 2539867@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I pick up DS around 4:30 every day, and as long as the weather is good, we play outside - go for a walk to the playground, play in the yard, walk the dog, or play out front with our neighbors. Very occasionally I will take him to run an errand (Target or Costco). If DH can leave work early we will go have a beer at our neighborhood bottle shop (very kid-friendly place) or go out to an early dinner. winniebee on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539850 Tue, 03 May 2016 13:17:02 +0000 winniebee 2539850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I would take her for a run, bike ride, or go to playground. If it's a rainy day, go to the movies or library or bowling : ) lamariniere on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539846 Tue, 03 May 2016 13:15:30 +0000 lamariniere 2539846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I pick up my LOs from daycare at 4 and we go to the playground every day, weather permitting. Charm54 on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539844 Tue, 03 May 2016 13:14:54 +0000 Charm54 2539844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ I'm on mat leave, but when I work I'm done around 3:30/4:00. I pick DD up and we usually do some sort of a quick outing - the park, grocery store, visit my grandma, go get ice cream, etc. Then we head home around 5:00 to start supper and the evening routine. Some days we just go right home and spend extra time playing, which is nice too. Enjoy your time! Cherrybee on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539843 Tue, 03 May 2016 13:14:22 +0000 Cherrybee 2539843@https://boards.hellobee.com/ If I pick E up early, we make dinner into an activity. We either go out to eat or we have a picnic in the living room. Mrs. Pickle on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539842 Tue, 03 May 2016 13:14:16 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 2539842@https://boards.hellobee.com/ When DH gets home that early we go on a walk together, or to the park. Sometimes we'll have an early dinner and then go get froyo before bath and bedtime. He might go jog with her and one of the dogs. snowjewelz on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539839 Tue, 03 May 2016 13:13:42 +0000 snowjewelz 2539839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ DH is usually is home around that time too. He either takes her out to grocery shop, or if the weather is nice, do a buggy ride around the block, go to the park (a 5 min walk) or play in the yard. DD can just play in the yard forever if she could! DillonLion on "If you get home in the early afternoon during the week, what do you do?" https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-get-home-in-the-early-afternoon-during-the-week-what-do-you-do#post-2539832 Tue, 03 May 2016 13:11:15 +0000 DillonLion 2539832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ This may be a silly question, but hear me out. I have had an 8-5 (with an hour commute on either end, so 7-6) job since before LO was born. We typically are all finally home for the day around 615 and it is another couple of hours before bed time. We basically have enough time to change, eat, play for a little while, and then she goes to bed. But my schedule has changed slightly and now, one day a week, I'm home early with her, around 4, so we have nearly double the time to spend together than we usually do on a weeknight. It will only be this way for another month, but I want to make it count. I thought about taking that time to go the gym, but that defeats the whole point if I'm just going to dump her in childcare again when I don't have to. I don't know what to do with all the time! I kind of have anxiety about it, haha. It isn't enough time to really go do anything substantial, but it is such a long stretch of time for us to be hanging around the house unstructured. Idle time is the devil's play thing for both of us (we get cranky/engage in bad behaviors) so I'm wondering what you do in the afternoons during the week if you frequently have 4+ hours. I am so happy to have this extra time with LO after years of barely seeing her during the week, so I feel like I want to maximize it if at all possible with something fun/uplifting for both of us.