My son started first grade today and it's his first time that he'll be gone all day (our kindergarten was only half day). What do your kids do after school to decompress, other than have a snack? Screen time? Play time? I am just curious. He's coming home around 3. Normally that's his "quiet time" when he plays in his room, but I feel bad getting him off the bus and just plunking him down in his room by himself.
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We're a bit different b/c my kids go to afterschool care at the school where they essentially just play. But if they don't do that and just come home, they have a snack and either play with the kids in the neighborhood and/or have some screen time. Depends on the day/weather/their moods.
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When my kids got out of school that early, we'd head to the playground for soccer (and so did most of the class
) But this year they'll get home closer to 5:30 or 6, so they'll be hungry. Most likely we'll go home for snacks.
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My kids are younger... but in general our routine has been to play outside if the weather is halfway decent - which is great for decompressing - or to come inside, bathe/pjs, and then have unstructured play with toys/books until dinner if it's not...
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Outside time definitely helps. Texas is so terrible in August but we’ve been walking home at least and when it’s nicer we’ll stay on the playground for a bit after school. At home they usually finish their lunches (or have a snack, but usually there’s something left) and then if they don’t go play together we might read. I try not to do much screen time during the week - sometimes during dinner prep - just works better for us that way. If you’re working when he gets home maybe a book on tape and snack and he could sit by you? My son is also 1st and he still really likes physical touch when he gets home (even when he is super sweaty!!).
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@LadyDi: mine don’t really have any decompressing time, usually. Some days we go directly from school to a class (dance, soccer, or piano lessons). If we don’t have an activity, we will stop at the playground for a bit. But as soon as we walk in the door, it’s go-go-go.
They have to unpack their backpacks, show me their folders. They get a snack and eat while working on homework at the dining table. Then piano practice. Then it’s usually time for dinner/bath/reading/bed.
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We normally do 15ish minutes of TV and snack post school. Then playing outside or in the basement. One day per week he has a practice around dinner time.
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@LadyDi: He gets home at 4:00 from kindergarten (we are only 4 days in after 17 months home due to COVID!!!) and he’s so exhausted he sits on the bed and zones out with a cartoon. I can’t blame him - full days of school again is such a big change for a little guy! Eventually we’ll transition him to playtime (likely legos) while we make dinner.
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@LadyDi: My kids have done really well with a long bubble bath with toys when they get home. It is a nice way to relax. My oldest likes listening to stories or podcasts, too. Swinging is a good one if its really nice outside. My kids generally need quiet alone time to play, but they want to be in the main area. I usually do snack on the ride home, but if they haven't had a snack they are probably also really hungry.
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My grade 3 son usually goes to daycare after so it is snack and play. Due to bussing issues we have been picking him up and he’s been coming home. He has a snack if he wants and then usually outside to play with his friends. If he’s been tired he’ll ask for screen time and I usually say yes to a bit.
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My second grader will go to a nature program two days per week from 3:30-5:30, so it will be very tight to fit in his homework on those days.
The other days will probably be either scheduled play dates, or casual play with neighborhood kids or his siblings.
He was home on Zoom school for the majority of last year, and also the last 3.5 months of K the prior year. I'm thrilled he will be back in the classroom for 5 full days per week, but I want to give him some time to adjust to having fuller days.
(He did go to full day camp over the summer, though, so it's not that different.)
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This is the first year that my daughter doesn't have to be in aftercare since my husband and I are mostly remote working, and I am a big proponent of unscheduled time, so I give her a solid hour on the playground after pickup, where there are usually kids from school around for her to play with. We do swim lessons twice a week so on those days we have more of a structure, but on the other days, we come home after playing outside, wash up/shower, and she has open play/whatever she wants to do until dinner. After dinner she can watch cartoons and play online games for about an hour and then playtime and reading time before bed (she needs a lot of wind-down time).
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@LadyDi: I've been letting mine have screen time after school, at least for now. There is no homework (yet) my 3rd grader will eventually, and no homework for K. But both kids have activities 4 nights a week starting around 5, so the hour after school to chill seems good.
If they don't go to the screens with snacks, they play outside with the kids in the neighborhood if they're around....
) But this year they'll get home closer to 5:30 or 6, so they'll be hungry. Most likely we'll go home for snacks.
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