Managing the After-School Time

Math And Playing Sports
April 9, 2019
How to Get Your Child More Interested in Math and Science
April 10, 2019
Math And Playing Sports
April 9, 2019
How to Get Your Child More Interested in Math and Science
April 10, 2019
0

Managing the After-School Time

It’s that time of day when everyone has been picked up or dropped off, then the after school madness begins.  The routine of snacking, homework, sports/playing, dinner and getting ready for bed.  The after-school routine can be hard because so much is fit into a relatively small window of time.  Below are some ideas to help make this time more enjoyable and productive.

The Moments Shortly After Arriving Home

  • Give kids 15-30 minutes to decompress or snack, then have homework time soon after that to get it out of the way
  • Have healthy snacks (eggs, fruit, veggies/dip, smoothies, guacamole, nut butter, hummus) and a box of school supplies on the table where homework is done
  • Let them know that play time or seeing friends can follow homework
  • Be engaged with them while they’re working; if they see you’re on your cell phone, they might want to do the same.
  • Having a routine is best
  • Music playing in the background can often help them focus
  • Some items that need repetition in order to learn, such as multiplication tables, can be worked on throughout the evening, not only at homework time. For example, when they are getting ready for bed, test multiplication facts

Meal Time

  • One idea: plan meals on Sunday nights, with each family member choosing their share of meal preferences
  • Easy options should be on-hand:  Trader Joe’s items, pastas, soups, eggs, whole roasted chicken found at any grocery store
  • Keep a book with printed-out recipes or meal ideas that the family enjoys
  • Cook ahead of time and freeze. This saves a lot of time and planning.
  • Breakfast options: smoothies, find an oatmeal bar recipe online and refrigerate bars for the week, have hard boiled eggs on hand, healthy breads…there’s a local baker who makes delicious gluten-free sourdough and cinnamon-raisin bread once a week (www.mulberybakery.com)

Bed Time/You Time

  • Have set bedtimes
  • Allow yourself 1 hour between the time you’re helping your kids and the time you go to bed so that you can relax and sleep easily
  • Have routines for each kid based on needs:  reading, music, bath time, reflecting on what they liked best about their day
  • Keep cell phones out of bedrooms during sleep if possible