There’s a lot of emphasis on morning routines, which are very important to starting the day right, but what about that after-school rush? After all, if you don’t find time to get stuff done, like homework and preparing for tomorrow, that can lead to more stressful mornings.
With a little bit of planning and a few priorities in mind, you can avoid some of those whirlwind school evenings and get everything done while still finding some time to unwind. Here are some of our favourite ways to conquer the school night and get children ready for another day at our prep school in Devon!
Have a Routine, but Keep Some Flexibility
Routines can be really beneficial for children, and they can also help to provide some structure for busy parents. However, while morning routines are usually short, an evening is much longer, so you don’t have to be quite as strict with your time.
When thinking about an evening routine, consider what the most important parts are on most evenings. That will usually be stuff like homework, dinner and bedtime, but might also include chores or family activities. Have an idea of what times you want these things to take place, and use that as a framework to break after school into smaller sections.
Relax and Reset Straight After School
Children will often need to decompress after school. Sometimes they’ll be filled with energy and excited to get home and play, other times they might be tired and stressed out from all the learning. Either way, they can benefit from some time to transition from school mode to home mode.
There are lots of ways for children to unwind, from talking about their day to reading or watching TV. Pair whatever they enjoy with a healthy snack to raise their energy levels for the rest of the evening.
Create a Great Homework Space
One constant for most children is going to be homework, so it’s useful for both pupils and adults to have an idea of what time is homework time and what needs to be completed; checking their bag after school is useful.
While it’s important that parents and guardians ensure their children are focused on their homework, we also need to understand that, after a busy day of school, homework can feel like an especially daunting task. Therefore, it’s important that the homework space is as focused and welcoming as possible.
Some children may feel more motivated to do homework if an adult is helping them through it or working on something else at the same time. Others may prefer a quiet space free from distractions where they can focus. Think about what works for your child and what’s possible in your house, and just try to make it as supportive as possible.
Create Time for Fun
Once the important stuff is out of the way, it’s great to give children some free time where they can go off and do what they want. This is why it’s important not to fill an evening routine with too many tasks.
Of course, we’d all love our children to spend this time doing enriching activities like music or physical exercise, and we can work this into their free time. However, it’s also important to let them do whatever helps them decompress, even if it is spending time playing video games or watching TV. Making sure children feel relaxed and happy is a key part of setting them up for the next day.
Have a Separate Bedtime Routine
We all know how important sleep is to our whole day; a good or bad night’s sleep can impact us physically, emotionally and mentally the next day. That’s why having a good bedtime routine is almost as important as the morning routine.
Try to start the bedtime routine an hour before bed, if possible. Things like turning off screens, dimming lights, having a warm bath and reading stories can all help children sleep better and longer, giving you a peaceful rest of the evening and, hopefully, a slightly smoother morning.
Ultimately, what after-school routine works best for each child will be unique, and some days will feel so busy that there’s little time for a perfect routine. Hopefully, though, these tips will make it easier for you to find priorities and get the most out of every evening in as stress-free a way as possible.
