When the school day is over, how do your children spend those precious few hours before dinner, homework, chores and showers turn the evening into a big blur?
If you are home with your children after school, it’s a terrific opportunity to spend quality time together while engaging in fun activities.
Before you whisk your kids off to an adventure-filled afternoon, however, keep in mind that many kids need downtime after school. They have just spent several hours learning, and their brains and bodies need some R&R.
Amber Troyer, a Grain Valley mom of two, says, “As soon as we get home from school or daycare, my boys seem to need downtime on their own. They generally play with action figures for 15 minutes. Then they are ready to talk or play together.”
Let your children give the cue that they’re ready to do something with you, and then keep it simple and relaxing. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Book it to the library. Browse the shelves for books or magazines and find a quiet spot to read together. Many libraries have after school reading programs. For instance, the Cass County Public Library in Belton offers a monthly “Just R.E.A.D.” story time and an American Girl book club, both geared toward elementary school kids. My daughter attends these while I sit on the side and observe, then we discuss the story and craft on the car ride home. Check with your local library to see what programs they offer.
- Explore the outdoors. Grab your walking shoes or bike and tour your neighborhood or a local trail. Fresh air and exercise do wonders to revive tired little bodies after a long school day and will give your child a chance to talk about his day.
- Snack time! Most kids are famished after a day at school. Rather than reach for the packaged cookies, consider whipping up a healthy, easy treat together. Two websites with kid-friendly snack recipes are www.Finger-Food-Recipes.com and www.FamilyFun.go.com.
- Give back. Teach your children the importance of giving back to the community by volunteering your time and efforts as a family after school. Ideas include delivering handmade cards to nursing homes, collecting groceries for a local food bank and hosting a lemonade stand to raise money for a favorite charity. What’s better than knowing you are making a difference in someone’s life?
- What’s cooking? It doesn’t matter if it’s soup, sandwiches or a fancy meal. What matters is that families eat dinner together a few nights a week. Preparing dinner with your children is a great way to cut back on your workload and have bonding time with the kiddos. Give them age-appropriate tasks and enjoy the bounty as a family!
- Think fresh. Consider visiting a local farmers’ market before preparing dinner. Children are more likely to eat fruits and veggies if they have a hand in choosing them, and many markets are open throughout the fall. Encourage your kids to ask the growers questions, and talk about the benefits of eating fresh, local food. Find farmers’ markets in your area.
- Get crafty. Doing an art or craft project together is a fun way to relax and be creative. www.Michaels.com has kid-oriented project ideas for all ages and abilities, and many of them use everyday materials you are likely to have in your home. My kids and I like to “color our day.” Using crayons or paint, we each create a picture showing what we did that day. Never mind that my kids are more artistic than I am; it’s a good way to “talk” in a non-traditional way.
- Enjoy backyard fun. Take advantage of nice weather and enjoy the simple things your yard has to offer. Shoots hoops, play catch, have a scavenger hunt or find a spot to drink lemonade and chat.
- Capture it. Take photos of your family’s afterschool activities and assemble them into an album at the end of the school year. Your kids can write captions to go along with the photos and will enjoy looking back through the memories.
Kids often just want your time and attention, so you don’t need to plan big, expensive outings to have fun. By keeping activities simple and remaining flexible, you are sure to create wonderful memories together.
Tisha Foley is the mother of a second-grader and a preschooler whose favorite afterschool activities involve being outdoors. She and her husband raise their children in Belton.