OMG, I do nothing with my dd after school!  She is 6 later this week and I have a 20 month old.  I work 2 days a week so my mum picks dd up and takes her to see my gran.  Once a week my dd might have a friend for tea.  Other than that she normally occupies herself while I make tea and tidy up etc.  We do try and keep busy with activities all weekend though, on Saturday she has swimming and dance lessons and Sunday we often go for walks.

Thanks for all of your replies, You're right it's judt me worrying that I don't do enough. My kids never ask to do more, infact today my DS was invited to his friends after school and initially was very excited, we all walked together as its on route home and I said I'd pick him up after an hour in time for dinner as I needed to get back home to do soem bits I had planned, as he walked into the house he turned around and told me he just wanted to come home. Bless him, he was tired after his hard day at school, so he jsut played in the garden with his LS. However, it's nice to hear from other mums who do pretty much the same stuff as we do, its just one of those things every mum goes through. Feeling like we're never quite good enough are we!?! But by reading all of these and seeing it from a different perspective we are good enough and can clearly only do our best.

Thanks again xxx

Thanks for all of your replies, You're right it's judt me worrying that I don't do enough. My kids never ask to do more, infact today my DS was invited to his friends after school and initially was very excited, we all walked together as its on route home and I said I'd pick him up after an hour in time for dinner as I needed to get back home to do soem bits I had planned, as he walked into the house he turned around and told me he just wanted to come home. Bless him, he was tired after his hard day at school, so he jsut played in the garden with his LS. However, it's nice to hear from other mums who do pretty much the same stuff as we do, its just one of those things every mum goes through. Feeling like we're never quite good enough are we!?! But by reading all of these and seeing it from a different perspective we are good enough and can clearly only do our best.

Thanks again xxx

Awww hun, it sounds like you're doing a great job with your children.....have your children said they want to do more, or is it just you worrying that you're not doing enough? (Something us mums always seem to worry about !)

I'm sure after your 5yr old has had such a busy day at school he'd be quite happy to just chill out when he gets home.

Oh hon, I wouldn't worry too much. There isn't much time after school really... my girls go to Brownies and Rainbows once a week. If it's nice, we'll go to the park with some other Mum's and their children. We might go swimming or do some shopping. They sometimes have a friend over, or we meet a friend at a play area. However, they often just prefer to come home and play together, as after all, they've been very busy at school. They definitely like to unwind...

My dd1 started to do some after school clubs... she did gymnastics, dance, ICT, gardening club etc, but in the end she actually came to me and said she missed just coming home, spending time with me and her sister! So it just goes to show, they don't need to do too much.

We do reading and spellings every night too, and dd1 has homework, so there isn't always time to do much.

Sorry I've waffled on! Just don't beat yourself up about it hon, and do what you can. xx

I currently work until 3pm so I finish work and go stright to the school. If it is dry, and the other parents are free we all go to the park for half an hour or so. If I have chores to do (shopping etc) then we do that, usually getting home for 4-4.30pm. He then helps me make dinner, it makes meal times fun and means we are doing something together. Then after we've eaten he'll usually play while I clean up, then about 6-6.30 he has his bath and gets into his pj's. I did used to let him watch tv with me from bath to bedtime then I'd read a story and up he'd go about 7.30. Now he has his bath, snuggles on the sofa while he gets ready for bed then he reads his own bedtime story with me. He ends up in bed about 8pm. We dont do a great deal of activities, there's lots to do after school lol We do have a good routine though which suits us and we do get to spend time together for most of it, even if it includes doing the chores.

Sounds like you're doing plenty with your los. There's only so many things you could do in a few hours. If you want to do more maybe you could do some baking once a week after school, or get the los involved with dinner making (setting the table etc your ds could help with the food)

hi, dont beat yourself up.  As long as your kids are happy and loved there is no wrong or right amounts of activities that you need to do.  I struggle with working full time and then trying to something on the evening with my 2 year old and 7 year old.  We went strawberry picking last weekend and was only there an hour but my 7 year old was so excited.   Chill and have fun  x

Hi all

I have a ds of 5 years and a dd of 2 years. I am struggling for ideas of what activities to do after school. we do the usual park visit, drawing, playdough, garden etc. And I have organised a taster session of tennis for ds to try out in the summer for somethign different to do.

But, and I feel stupid after reading what I've just put, I just feel that I dont do enough. I'm torn between feeling tired, doing house work, occupying etc. I take my daughter to groups in the day so that she gets to mix with other children etc. I take my son to the park and we play games etc.

I suppose I just need to hear that I am doing enough, and what other mums do with their children after school. xx

I'm sorry if I seem a bit pathetic putting this on, but I'm guessing I'm not the only one who feels that they just can't split themself enough!! xx