Help with after work routine
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Anonymous
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I have two girls, 3 and 6, and lately I've realized I've been relying on TV for the bulk of the evening between the time I get home from work to bed. I'd like to tweak the routine. I think i fell into it because lately the girls seem to be fussy and fight if the TV is off. And I need to get them dinner, ready for bed. I'm mostly watching them by myself in the evenings.
I'd also like I'm home about 5:30. They go to bed around 8:30 or 9:30. They probably watch tv 1.5 hours in the evening. |
Anonymous
| Hit send too soon. I'd also like to keep them from fighting as much. I think the youngest hits, pinches, etc. For attention. |
Anonymous
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A 3 & 6 year got to bed at 9:30pm? Come on. In bed at 8pm reading stories with you. Lights out at 8:30pm.
Dinner 6-6:30pm. Play 6:30-7:00pm. Bath & Pajamas 7-7:30 Tv 7:30-8pm In bed reading 8-8:30 Lights out 8:30pm |
Anonymous
Play in separate rooms. One hangs out in the kitchen with you while other plays in family room. |
Anonymous
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Op here. Although I agree 9:30 is too late, it is summer, and we have a nanny, so the girls can sleep in some.
They go to bed at 9:30 when my husband is around to play with them at night. He is very nonscheduled, and delays any bedtime routine we have, which is a whole other issue. |
Anonymous
Forget the tv! The light can negatively affect their sleep. |
Anonymous
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I find it helps to talk about routine and expectations with my 3 and almost 5 year olds, epecially when I have them by myself. In the car on the way home from daycare, I usually say something like, "Ok when we get home, I have to make dinner. What are you all going to do? Choices are: X, Y, and Z". They choose. "Great. you are going to play and let me work. when I am finished, we will eat and then we will do X, Y and Z together. Tell me how you can help me get my work done faster?" And they tell me (because we've done this so many freaking times - no fighting! hands to ourselves! share!
Sounds crazy, but it really works. They watch 1 20 min show before bed, and that's it. They play the rest of the time, when tehy aren't setting the table. |
critty111
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I have a 4 year old and a 16 month old. Our schedule is:
5:15 Home 5:15-6:00 - they watch TV while we cook dinner (well 4 year old watches while 16 month old runs around being crazy) 6:00 Dinner 6:20ish - dinner is over and we go up to play with toys 6:45 - start bath for LO 7 - 4 year old joins if bathing 7-diaper, jammies, book and nurse the LO - lights out 730 While doing the above - 4 year old is in his room coloring/reading/playing quiet games 7:30-8 books with 4 year old 8 lights out (I rub his back and chat with him until 8:15 and leave) He usually is asleep within 10 mins |
Anonymous
Meh, I have a 2 year old and a 4 year old and they tend to stay up later in the summer since it stays light longer. We spend lots of time outside or inside just playing and when the weather is stormy or too hot then we do a little more tv. |
Anonymous
If the TV part is a must, I'd rather rearrange it and switch with the play time. |
Anonymous
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I have a 2 year old and a 9 month old and this is our schedule at night (I do it by myself every night):
5:30 - get home and immediately have dinner (already made ahead of time) 6:00 - 2 year old gets to watch a little TV while I get baby ready for bed, give bottle and get her to sleep (she is asleep by 6:15) 6:20-7:00 - we go outside to play, talk with neighbors, or walk the dog as long as the weather is nice (bring monitor with me and we basically walk up and down the street) 7:00 - come inside and take a bath and get into our pjs 7:15-7:45 - 2 year old gets to watch one show before bed and usually gets some milk 7:45 - upstairs for books and in crib by 8-8:15 for bed I was relying on a LOT more TV when the baby was little and more fussy. Now we have a pretty good routine down and we don't watch as much TV. |
Anonymous
| My kids are grouchy at that time of day too. I find that if they have an early dinner or healthy snack by 5 they behave much better. Can the nanny feed them dinner? That way you can just focus on them instead of cooking, and the 3 year old won't be hitting for attention. |
Anonymous
| They need to be given things to do (separate things to do) so they're distracted. One picks up all the books/toys, while the other rips lettuce for dinner or washes veggies to be cut or something. My girls are 4 and 5.5. I never hesitate to separate them. They don't watch any tv. |
Anonymous
| Too late of a bedtime, and too much TV are making them cranky. 9:30 is so so late for that age. It doesn't matter if it's light out and they can sleep in. It's creating bad habits for your whole family. |
Anonymous
PP here. That's fine to switch. I included tv because OP is already giving the kids access and she's trying to cut back. Going cold turkey might create more stress. |