After school ideas to wind down/relax

DD is in kindergarten and comes home so wound up. I know it's a long day and she's tired but after school lately has been chaos. She alternates between screaming and crying so I want to try and find some things we can do to help her release some of the pent up energy from the day. Some afternoons she has sports, and I've also taken her to classes at the library but sometimes the rush of getting out of the house to get somewhere seems to make it worse. Besides TV, any other suggestions of things we can do at home for just half hour or hour after school to kind of relax/reset? Anything specific that your child does after school? Thanks!

After school ideas to wind down/relax

My DD just started K. It's her first time having full day school and she's tired when she gets home. She doesn't want to sleep, but she is cranky. She never has trouble waking up, but I made her bedtime a little earlier and I think it's helped the afternoons. When she gets home, she is also hungry so I have something ready for her to eat. She usually sits with the iPad or watches TV while she eats. I've tried getting her to lay down for a little while, but she doesn't want to do that. I only signed her up for one weeknight activity (dance) so far.

Re: After school ideas to wind down/relax

DD likes to have a snack as soon as she gets home and watch a little TV,
Then she just free plays with her toys/dolls for a bit

Re: After school ideas to wind down/relax

When DS was in Kindergarten I did the same as PP's. Get off the bus, have a snack and drink while watching TV and then after a half hour show or so then move on to something else. Homework then art, play outside, activities, play date, etc.
I don't think there's anything wrong with sitting and watching TV. They need it after hours in school.

Re: After school ideas to wind down/relax

Re: After school ideas to wind down/relax

Let her run outside, ride her bike, swing on the swing set. The kids are expected to sit for way too long and they need to just have some free time to run loose. I find that if my girls go out when they get home, the rest of the evening is waaaaay better.

Re: After school ideas to wind down/relax

Maybe coloring or play dough?

After school ideas to wind down/relax

There was an article published recently that said Kindergarten kids get wound up when they get home because of lots of pent-up energy from being "good" all day. I have to find it.
Because my twins come home from K very wired, excited, cranky, moody, dizzy, silly
I found that leaving them alone to play or watch iPads has been the best way. They hate when I bombard them with questions or demands.

Re: After school ideas to wind down/relax

http://www.stillplayingschool.com/2014/08/after-school-behavior.html

Link to article

Message edited 10/14/2017 12:51:42 AM.

After school ideas to wind down/relax

My DD is the same way. I send her right out into the yard to play for a bit. She needs to get out that energy.

After school ideas to wind down/relax

my DS is in 1st grade, but i find he's still like this after school. Even more so because in K, they still had some free-play time every day built into the schedule (in addition to recess) but in 1st grade they don't.
I find the best thing for him is to give him his snack, and let him watch netflix or play games on his iPad for a half hour or so after school. he winds down, then we go outside or he and my younger DS play inside or whatever. THEN while DH or I cook dinner, the other one of us helps him with his homework.
its definitely a crazy couple hours between school and bedtime though!!!