After-School Activities for Busy Families: Maximizing your time to get things done and have fun too!

If you sometimes feel like there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything you need to get done for your family, you’re not alone. With limited time and an unlimited to-do list, it can be a challenge to fit all of your family’s responsibilities into your schedule.

But fear not—there are ways to get it all done while having fun too! Planning ahead and combining enjoyable activities with your usual routine can ease the stress of trying to keep everyone on schedule. Including your children in the development of family routines will help them learn about the importance of planning ahead, weighing options and making good decisions. These are all skills that help them build resourcefulness and the ability to entertain themselves when mom or dad needs to focus on a grown-up task.

Below are a few tips to help start the process. No matter how hard it might feel to stop and plan, this is time well-spent that you will not regret.  It is guaranteed to make the time after school and work a better experience for everyone:

Develop a routine—and stick to it! Establishing a routine is key to making after-school time run smoothly! Include your children in the process of making your family’s after-school schedule so they understand what the goal is and they feel included in decisions that will affect them. Ask limited-choice questions like, “Would you prefer to read a story before or after your bath?” Once your family has agreed to a reasonable routine; document it so everyone can see. You can use a combination of pictures and words to stand for the different activities so the emerging readers in your family can follow the sequence. What’s most important is sticking to it as best you can for consistency. Once your child knows the routine and what to expect, nightly tasks like brushing teeth or picking a story for bedtime are more likely to run smoothly.

Don’t sacrifice healthy choices. Unhealthy snacking habits are easy to fall into, especially at the end of a long day. Try preparing a week’s worth of healthy snacks in advance—pre-chop and store veggies and fruit and in plastic containers so they are ready for eating and easily accessible right after school. Many grocery stores also sell pre-sliced cheeses, fruits, and vegetables for the healthy snacking even during the busiest of weeks. Maximize this time even more by leaving a basket of books or some paper and crayons near the table so your children can read or draw when their snacks are gone. This is a great way to keep your children occupied right after you get home!

Turn an everyday task into a game for you and your child. Consider turning the task of folding laundry into a matching game. Ask your child to sort the load of dry clothes by color. Make doing the dishes a blast by making up a song about silverware and plates! Using your creativity will help make the task seem less difficult will encourage your children to help around the house.

Incorporate physical activity into your routine. With all the running around you do, it can be easy to forget to set aside time for daily physical activity. One way to get in even a few minutes of physical activity is to host a “Family Dance Party” in the living room while dinner is in the oven. Put on a favorite song and show off those dance moves! Need more time before dinner? Invite each member of the family to select a favorite song. Another option is to make a game of creating a dance routine. Each family member takes a turn adding a new dance move or step and then the whole family tries to perform the routine from beginning to end.  Dancing is a great way to pass the time before dinner, while keeping the family active.  It’s also a healthy way to release pent up energy after a day at work and school!

Prepare for the next day. Being prepared for the next day is essential to saving time and eliminating stress in the morning. This is real time management and planning that can become a useful habit for life. Help your child pick out school clothes the night before then discuss the schedule for the next day. In addition, make sure any necessary bags are packed and forms are filled out so your family is prepared and ready to face the day ahead!

To learn more about Primrose School of Five Forks, visit our school campus at 3030 River Drive in Lawrenceville, www.PrimroseFiveForks.com or call 770.985.0028.

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