Every afternoon after the school/kindy pickup we all walk in the door and everyone goes in to autopilot as we all follow the same routine and it saves so many fights, tears and dramas. It has always worked so well that today I thought I would share it with you all. Back when Mr 8 was in reception each night after school was a drama, he would be tired and hungry and hard to motivate. Then I’d have to start nagging, ‘where’s your lunch box’, ‘come do your reader’ etc. So I came up with the idea of an ‘After School Checklist’. I sat at the computer with him and let him think it was his idea, he suggested what needed to be done and I typed it up. It was stuck up on the wall in the kitchen and has been there ever since. When he would walk in the door he would read out each step and do what needed to be done. It worked so well that now he just does it without even being asked. Then when I get a hug I know everything is done!
Our After School Check List Reads like this:
1. Empty Lunch Box
2. Re-Fill Water Bottle
3. Put Book Pack and Lunch Box On The Bench
4. Bag Away
5. Hug Mum
Another thing to consider with regard to getting little school monsters motivated is they haven’t eaten since the middle of the day so their blood sugar levels are low and they may be feeling pooped. So get them in the habit of having an after school snack almost as soon as they walk in the door. Chopped watermelon is our favourite in summer, and winter it’s a boiled egg. I boil a few every other day and draw funny faces on them. The kids love them and have no idea they are eating a healthy vitamin and protein packed snack.
Work out what needs to be done after school in your home, have a go at getting your little monster to help you with a check list, stick it up somewhere where they will see it every afternoon and get them to read it out and do each step until it becomes autopilot. I promise it will omit all the after school tears, fights and stop you from ripping your hair out every afternoon.
Renee
What an absolutely fabulous idea! It is so simple and yet I can see how effective it can be. After school can be so stressful due to tired and hungry little ones! I am going to give this ago!! Cheers, mez
It works a treat!! Mine are trained now and I owe it all to my sneaky little After School Check List!!! R
HI,
I am writing from Sydney, and although my daughter is only 7, she has almost the exact routine as you have above.
She has been noticing the repetiveness of this lately, and has started to winge, but luckily now I can keep her focussed on the mission every afternoon with the checklist.
We are in the process of making a morning routine aswell. So much time is wasted on myself nagging at the kids, but occasionally they will surpise me with being fully dressed in the morning.
Cheers and thanks again,
Mariana
Thank you for the great feed back. Thanks for reading. R