Introduction
Creating a routine has helped bring more peace and structure to our home. With two young kids, school schedules, homework, tutoring on certain days, and family time, evenings can easily feel overwhelming. Over time, we finally found a rhythm that works for our family, and I wanted to share our simple evening routine and what our weekends usually look like.
Our Weekday Evening Routine (Monday – Thursday)
Park Time After School
After school, my kids usually play at the park next door for about 30–45 minutes. This gives them a chance to burn off energy after a long school day. It also allows the traffic to settle down in our neighborhood and gives me a chance to mingle with some of my mom friends.
Bike and Scooter Time
Once we get home, my kids love riding their bikes and scooters outside until it’s time for homework or my daughter’s tutoring session. This also gives me a little time to get organized and start prepping dinner.
Her tutoring starts at 4:30 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Homework and Reading Time
While my daughter is in tutoring, I spend time helping my son with:
- Homework
- Spelling practice
- Reading
This quiet time together helps him stay focused and gives us a chance to connect.
When my daughter isn’t tutoring, I still help my son with his lessons, and my daughter spends time reading her chapter books after finishing her homework.
Showers and Dinner
After homework, we move into our evening wind-down routine:
- Showers
- Dinner together as a family
Family dinners are important in our home because they allow us to slow down and talk about our day.
Family Game Time
After dinner, we usually play a family game together.
My kids especially enjoy playing quiz games on YouTube. One of our favorite channels is Quiz Cow, which has different types of general knowledge quizzes.
Some of the games include:
- Don’t Say the Same Thing
- Name Something Associated With a Certain Letter
- Math quizzes
- Other fun challenge games
This is one of our favorite parts of the evening because it gives us a chance to laugh and bond before bedtime.
Wind Down and Bedtime
After game time, the kids are allowed to use their tablets until 8:30 PM. They brush their teeth and then get ready for bed.
While the kids are on their tablets, I usually clean up and then spend about 15 minutes outside on the porch swing with no distractions, just listening to nature and enjoying the quiet.
Around 8 PM, the kids also talk to their dad to tell him about their day.
Having a consistent bedtime helps them get the rest they need for school the next day.
Our Friday Routinue (Fast Food Friday)
Fridays are a little more relaxed in our house.
The kids play at the park next door again, and then we usually enjoy Fast Food Friday as a treat Fridays are a little more relaxed in our house.
The kids play at the park next door again, and then we enjoy Fast Food Friday as a treat after the school week. Each week one of the kids gets to pick where we eat, and the other child picks the following week.
When we get home, we usually:
- Take showers
- Relax
- Enjoy a laid-back evening
It’s our way of celebrating making it through the week.
Our Weekend Family Routine
Weekends look a little different because my husband is off weekends.
Saturday Family Time
On Saturdays we usually spend time doing activities together as a family.
Sometimes we go to Circus Circus to play arcade games, visit trampoline or jumping parks so the kids can burn off energy, or spend time at the park playing kickball or letting them enjoy the playground.
Sometimes the kids also spend the night with my mother-in-law. The next day she takes them to my father-in-law’s house so they can spend time with him and their cousins, which they always enjoy.
Date Nights and Self-Care
While the kids are with my mother-in-law, my husband and I use that time to reconnect.
Sometimes we go out to dinner, spend time out together, or just relax at home.
On Sundays before we pick up the kids, we sometimes have a day date or go to the library together to work on our homework.
It’s important for us to practice self-care and stay present in our marriage, not just as parents but as partners.
Preparing for the School Week
BBy Sunday evening we start preparing for the week ahead.
This usually includes:
- Getting the kids ready for school
- Organizing backpacks
- Planning meals
- Settling back into our routine
Having this preparation time helps Monday mornings run more smoothly.
Conclusion
Every family’s routine looks different,but having a structure has helped our home feel calmer and more connected. Our evenings are not perfect, but they give us time to spend time together, support our kids, and stay present as a family.
