Your perfect after school checklist (that’s completely editable)

I’ve learned one major thing about picking my kids up after school.

I cannot – by any means – ask them in any sort of cheery voice, “How was your day?”

My nine-year-old daughter recently told me that for some reason that question produces this fiery rage inside of her. She can’t explain it, but it makes her so mad.

I asked my husband about it that night and he said that the question has too many expectations attached to it. If someone really wants to know about your day, they will ask you directly with no fake cheer.

The cheer places too much of a burden on having a happy answer in response and that’s all fake.

OK, I get it.

But then, I realize that the response to anything I ask my kids to do after-school is met with groans and whines.

Why? Are your kids like this too?

After a long day of being told exactly what to do:

where to sit…

how to talk…

the right way to hold a pencil…

I can see how more demands can push anyone over the edge. Especially, when the person making those demands is mom – the safest person to explode around.

Getting through the after-school grumble

Here’s where previously set expectations work perfectly. And you can do this super easily through an after-school checklist.

A checklist can help with:

• Homework organization
• After school chores
• Emptying out lunch boxes
• Making sure kids get a snack

All wonderful things.

But first, a quick word of warning:

The Same After School Checklist Won’t Work on every kid

The book, Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success by Brad Stulberg and Steve Magness, dissects what it takes for normal people to achieve extraordinary feats.

But you and I, can use this research to help our kids transition from school time to home is the easiest manner possible.

Have you heard of chronotypes?

You’ve probably heard them referenced in the phrases “night owl” and “early bird”. They are not urban myths, but documented real types of people.

It’s based on whether you function best early in the morning (a lark) or late at night (an owl).

When we design our kids after-school routine, or even their schedule in general, they will function best if their chronotype is taken into account.

Is my kid a lark or an owl?

To determine your child’s chronotype, or yours, Stulberg and Magness suggest you ask these questions:

• If you had complete control over your evening with no reason to wake up early, what time would you go to sleep?
• If you have to do 2 hours of hard work, when would you like to do it?
• If you have to take a 2-hour school test that you know will be hard, when would you choose to take the test?

Making the After School Checklist

Now, we get into the good stuff.

My two kids are complete opposite chronotypes – my daughter is an owl while my son is a lark. While my daughter will complete most, if not all or her tasks immediately after school, my son chooses to leave some things for the next morning.

Which is fine because he usually wakes up at 5:30am EVERY SINGLE morning.

They can still use the same after school checklist, but don’t need to complete it at the same time.

First, we sit down and brainstorm together exactly what needs to be done after school.

Do this step with your kids so that they have ownership over the process.

Some ideas are:

• Unpack backpack
• Take out homework folder and box
• Do homework in kitchen/ office/ desk.
• Check homework with mom/ dad/ grandma.
• Change out of school clothes
• Get snack
• Do homework
• Make lunch for tomorrow
• Count supplies in homework box and put backpack

Notice that you want to not only designate what you want done but also how you want it done.

• If your child needs to do homework, where should she do it?
• If he needs to have his homework checked, who should he check it with?

Your perfect after-school checklist

I’ve created an after-school checklist absolutely free for you to download  RIGHT HERE.

The best thing is that it’s completely editable. So if some of the items don’t apply to your family, simply change them and print yourself a new copy.

GRAB YOURS RIGHT HERE!

Your after school routine can be so much easier! All it takes is having a set procedure for kids to complete when they get home. An after-school checklist helps with that.

And if you want more help with homework and after school organization, check out:

• 3 Steps to Create an Awesome Bedtime Routine For Your Kids
• 6 Genius Ways to Wake Up Kids For School without Yelling
• The one tip you need to master your kid’s homework organization

Recommended Posts

First Month of School Checklist

Organize Your Kid’s School Papers like a Boss

How to give your kids criticism (so they’ll actually listen)

How to get family to help around the house (when they’ve been doing nothing)

Back to School Morning Routine Checklist

When it’s OK to Negotiate with your Kid’s Tantrum

Beach Day Checklist and Tips