The hours between school and dinner go better with a routine kids can follow on their own. This after-school routine checklist sets the order: unpack, snack, homework, then free time.
A snack, unpacking the bag, homework, some free play and getting ready for tomorrow — roughly in that order. A predictable order means fewer reminders from you.
Should homework come before play?
It depends on the child; some focus better after burning off energy for half an hour. Try both for a week, then reorder the saved checklist to match what works.