After-School Tips for Happy Kids
March 28, 2017This post is written by me on behalf of General Mills. All opinions are entirely my own. This shop has been compensated by Acorn Influence, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.
Now that both of my kids go to school most days of the week, I have developed an after-school routine that really works well for our family. From nutritious snacks like Yoplait to creative activities, I will be sharing how we generally spend our afternoon in a productive, well-balanced way.
After-School Tips for Happy Kids
1. Offer wholesome snacks.
There’s something about coming home from school that really revs up my kids’ appetites. However, I’m always looking for better-for-us snacks that are packed with wholesome nutrients. That’s why Yoplait yogurt is always on hand in my home!
To make sure I get a great everyday value on our Yoplait yogurt, I like to head to Walmart to pick up the Yoplait Fridge Pack in the Original Strawberry Mixed Berry flavor. I’m at Walmart at least once per week anyway to pick up various household essentials, so I always try to grab a Yoplait Fridge Pack while there.
Yoplait yogurt is a quick and easy snack solution that our whole family loves. Not only is the creamy taste of the yogurt absolutely delicious, but with 20% of the daily recommended calcium, it’s a snack I can feel good about feeding my family.
The goodness of dairy makes this snack a hit around here. I also love to enjoy one of these yogurts myself every day.
With 6 grams of protein and only 150 calories per serving, it’s a snack that fits into my lifestyle perfectly.
My daughter absolutely loves having some Yoplait yogurt when she comes home from school. It’s actually one of her favorite snacks of all time – and that is perfectly fine with me!
2. Encourage creativity.
After the kids have filled their bellies with a nutritious snack, we usually like to get creative together. We might whip out one of our favorite coloring books or we might do a paper plate craft with glitter. By doing a creative activity together, we keep boredom at bay and encourage their imaginations to run wild. I love it when my daughters explore their artistic sides.
3. Burn excess energy.
Before we start dinner or begin our bedtime routine, I always try to let my kids burn some excess energy. If it’s too cold or rainy outside, we will put on some music in the living room and dance together. If the weather is nice outside, we will often head outdoors and just play together. We might go to the playground or go on a nature walk (we collect sticks, leaves, etc for a craft session). I always like to give my daughters an opportunity to play outdoors, as it stimulates their physical, emotional and social development.
4. Chat about the day.
Another element of our after-school time together is chatting about our days. I always love learning about how my kids did in school, but I have learned over the years that there is a right and wrong way to ask them about their days. If I ask “how was your day?”, I’ll get “fine” at best. Here are some specific questions that are more effective at stimulating an interesting conversation:
- Who did you sit next to at lunch today?
- What was the best part of your day today?
- What surprised you the most today?
Open-ended questions like these have really been successful at jump-starting a productive conversation with my kids.
Now that you know what our after-school time looks like, I’d love to hear from you. What do you do with your kids after school? Does your family also enjoy the goodness of Yoplait yogurt every day?
I always have an after school snack ready for my boys when they get off the bus. They both come home STARVING!
I always have yogurt for my little one to snack on or to put in her smoothies. She loves it!
These are great tips for happy kids after school. A snack is something my boys always had after school. Yoplait Yogurt is was one of their favorite snacks. I used to take them to the park after dinner for them to get fresh air and burn excess energy. Thanks for sharing the tips.
This is for happy after school kids? Well I am going to make this for happy after school working woman (me)!
I love yogurt when I was a kid up until now. Flavored yogurt interest kids.
Wow! Great idea. I would love to try this for my kids. This looks yummy and delicious!
My kids are Yoplait addicts. I buy 30 a week, they eat one with every meal. It’s healthy so I can’t complain.
My daughter love yoplait, she’s the only one that eats it at home. Your little ones seem to love it too.
These are great ideas! My kids always have a snack and then if the weather is nice we almost always get outside. It helps them be focused to continue with the rest of the evening and any homework they do later.
I love yogurt, its such a great quick and healthy snack. Love how yoplait has so many flavors.
A great tips for happy kids after school! It looks so yummy! I’m sure kids will like it. I should try this.