Repost from Parenting - afternoon PreK

DS is in PreK in the afternoon classes 5 days a week. I noticed some moms I'm friendly with do activities with their LO before school since it doesn't start till 1PM (he gets picked up from the bus at 12:45).

DS is not good with too much activities before school. He's ok after, but by then it's already almost 4 so I sign him up for stuff on the weekends. I think it's great one mom I'm friendly with has her daughter in cooking class, swim lessons and gymnastics. I just have tried some things with DS and those days he has something before school he hates getting on the school bus, will cry and is off that day. Not every time, but most. Twice a week his 2 yr old brother goes to school so after we drop him off we'll go to library to pick out books or shopping or other errands.
With the weather getting nicer I plan on going to the park, but again I will do it after.

Anyone have a similar situation? My friend who has her daughter in everything asks what we do then, but since I work from home we play games, basement, go outside when it's nice and that's about it besides errands when his brother is in school.
We also do play dates once a week, but with kids from the bus so they can go on together. If he has a playdate with someone who isn't on his bus, but in his class he still gets upset leaving them no matter how much I explain to him he'll see them soon. Ugh!

Re: Repost from Parenting - afternoon PreK

My son is in afternoon pre-K. He doesn't do much before school. He's with my parents every day, so that might be a factor, but school IS his activity for that day.

Now that it's getting nicer out, the kids are playing outside for 45 min to an hour, after they've had breakfast at my parents. Then it's nap time for my DD and school for my DS.

After school, my DS might run errands with my father, as in going to Lowes, the library, car wash, etc. But most days he's back at home playing. Now that the weather is finally getting better, he'll "help" with the yard work and gardening. It sounds like child-labor, but it's more like giving him a shovel and bucket and letting him dig in the dirt!

Re: Repost from Parenting - afternoon PreK

We have a routine after his siblings get on the bus we go to the gym. When we get home he colors, watches a little TV, plays with his toys while I shower. I make him lunch and we sit and talk about what we think school will be like that day. He's off to school at 12:15pm. It works out well because it's a daily routine so he knows what to expect.

Re: Repost from Parenting - afternoon PreK

Thanks for the responses. Now with the weather nicer I've been taking him out earlier to play, ride his bike, etc. He's ok with that. We also color, watch some tv or play games on the iPad. He'll play toys in the basement too and do a play date. Like the pp said.. Just stay routine bc that's what he expects. My boys also help with yard work. It's usually 5 minutes of moving stuff around with a rake and then he's board and playing on the swingset. Pok

Re: Repost from Parenting - afternoon PreK

There "activity" has been going to the gym in the mornings and what ever errands I needed to do. At one point I did Karate and it was fine.