Okay, Mama, now that you’re holding your phone and scrolling through it, let me just quickly say welcome to a brand-new week. Would you believe me if I told you that I’m already prepping my mind and energy for what’s ahead? I mean, if you are raising three hyperactive kids far from home in a foreign country, while building a business and managing a busy schedule with no village nearby to lean on, then you already understand that long stretch from kindergarten pickup to bedtime, and how incredibly heavy that quiet, long afternoon lag can feel inside a small apartment. But I’m choosing not to stress. Instead, I am keeping things simple, letting them flow naturally, and relying on our everyday household spaces. So keep reading to see the exact survival list I am using to keep my three girls and myself calm and happy in our apartment this week.
How do stay-at-home moms survive the Long Afternoon?
As a stay-at-home mom raising three girls in Germany with no village, getting through the afternoon can feel impossible sometimes, especially on days I’m moving on low to no energy at all, and it can be exhausting. But, over time, I’ve learned that I don’t need to entertain my children every minute and that all I need is to gently shift the mood and energy of the afternoon which might mean going out to our tiny balcony for ten minutes of water play, or riding our bikes to the playground for some fresh air, sometimes, and other days it might simply mean pulling out a simple game at our dining table while I catch my breath. So, for me, surviving the long afternoon isn’t about having endless activities at my disposal, but knowing how to reset the mood before everything starts to unravel.
Before we dive into my list, make sure to grab your copy of the Free Long Afternoon Planner so you can map out your own stress-free week with my library of relief!
Surviving the Long Afternoons
1. Check Your Own Capacity First: Before you begin anything, take a deep breath and assess your current energy levels before reacting to what’s ahead of you, because knowing your limits helps you decide whether to choose a high-energy outdoor trip or a low-key indoor activity.
2. Utilise Low-Prep Printable Activities: I like to keep ready-to-play printables in my back pocket for the days I want something instant. I like to create challenges where we are checking off boxes on our challenge list, and I’ve found that having a visual bucket list like this keeps my girls motivated and gives us a clear goal to smash when they start crying about how bored they are.
3. Turn Daily Chores Into a Cooperative Game: Yes, really! I’ve found that bringing my kids into my daily chores completely takes away that restless, bored feeling they usually have. Not only does it keep them occupied, but it also gives me a little extra help around the house. I always say it’s my way of killing two birds with one stone, because while they’re happily sorting the laundry and stuffing the washing machine, I’m getting through my to-do list much faster. Also, my girls genuinely enjoy it, so what could have been a boring chore turns into a fun little cooperative game for all of us.
4. Change the Scenery with a Bike Ride: The absolute best way to break up the draggy afternoon lag is to burn off that post-kindergarten/school energy before we lock ourselves inside the apartment. I load them up, and we take a family bike ride straight to our local Spielplatz (playground) to get some fresh air.
5. Create a Doodle and paint activity: I like to save those massive cardboard boxes from our latest Amazon Germany delivery for activities like this, and lay them flat on our balcony floor. I’ll draw simple outlines with black markers, and then give my kids “popsicle paints” (just water mixed with paint or food colouring frozen in ice cube trays with popsicle sticks!). It is cold, sensory, and it keeps them busy for ages.
If you don’t have standard food dyes on hand, I really like this RUF Food Colouring Pack on Amazon.de because the colours are highly vibrant and wash out easily.
6. Host an Inspired Story and Craft Time: Doing storytime mixed with craft allows us to slow down the fast, up-and-down energy in the house. So we have a little cosy corner in the kids’ bedroom where we curl up together for a story, followed by a quick craft or any fun activity (sometimes I let my kids choose what they would like to do) based on the story.
These are the books we are currently reading. If you’re looking for storytime books to read to your kids, you can start with our growing library of beautiful classics, such as Peter Pan. And if you don’t have the basic craft supplies to bring the story to life, these are the materials we come back to over and over again.
7. Wind Down with a Family Movie Session: I like to do this particular one on Fridays, because it’s the end of a chaotic week and the start of a restful weekend. So I put on an engaging, family-friendly movie that all three children can enjoy together, and I’ve found that it creates a calm, shared experience that allows all of us to rest.
8. Strategic and Limited Screen Time: On my solo-parenting days, especially, I allow a small, intentional window of screen time for my kids, and I don’t feel guilty about it. What I don’t do is use it as the solution, but rather as part of the village I’ve created over for myself here to help me through the afternoon with my kids. Also, choosing high-quality educational shows that are sometimes interactive, like Ms Rachel, gives me a guilt-free break to relax on my bed before I start preparing dinner.
Take this to go
Surviving the afternoon with kids (for me, it’s three kids) is about finding those small pockets of peace to bridge the gap until dinner time and bedtime. So it really doesn’t matter whether you choose to reset the mood with fresh air at the park or get creative with a quick printable; what matters is giving yourself grace, because every family has days where they just need to survive, and God knows we are trying our very best.
Over to you: What is your absolute go-to for making it through the very hot afternoon hour? Let me know in the comments below!
We’re in this together
Also, remember that you don’t have to do it all alone. Enter your email below to download your Free Long Afternoon Planner and unlock instant access to my relief library to download the exact printables, guides, and tips I’m using with my three girls to survive the long afternoons here in Germany as an expat mom.
