In the six years I have been a parent I have come up with some great ways to get children into bed without tears, histrionics or shouting - at least MOST nights.

Of course, there will be some days where your children are more tired than others, but learning to go with the flow will help everyone feel better about the situation.

I used to try and cook a hot dinner for the children every night. I often ended up getting angry with the children because they would not behave while I was cooking. This obviously was not a routine that worked well for our family!

The children now have their main meal at lunchtime and a more casual meal most nights. Sometime they just have sandwiches, chopped fruit and vegetables. Another easy dinner idea is super quick sushi - sushi rice with chopped vegetables and meat stirred through it. Cold, easy to prepare foods can also work well at dinnertime.

Try not to work, do household tasks, or answer the phone during this time. Doing these things when you are trying to unwind your children can just cause tension and stress. Leave a pen and paper ready to catch any ideas or work notes you need to remember, and concentrate on the children.

Try to switch from work mode before you walk in the door, and enter prepared to focus on your family. You will benefit from the break, and it will allow you to be more productive when you return to work.

If you plan to eat later in the evening, use your children's dinner time to eat a healthy snack. This is a good time to model appropriate behaviour, wind down, and talk to your children.

The Zoo Hour can be a wonderful time to bond with your child. Use the time to have plenty of cuddles, read books together, and share each other's day. Zoo time only becomes a disaster if you focus on your needs and not those of your children.

Article by Rachel Goodchild

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