Older kids are hard. You have to have the right ones and they have to be able to get along with each other.

Have you asked them for suggestions on what they'd like to do?

Are they old enough to have homework? Can you put them in different parts of the house and work on their reading or something?

As far as the walk goes... that's just safety... I'd get out the skipping rope and tell them if they can not walk together then they will have to hold onto the rope like the little kids do. It's your job to keep them safe and that's what you intend to do.

Or, can you bring a snack on the walk, they might be slower if they have a yogurt freezy or a granolla bar or a cookie etc.

Something that helps my kids is I ask them "Tell me one favorite thing you did at school today" They all get a turn to speak. It makes them feel special individually and teaches respect to listen to one another.

I hope something works... I have one before after school and it's not my favorite day when she's here. Lucky for me she get's along with my daughter and they often go off and play until mom comes to pick up.