We never really had time to go out between nap and dinner when DS still had a nap but DS always needed something physical. Here's a few of the things we enjoyed:
- mark out a track (line) of tape on the floor from one room to another and run the track like a train/car
- mark out big shapes on the kitchen floor (masking tape or bath crayons which wash off easily) then do a fast game of running/jumping/hopping (he couldn't hop though) to each shape as you call them out.
- as above shapes, leave a basket of shapes in the living room, shout out a shape and he runs to fetch it and bring it back to the kitchen to place in the correct shape (this game with colours, numbers, letters, animals, blocks, toy fruits/foods etc depending on LO's interests)
- make queues/lines of cars/small world characters - again from one room to another so he would run get a person run back line it up, run get another person, run lined it up.
- play toddler band with musical instruments. Basket of instruments in the living room, we each pick one, then head off to the kitchen (it's our longest walk without heading upstairs) singing and playing our shakers/guitar etc. DS often jogged to burn off excess energy. This is an after dinner fav. ten mins to wear off his last bit of energy before bed time hour begins.
- assault course made from sofa cushions, little chair, big chair, crawl under table, through chair legs, throw a sock ball into a basket, slither on belly, jump 5 times etc.
- wrestling and balancing on mummy. Lots of rolling around on the carpet, arm pushes, body pushes, this also teaches rules of wrestling to stay safe and not hurt anyone (this is another one DS does just before BT rather than after nap, it's like he knows he needs to get rid of his final bit of energy so his body can relax in bed).
- hide and seek mixed up with chase/tig. Or just chase, we just run after one another until he's shattered.
There are some ideas here too
Physical Activity (To Tire Out) When Cold/Dark Outside - Ideas?
