What to do w/ toddler btw dinner and bedtime?

esposa38

So now that it is getting dark so early and we can't go to the playground or have a walk after dinner, I have these two hours to kill before bedtime.  DH doesn't get home till much later, and I am tired and edgy as it is by this time of day.  What do you do w/ your ~2y/o's after dinner and before bed?

mrsterry

TV
book
boardgames
wrestle

...basically whatever he wants to do

Starr_Mom

We run around the house and act like maniacs. It gets the rest of his energy out so he is ready for bed. If I am really tired, I set him up with some crayons and let him go to town. If that doesn't work, I resort to Blue's Clues. That always works.

zacook

dinner 5:30-6pm ish

then bath, pjs, play calmly, book, bed around 7:45

hikerbeth

We try to stay at the dinner table 'til sometime between 6:30 and 7 if possible.  Then we usually just play:  build towers, drive trains, run around, throw toys for the dogs (inside).  Occasionally we even run around the yard in the dusk/dark to get a little energy out.

AngelaSue

My kids play, watch TV to wind down for the night, give them a bath, read books.

KrisBriMcBunny

colorwonder markers to color. keeps her occupied for awhile...she is basically a great kid to keep herself entertained

femmegem

I usually follow his lead. He often wants to play by himself with blocks or some other toy, but sometimes he wants me to read him books or do something else with him. Totally depends on what he wants to do.

shaunie

Usually it's T.V., play/wrestle with DH or I, or play with his toys like he is doing right now.

SpartanGirl

We read, play games, wrestle with Daddy, play pillow fight - really whatever DD wants to do, within reason.  Some nights we cuddle and watch a movie.

marrymemylove

We try to go into bed routine straight from dinner partly why we keep dinner quite late (for him, we used to have it much later).

7pm dinner on the table

7:30 all done, start change diaper/potty pjs, tootbrush, reading

8:30 hopefully he's asleep in bed but sometimes we are still reading!

?I find letting him play or run around after dinner winds him up rather than wears him out. He's like me, he is tired but gets a second wind and just keeps going until 10pm when he'll drop like a stone (we had this happen while travelling). So running around after dinner is counterproductive for us. We try hard to stick to reading. Occasionally I'll resort to TV or a bath (other than on regular bath nights).

cbidt*sgirl

ds eats dinner with me and dh on the later side (7ish).  there isn't a lot of time for play after dinner.  he'll play with trucks with dh for a few minutes, read books on the potty, and then bath, story bed.