Author Heidi Hill, in her book Fit Family, recommends dancing as a great exercise option:

“Parents of young children know that those early evening hours, after dinner and before bed, can be tiresome. Kids might have a ton of energy or no energy. You’re eager to enjoy them after a long day and they’re not exactly enjoyable. 

Why not try a little dancing? When I turn on the radio at home, my one-year-old starts spinning around to the music while my four-year-old flies around the kitchen table, down the hall, into the living room. The music immediately gets them moving. It’s contagious. I stop washing dishes and twirl around myself, spin one girl, then the other. We’re having a good time, but the song ends or we tire of the same moves. It’s made me appreciate the creativity and energy that good dance instructors bring to their classrooms. But as noted earlier, some props and even a question like “What would you like to dance about?” can stretch a session into a whole new series of twists and turns. My older daughter often has a lot of energy at night and bedtime takes a while. Often a good solution is some dancing then some relaxing.” 

For parents with newborns, the blogger, Workout Mommy, recommends a new DVD called Lullaby Exercises. 

She says, "It gets you up and moving while being able to hold your little one close.   My firstborn was very cranky and I spent many a night walking the floor, wondering how to get him to just stop crying. I know this DVD would  have been just what I needed; the swaying and dancing to the music would have been good for both of us." (more)

Here's a link to some dances for kids.

photo by mikebaird