Well my kids have always napped since they were babies.
It was just the routine.
But, if your child is not tired, then have quiet time.
Meaning, quiet.
They can do things, but quiet things.
But if your child is tired or over-tired, you need to know his cues, and then transition him, to nap. Making things quiet, calming things down, NO horseplay or hyper activities before nap. You have to set the stage, so to speak.
ALLOW him to key down. Toddlers need to wind-down first, before nap.
Not just instantly going down.
It takes about 1 hour.... of winding down.
Have lunch. Then have wind-down time. Tell him this "it is wind-down time, then nap."
My son liked to watch "Little Bear" before naps. It calmed him down. Its a cartoon by Maurice Sendak. Nice show.
ALSO, for my son, I make the physical activity stuff, in the MORNINGS. Always. Boys need to release pent-up physical activity and RUN around. It makes them tired, too. Then have an early lunch, before noon. (my son also will not nap if he has to poop), so I wait for him to poop after lunch, and then it is nap. Winding-down, and having a sequence about it. The SAME sequence everyday.
Factor in the wind-down time, into the actual nap time. In other words, don't wind-him down AT nap time. Do it PRIOR to nap time. 1 hour beforehand. So that, the actual nap time, does not get later and later. Then too late.
I also tell my kids, that MOMMY is having nap time too. And we ALL make quiet. In the afternoon. They KNOW that. Because it is routine. The SAME routine, every darn day.
Once a kid is OVER-tired, they get 'hyper' and then cannot fall asleep, nor sleep well, and they wake more and don't get a good solid sleep.
If you keep up a routine of it, then it is easier.
Granted, tweaks may happen. But keep to the routine and if all else fails, have a QUIET time, and make sure he knows that too. That is the alternative. To not, napping.
Once, you stop naps (and if the child still needs it), then it is very hard... to get back to naps.
Unless, your child just does not need naps, anymore.
But, gauge him well.
Each day will be different and per the child's energy level or levels of tiredness.
SO, on days he IS tired/over-tired, you need to still have a nap, routine.
I have always also, taught my kids that 'naps' are not a 'bad' yucky thing. It is important for their body, and it helps them grow and get stronger. So I don't frame 'naps' as a 'negative' thing. I tell them it is OKAY to say they are tired. It is not a punishment, but them knowing their body and that even adults, nap.
My son is 4 almost 5 and he still naps everyday in the afternoon. As he has gotten older, naps could be later. Per his age.
My daughter is 8 and she will still nap, IF she is tired. She will tell me.
Naps are always in the afternoons. Now. For both of them.
No battles about it.
Because it is routine.
My kids will even tell me sometimes, if they are tired and want to nap.
Toddlers do not nap at the same times they did as a baby.
Maybe, your child's naps are too early????