Nearly 4 yo ds not keen on exercise

[ballbaby]

Ds1 has always been quite reserved and not one to boistrously run about. He also doesn't really like walking so I got a double buggy (to make things easier for me) when ds2 was born. He's so anti-walking sometimes I think it must be painful for him, although I get him measured for shoes regularly.

Today we went to our leisure centre and I found a new game of rolling a hoop and he would chase after it. Trouble is all the other kids got there first!!! His running is really slow.

I remember sports days at school because I was always last in the races so I know where he gets it from! I was hoping he'd get his dads genes!

Would like to get him more interested in running/exercise - anyone tried this with their kids and any good ideas?

[LadyMuck]

How about swimming?

[ballbaby]

He likes swimming and is pretty good at it and we tend to do it a lot on holiday but not every week. Dh does shift work so when I'm off work at weekend he often isn't and I can't take both ds's on my own.

[rarrie]

Can you not sign him up for a class in something? Doesn't matter what it is, and let him try 101 different things until he finds something he likes, but it is good for self esteem as well as health. There's lots out there - football, judo etc etc.

My DD (3) does ballet and she is absolutely hopeless at it, but she loves it and she doesn't seem to notice that she's the only girl in her class who can't hop / skip etc! Just let them find something they like and the rest will fit into place!

[helenhismadwife]

what about gymbobs its like tumble tots for older kids it might increase his confidence etc

[wheresthehamster]

Have you thought of trampolining?
Our local sports centre does a Kangaroo club for ages 2- 5 where the children can either just jump up and down or learn to do basic routines.
My children started this way and then decided they'd like to do proper lessons.