Should I *make* ds be an outdoor child?

[emat]

dd (6.9) and ds (4.6) are so different! Dd wants to be outdoors all the time. She hates to be indoors.
Ds loves being at home. When he comes in from playschool he often says. 'I love my house. I love being here with you.'
I try to get fresh air into him every day and he walks to and from school everday (1 mile) and then cycles to pick up dd every day (2 miles). We also usually go for a walk in the afternoon or play in the cul de sac but he's often asking when we can go back home where I know he's happiest.
People's reaction to ds saying he wants to be at home is a pitying one, as if they feel sorry for me to be landed with him. Is being an outdoor type really that great and being an indoor type really that awful?
dh and ds love to go hill-walking at the weekends and dh's almosts tuts when ds says he doesn't want to go.
So should I make him go outside and play?

[RosaLuxembourg]

No I don't see why you should - it sounds like he gets plenty of fresh air and exercise in the normal course of events so why make him play outside when he prefers to be inside. What purpose would it serve? There is nothing morally superior about being an 'outdoor type' and he is entitled to his preferences, regardless of other people's opinions. It almost sounds like you need permission to stand up for him - do you feel he is being pressured into becoming something he is not? If so, follow your gut instinct and give him the space to develop his own interests and not the interests other people think he OUGHT to have.

[emat]

I think you're right, Rosa. I shouldn't be made think that being outside is always better than being in and then transferring that onto him.

[Cappuccino]

oooh I hate outside

always have done

my dd always wants to go to the damn park

your ds sounds great. I would like to exchange him for my dd if this is possible. Please cat me to arrange this.

[franca70]

Lol cappuccino! I hate going to the park. I hate the wind.

[fennel]

Maybe leave it til the weather is more enticing if you want to get him into more outdoor things. My dds can be very wussy in winter (they are particularly resistant to DP's enthusiasm for going to the beach on windy cold days) but quite enthusiastic if it's warm and sunny.

[emat]

unfortunately, Cappuccino I'm like you and I have the same problem with my dd. She's pulling on hiking boots and waterproofs and looking up maps while ds and I are thinking of lighting the fire and having a hot chocolate.

[franca70]

and I'm fighting against my very indoorsy (and lazyness) nature, and get the children to embrace the great outdoors...

[CMJ]

My 5 year old DD loves being indoors - she loves doing her own thing sometimes; or we play a game/jigsaws/colouring in/craft stuff together, or she watches a DVD/TV......esp if the weather is cold. She is sociable at school and joins in the playground games etc but just liks her own space to herself as well.