Leaving house with 3.5 year old

[ZoZoeee123]

Hi,

This might sounds silly but I'm finding it really difficult to leave the house with my 3.5 year old. We do a couple of groups which he loves when he gets there but when I say we are going he says he doesn't want to and I am literally having to drag him out of the door to go. Sometimes this is impossible as I can't physically pick him up so we end up missing loads. He has been doing this for a few months now. Even if it's something like soft play or the park he often says no and doesn't want to leave the house. It's really strange as he loves these things when he is actually out! Sometimes we have the same performance when we have to leave. Does anyone have any tips? I don't really want to start bribing him to get in the car and sometimes that doesn't work anyway! I give him notice that we will be leaving rather than just springing it upon him but nothing seems to work. I don't want to be trapped in the house all day!

Thank you x

Tricky.

Does he dislike some of his outdoor clothes perhaps? Are his shoes uncomfortable?

My DS is the same age and faffs constantly when I'm trying to get us out of the house. I think they are just fighting us for control at this age.

What works for me is giving him some independence (like letting him press the button to open the car), a race (do you think we can get there before your friend, quick run to the car so we don't get wet), choices (are you wearing the space coat or the vehicle one). None of them suggest the plan is optional but they all peak his interest to get him out of the house! I certainly wouldn't be asking if he wanted to go as that would definitely be a no 😂

Also, countdowns to when it's time to leave (5 more minutes then we're heading home, 2 more minutes, 1 more minute, times up - put the toys back for someone else to play with then we'll go, can you help me find our car). Again not optional, I'm not asking I'm telling.

My son can be similar and I agree with @ThatMintMembertips. It’s quite exhausting. ‘Are we going in buggy or on scooter’ ‘who’s going to press the button on the life mummy or you’ ‘do you want to hold your umbrella or the big stick you collected yesterday!’ etc.
I also don’t really allow tv much so he’s not got much to stick him to the sofa.

Previous two PP are spot on imo. I've had this twice over now as my elder 2 are both older. I actually now find my 7yo much harder to get out the house than my 4yo because everything is "just a minute" x 100000 with the eldest!

Just wanted to say thank you everyone for your replies. Really useful thanks. Seems to be getting better so fingers crossed!

I start putting my shoes/coat on and pretend to open the door and she swiftly changes her mind and wants to come with me lol

Manhandle. Honestly. If you had to do the school run and get another child to/from school, your preschooler wouldn't get a say in the matter, you would simply have to leave the house. It's no different going to activities, except you don't have to go. However, if you never go then you and your child are not getting out of the house, which isn't great for either of you.