To want to help my child have a "can do" attitude

[NoIDontWatchLoveIsland]

DS is 3. Lately I notice his response to almost any request/suggestion is to say "I can't do it!!" And cry in frustration.

This applies even to things he's completely competent at. As a parent I am struggling as i find this defeatist attitude really worrying - he won't just "have a go" at anything. It's not something I recognise as I'm the sort of person that will try things and happily enjoy sports or games even if I'm not that good at them etc

I'm trying to ensure I don't ask him "can you do x" but phrase it as "shall we try x" etc.

I don't expect a lot from him right now (he is 3!) But does anyone have tips as to how I can encourage the foundations of a more positive/improvement mindset? I feel it's a good skill as children go through education and is one part of being resilient etc.

Dd (now 5) was leaning this way, not helped as she finds academic stuff very easy. I enrolled her in an activity that she really has to persist at in order to improve, but that she really really wanted to do. In her case it was trampolining (proper coaching, not just at one of the play places) but I told her that if she suled I would cancel. She's much more able to 'have a go' now, and her teacher even commented at parents evening that she is able to give things a try

That's a good approach! I will have a think if there's any activity like that that he would want to persevere at. I'm hoping he will realise that if he tries he will improve.