5 year old doesn't want to do anything...

[DadPlaysItCool]

So, I'm looking for any thoughts on this...
It seems very hard to motivate our son to do stuff sometimes. Not in a way that he is lazy. But for example... His Nan wanted to take him to the cinema recently. We asked him if he wanted to go a week before. He said yes... However on the day, he kept saying "I don't want to go" didn't matter how appealing we made it sound.(the promise of ice cream etc) he just didn't want to go. We had tears etc... Another time we was looking for activities to do during school term break... Indoor climbing, swimming... We got more "I don't want to"...
I'm stuck between wondering if he has some sort of social anxiety issues. Although there are no other signs of this. He is fine at school, generally outgoing etc... Or whether he is just lazy... And whether we need to just push him into doing stuff...
Thank you.

Are you giving him enough down time? I'm guilty of rushing my ds from one activity to another "having fun" until he practically begs for a chill out day. I think school does wear them out so maybe he's craving a few days I his pyjamas watching tv?

One of my DC is a little younger than yours but similar Dad. I struggle to get him to do things I know he enjoys like Park, lunch out, feed the ducks etc. He gets plenty of time to relax, play, watch TV at home.

He can be a little anxious in his personality type. I also think he doesn’t like the winter so I’m hopeful things will improve come the better weather.

No solutions for you but I do get how frustrating it can be

My 3.5 year old is like this. It is really difficult constantly trying to cajole him to go out. Today he didn't want to go swimming, but once we got there he had a great time. Like your DS, I don't think he has social anxiety as he does enjoy going to nursery, and loves going to birthday parties and to see family (these are basically the only things that it is easy to get him out of the house for).

I think it is partly a winter thing, and am hoping it will improve in the next few months. Aside from that, what has helped me a bit is to have a routine of what we are doing each day. eg. Monday is soft play, Tuesday is library or whatever. At least then he knows in advance what is happening, and means I can usually get him to go out once per day. Could you get your DS to choose one activity that he can do every week? Maybe the routine will make it easier for him to go, rather than one-off activities.

One thing I have picked up on recently, is that DS just wants to play all the time. So I think he wants to go places where there are toys, or other children, to play with. Hence going shopping, and even things like swimming, aren't that exciting for him right now. That said, he is a bit younger than your DS.

Appreciate the responses. thank you guys.

My 5 year old DS is exactly like this. I could have written your post! Given the choice of going out anywhere - to park / swimming / shops / walk / anything at all - he will refuse 95% of the time. It’s always been difficult to prise him out, but I don’t think it’s related to social anxiety - he’s a little shy but has friends at school. He’d just always rather be at home (although like others here when we do force him out he generally has a good time). No solutions I’m afraid, just empathy! I have instigated a rule though that he doesn’t get any screen time until we’ve been somewhere and that if we stay home he has to entertain himself at least part of the day.