What should I do with my lazy arsed 3.5 year old

[handlemecarefully]

I despair. We abandoned the buggy about 9 months ago, and yet still when we are required to walk even the most trifling distance we get " I'm tired" (hunches over theatrically and trails his knuckles along the ground for emphasis)"Carry me"

I always refuse and never give in. He will then thrown himself down in a stage managed way like a proper thespian, and sit down on the pavement and sulk. I then walk off crying "Bye then" and he drags himself to his feet, crying and whining and walking very slowly in my wake.

It is so very wearing. I've never been a great one for patience as it is

For a while I wondered if he had energy dips and started to give him healthy snacks between meals - that had no effect other than to put him off lunch and dinner

How can I make him a better walker?

Buy one of those pedal-less wooden bikes. Dd2 (3.7) was a really walking refusenik with her it was a windup as much as tiredness, and was worse than you describe inasmuch as she will not fall for the "Mummy walking off saying, 'bye then'" routine she would resolutely stay sitting on the pavement even if we went round the corner, or would call our bluff by walking out into the the traffic.

But she loves her likeabike (or rather her £30 rip-off one from Lidl), will happily scoot along the pavements, has learnt to stop at corners and will happily do the trip to ds's school which is a stiff 20-minute adult walk up a steep hill.

I'd give it a year or so (I quite like this site, only popped in at Jim;s request...)

Ummm yes - there's a thought. I will have to square it with dd though (5 yrs) - she may also want to take her bike...although, thinking about it; no reason why she shouldn't I suppose

Well very pleased to have your input Mr Davidson's lawyer

Mine rides a bike a lot too (one with pedals), but that doesn't help in town though.

We talk, a lot, as a distraction. We also swing a cuddly toy betwen us, which gets you some funny looks but keeps dd moving...

My mother tells me she got me along by counting doors, spotting red cars, singing songs, etc. A lovely childminder I know plays "traffic lights". They run when you shout "Green" they stop when you shout "Red" 10 yards later.

Worth a go but I've still done my fair share of carrying

You have my sympathy - exactly the same age, exactly the same problem. At least it's not just me!

Worse because pushing DS2 in buggy so DS1 keeps trying to sit on him.

He will run around non stop and mess about if I want him to be still....

I wonder if the fact we live in a tiny village and have to drive everywhere (even pint of milk and playgroup 2 miles away) means he's just not used to walking. Friends who live in towns/use public transport a lot seem to have better "trained" offspring.

In the summer we used to go for a short walk up the road after tea, just to practise, that was good but too dark now.

Will try the bike idea too.

"I wonder if the fact we live in a tiny village and have to drive everywhere (even pint of milk and playgroup 2 miles away) means he's just not used to walking. Friends who live in towns/use public transport a lot seem to have better "trained" offspring. "

Grannyslippers - I have this to an extent. We are in rural location so do a lot of driving.

I have to drive to school in the mornings because it is 2 miles (and no pavement), but we make a point of parking a quarter of a mile away from the school and walking from there - 5 days per week; so he is getting regular exposure to walking. Not as much as he would if we lived in a surburban area however

Liking some of the suggestions here such as traffic lights, and carrying a cuddly toy between you etc

we used to do "silly walk" and "sensible walk". this, as the words might suggest, involves shouting "silly walk" in a long drawn out slight sargeant majorish voice and then waving your legs about in the air as you go down the street. or walking backwrds. alternated with "sensible walk".

I think I did it more for me, tbh. I love the fact that having children gives you a perfect excuse to make an idiot of yourself

it was an absolute fluke, but i found a packet of ww sweets, polos and extra strong mints do the job. When DS2 3.5 first said he was tired and gave the drama. I offered him a sweet for the performance. That was it. I now keep a packet in my pocket when we go walking.

lol - sounds fun

Scooter? Have same issue with DS1 (same age) and am eyeing up a micro lite thingy one. DS1 will run around like a mad thing but walk from A to B? Now why would he do a pointless thing like that? I have a feeling this is perfectly normal behaviour though.

Alternatively a childsize buggy to push?

DD just the same hmc ... she is driving me nuts.
Today I gave in as we were late for school and she went in the 3 wheeler. It was embarrassing ...
I told her when we got home that we won't be able to use it again as the wheel is broken
I like the bike idea but I wanted to get her a proper one for her birthday (Feb) ... what to do?????