Getting a 4 year old to WALK!!!

[FourJays]

My 4 and a half year old refuses to walk anywhere. Constantly cries and says he is "too tired" and has a tantrum when I make him. He runs in front of us too so we can't walk on.

I don't drive and we refuse to carry him but it's been going on for a long time now.
And I'm not talking climbing Ben Nevis or four hours shopping in the Trafford Centre - just school runs or a ten minute walk to the park!

Want to get rid of the buggy when he goes to reception.
Any ideas?

lots of energy needed to keep up the momentum (games, races etc) plus bribery and mild threats (eg. if you don't hurry up we won't have time to watch the telly when we get back!). my ds (4.5) used to be incredibly slow but with perserverence, we are getting there, even got him up a small hill recently! if I haven't got the time or energy to move him along, I use a bike and trailer - have you thought of that? I think its the missing link between the buggy and them being old enough to walk at a proper speed if you don't want to use or don't have a car. Good luck!

Sorry, Fourjays, I somehow got the idea that you still wanted to use the buggy for longer journeys (that take more than 1/2 hour for you to walk).

I get tired on long walks of repeatedly picking up the scooter after DS has chucked it into the road in frustration (about all the things that 4yos can manage to get frustrated about), nearly hitting pedestrians and cars in the process. But hey, if that suits other people, that's cool. Personally, I'd rather use a buggy or a buggy board and get there in half the time.