Doesn't want to......ride a bike, swim, play football, playball etc

[lillylally]

DS is 4.5 and has no interest in anything at all physical. We try to get him interested in riding a bike, playing football, we have booked him on Toddler classes such as playball, rugger beez and he refuses point blank and just sits on the side. I have taken him swimming with me every week this year and he is building some confidence and yesterday I booked him on a 6 week swimming course. Tonight he freaked out when I put him in the bath saying he hates getting wet - i think he his building up to rejecting the swimming lessons too. I don't know what to do to get him interested in physical activities. Any advice please - I am feeling really lost with him and am worried that DD will follow him, she is just 2.5years.

HELP!

What do his school say? Ask them to tell you about his gross and fine motor skills and if he's still not confident with his gros motor skills, could they focus on them a bit more and explain the situation. some children aren't that way inclined until a bit later but the school will have assessed him and would have thought they would have let you know if he was really behind where he should be for his age.
I would try not to stress about getting him into a club for now. Perhaps you could just concentrate on going to play parks and getting him to climb etc in that kind of environment or go collecting things on the beach etc. Is he quite forward academically? If yes, it may just be that his brain is better at focussing on that at the moment and the rest will catch up in time.

Is he just not interested or does he find these things difficult to actual do?

Some kids just aren't ready to do certain things as soon as others. I wouldn't worry overly about a 4.5 year old not being into bike riding (with the benefit of hindsight ). A scooter may suit him better for now.

I rather suspect that if you try too hard to make him do physical activities because they're good for him it'll backfire. Just do fun things. Are there any outdoorsy sort of things you like doing?

Does he not like to run around,climb at the park,that sort of thing?
Organised activities aren't everyone's thing,he may not like the lesson/group side of the activities you've tried,and if he has been happy going swimming with you perhaps just continuing with that might be more successful.

My niece is the same age and I can't imagine her doing all those activities. I think, from what you've mentioned, you're pushing him far too hard. Give him a chance, he's still so young, he'll find his own interests.

my ds, 4.5 will not join in with any organised activities either, mainly because he is clingy and wants me to stay with him - it can be v frustrating when all of his other friends are doing this, that and the other. I have booked him in for private swimming lessons as a safety thing really (although he doesn't know it yet!) as he is fascinated by water/rivers etc and I'd feel better if I know he can swim. I persevered with the scooter/bike thing - just kept bringing them out every time we went to the park or on hols - eventually he got the hang of them (although still not keen on cycling).....it just takes lots of time and patience!