5 year old DS reluctant but able

[fruity21]

My 5 yr old DS is physically very able, very strong, good hand eye co-ordination and ball sense but doesn't want to do anything structured. Currently does gymnastics at which he is probably one of the best in the group and quite clearly enjoys but moans like crazy about having to go.
on the rare occasion I take him to football, he likes to lie down, stare at the sky, asks to go home whenever he catches my eye.
He does swimming which he knows is non-negotiable.
Have tried boxing which was 'too hard'.
Have a feeling that this is just his personality as even on holiday he quite often wanted to stay at the appartment, ' not the pool, AGAIN!'
Is he lazy, just too young? Would like to teach him the merits of sticking at something to get results but he is wearing me out!
He has tonnes of energy and it is not that he is too tired after school, trust me!
Suggestions, please?

Typical boy , isn't he :). Mine were exactly the same.

He is very young . May be just choose only 1 activity to begin with and stick to it no matter what if you think he needs it.

He also sounds like my youngest DS - he does not like team sports much, so may be gymnastics is better for him.

Nothing wrong with dreaming and staring in the sky when you are 5. :)

We have a dog - so 'I don't want to go for a walk' is not in his vocabulary - it has helped us tremendously. The dog (a rather aged 11.5) needs the walk less than ds (7) now, but still enjoys pootling along - and I now have to wait for her rather than her having to wait for ds and me.

DS has really enjoyed learning karate. I'm not 'around' for the lessons - and the fact that the signs of improvement (ie belt grades) are very obvious is a real incentive to go along and try to get the next one. We've worked out that, if he continues as he is, and works at it, he will be able to get his black belt when he's 9 - this was him wanting to know. We have found a 'no contact' club - which means that they don't actually throw each other around, and whilst they spar, they are not meant to make contact (and get told off when they do). It leads, I think, to much more accuracy - although they are able to do proper punches and kicks on the pads.

However, my DS and yours do seem to have a bit of a different attitude at this stage because DS would normally be really excited to go swimming.

What is there as an attraction in the apartment / at home if he's not doing active things?

Typical boy. Save your money for when he is older. A lot older

He's 5. Let him spend his time after school bashing scrub bushes with sticks & throwing rocks in streams.

Too young. I started with swimming as I feel that's an important skill to learn. I would leave it at that to be honest. Can you not go to the park after school a couple of days a week?

FWIW, dd1 still can't stick at anything and she's 9! She just hasn't found her thing yet I guess.

To answer mistlethrush, attractions at home/appt are really just his toys(action figures) though obviously in his mind is lurking the idea that he may get to watch tv/play video game tho' we are quite strict on that.
Park after school is often suggested although often met with tears and protestations of tiredness, yet once home, is bouncing off the walls.
I think, he probably is a bit young to enjoy scheduled activities though obviously some of his peers seem to love them but each to his own I guess...

5 is very young for organised activities - it's hard enough being at school all day/week without having to cope with organised stuff when you're out of school as well

I agree with the others - one activity at this age is enough - if he's bouncing off the walls a trampoline is fantastic if you've got enough space

it's also a personality thing .. my middle child is just not a 'joiner' - we've now got to the stage where we've told him he's got to do one sport and one other interest but that's it. Also if he starts something he has to stick with it for the period he's signed up for.

dd on the other hand wants to do everything, which brings another set of problems in its wake!