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3 year old doesn't want to do anything

5 replies

NatJ2018 · 20/09/2018 16:31

Hi,

My three year old seems completely bored with everything and I can't get him excited about any activity.

I have recently had a baby and when I was heavily pregnant, we cut down on a lot of things we nornally do, which usually involved us being out and about. Now the baby is here, I've obviously tried to get back to our old routine.

But my son refuses to do anything. We have tried clubs, football, gymnastics, none of which he wants to do. I can't get him to go swimming or to the park. He has started preschool, which I thought would help, but even the excitement of that only lasted a week and now he doesn't want to go. I have sometimes made him go to things and sometimes he enjoys them, but more often than not, he just looks bored and wants to go home.

Even at home, I can offer baking, colouring, building, games, painting and nothing holds his interest, even if I can get him to join in. The only things he wants to do is play superheroes and watch TV. I'm at my wits end and by the end of the week, bored to tears with staring at the same four walls.

Please tell me other peoples children do this and that it is a phase. I feel like he's not developing because of it.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
letmepeeinpeace · 20/09/2018 16:38

My 3 Yr old son is constantly saying 'I'm booored I'm boooored'! It's so frustrating!

Di11y · 20/09/2018 19:58

I had similar with mine at that age, and made a rule that we were out 10-11.30 as a minimum just to stop being bored.

I made a list of indoor/outdoor places, local/free etc and if I’d run out of ideas would read. Even ikea went on the list! Free childcare for an hour and lunch for us both for under a fiver.

mockorangey · 20/09/2018 23:34

Yes I have/have had the same problem with my DS who has just turned 4. I have been worried about it too and have posted on a couple of threads about it before. It started last autumn after DD was born when DS was about 3.2, and he suddenly never wanted to go anywhere - playgrounds, shops, playdates, swimming, didn't want to ride his bike etc. Indoors he wasn't too bad, although would obviously get bored at points and clearly needed a change of scene but still refused to go out Hmm.

I made a rule that we had to go out at least once each day, even if it was just to the playground round the corner. As much as possible, I allow him to choose what to do, and tbf although he still grumbles he is a lot less resistant to going out than he used to be. I gave up on any kind of organised group or class as he was just not interested in anything structured. He did a term of swimming lessons but we've ditched those for now as he has just started school and was not fully settled in the swimming lessons.

I find it hard when people tell me about all the wonderful classes and activities their kids are doing. Also it has been a bit awkward having playdates as DS has at times been withdrawn/grumpy. Consequently we tend to have fewer playdates now than we used to.

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NatJ2018 · 24/09/2018 17:21

Thank you. Glad it's not just me, but like you, it worries me and I feel he misses out. Hopefully he out grows it x

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lynmilne65 · 24/09/2018 17:27

Yeah mines 45 and still the same 🙄

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