ColinsMum,
Thank you for taking the time to write such a thorough reply. My son has been pampered to an extreme degree during the past two years. His father (my ex-husband) had extreme psychological issues that have resulted in a lot of protecting and coddling. DS has spent a lot of time with his great-grandmother, and honestly was not interested in reading. (Why do the work, when all the adults are completely willing to do it for you?) He is having to learn, only now, the value of developing these skills for himself.
He loves video games. The catalyst for his learning to appreciate the ability to read was actually because of my gaming habit. I was playing an old game that had loads of text dialogue and I refused (as you suggested!) to read it to him.
Fortunately, he has an excellent resource for his love of science. My housemate's parents own a self-sufficient farm that is also a wildlife conservation area, and housemate's father is a marine biologist. We visit every weekend and DS is always engaged in projects and educational experiences.
The child LOVES science.
