Great post, steemmom. Got to totally agree with the last paragraph. The degree to which a person (child / adult) enjoys reading and writing will be up there with the biggest influences on what becomes of that person. Accept no substitutes for giving a child the best start in life by getting them into reading and writing.

I like what Edison wrote (and would tend to agree). And the best part is, those ten thousand ways of achieving failure will be different for each and every child that's ever lived, probably. It is largely trial and error (as I think you say) and all kids are different.

I totally agree with your five suggestions to encourage co-operation in the child. Ultimately, though, for any and every child, they're resting, playing or learning. The spoken word off a friendly, likeable adult should be able to elicit attempts at listening and speaking, easily enough. Reading and writing, does require more, though.

If I could add a sixth, what would it be?

Get your kid fascinated? (Ideally, not conflicting with your five.)

Once they're singing supercalifragilisticexpialidocious in the manner it's supposed to be sung, you could have them paint the word out, 'calligraphy-style'. (Without caring too much for complete randomness creeping in, initially.)

And when they're not resting / playing or anything else of similar importance (I forget eating, drinking and sleeping - oops), immerse them once more. Just keep them intrigued and happy. Keep it up until one of you is in need of a break. If you can both go again, do so. If one of you can't, don't.

Of course, how to keep a reluctant child intrigued and happy boils down to love and imagination, I guess. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. If you have a reluctant reader, you'll have to be resilient and put in some work.

Who'd be a parent? And who'd be a homeschooling parent?

Good luck with future children you may get to raise / homeschool.

I loved Jame and the giant peach as a child. And I'm glad your son did. Even better was his ability to pick up on what was missing from the film. The material was obviously a great choice, there!

Congratulations on what became of your son (and, hopefully, your daughter). :)