peer pressure

I can see how that would go. For M it works the other way: he refuses to stand out, so if his friends don't read, he refuses to show that he can, or even to try to progress. If they were all interested in reading, he would want to, too! After all, they got him into drawing -- and they all draw the same.

I feel so pushy sometimes because I do encourage him -- because I know he is cleverer than his friends -- but if I said that to a teacher they would say something like "oh but there is no neeeeeed yet, just let him play".