[pbhjpbhj]

> I can point at three quarters of my interests and trace them straight back to books I picked off the shelf when I was 10.

But that's largely because of your particular character another child (as you were) would have benefited little from the same books and been disengaged and miserable. Instead they might benefit from a bench, tools and materials that would lead them to gain skills that could bring them later into construction or engineering or something practical.

[mquander]

I agree, I bet that many children would benefit a great deal from that. Eight hours less at school is eight hours more time to expose a kid to as many cool things as possible.

That said, I think that encouraging a ton of reading of something is almost definitely going to be a good idea. Everyone with a mind should be reading.

[pbhjpbhj]

I read vociferously as a child, reading top-junior (10-11yo) books when I was in infants (5-6yo). Mainly fiction though.

My wife was not interested in reading (apparently) at school, indeed she only really started reading for interest after we got married.

We both have science degrees.

>Everyone with a mind should be reading.

I'd find it strange, but I don't think this is absolutely necessary. I find nothing wrong with the idea a blind tetraplegic (who can't read braille or text) could be a great scientist, philosopher, ...