Okay, re-reading your post I see that you do have more of a challenge on your hands than long division! Sorry that I gave it a cursory reading the first time through.
My question would be: how does he handle work in general? Does he get frustrated and quit easily at any task when it gets too hard? How does he do with chores, or manual labor that he is given to do? Is Dad working with him on developing a general work ethic? More is ‘caught’ than ‘taught’ and, from what I have seen, boys tend to do their ‘catching’ from Dad!
School work can be difficult – all work can be! Learning to press past a difficulty is a learned skill. So is handling frustration. Some people have temperments that enable them to handle frustration well, and for others it is going to take some work. But everyone can improve in handling stress and finding peace in trials – it is a lifelong growth process.
This is something we are dealing with in our household, as well. It is a delicate balance. You want to have a nurturing, fun environment…but the kids also have to learn responsibility and how to overcome a problem by pressing on.
I don’t really have advice – other than to keep relying on the Holy Spirit to know how and when to push your son a little. I would err on the side of encouragement and try to think of some fun ways that he can learn to ‘press on’.
I would NOT babysit him while he does his work :0). He should learn that his work is his job – not Mom’s!
My dawdling guy knows that sometimes his school day is going to bleed into afternoon play time…b/c he has chosen to dawdle during school time. I try not to be ‘snarky’ or ugly about it – it is just a fact of life! At the same time, I try to be sensitive to how much he can handle and not push him into the anger and frustration mode.
I hope that since I don’t have any grand advice, someone else will! In the meantime, I will pray for you and your little man. Be blessed and encouraged. You are planting the seeds, but God will see to the growth ;0).