We focus on learning by memorizing everything. He tinkers for hours on individual theorems, formulas, rules, vocabulary, strings of words, etc. It's "learning" for him and it's no surprise that he considers it an achievement, effort, difficulty and hard work.
Learning generally seems difficult. But playing still seems easy.
Why is that? Does it have to be like this? Well, it depends on the prerequisites, the psychological claim. You look forward...