Welcome to parenting! We do like questions, but "Please help!" is not a very clear question (please see our guidelines.) Do you want suggestions on ways of engaging him in other things? Which things are you hoping for (sports, nature, friends, girls, games, other)? Also, how old is he? What did he used to like before becoming a serious student? What amount of time can you devote to this? Thanks, and please do edit. This is, again, a very interesting question, which we really enjoy here. Vague Q's invite vague A's and too often criticism. :( It just needs some focus and more details. :)

It sounds like you're trying to encourage your son to seek extracurricular activities - that's great! You should try to frame the question like that though; right now, it sounds like you are simply upset that your son enjoys doing well in school, which is an odd concern at best, and doesn't really offer your question any focus for people who want to provide an answer.

Can you be more specific about the things you want him to spend time on in addition to studying? I would think that, based on your current description, many parents would love to have the child you've described.

The edit doesn't help much. What things other than "A grades" do you want him to be concerned with?

@zibbobz that is exactly my concern! I do not want him to think that doing well at school means that he will do well in life.

@Myles I would like him to put his hard work into something other than school.

I think you have two things to consider then: 1) Doing well in school CAN help him do well in life, and 2) Finding ways for him to apply his interests outside of academics. The latter I think is your primary concern with this question, and I'd strongly advise you re-word this question to focus on that aspect, and preferably emphasize that you aren't discouraging your son from seeking a strong academic performance.

@Zibbobz I do want to discourage him from strong academic performance!

@RubenGiuliani Well...that seems extremely ill-advised, but if you really want to, put that in your question as well - because as it is, that's not clear from the way you wrote the question.

@RubenGiuliani Your kid has the two best possible skills for life - being able to work hard and being able to figure things by himself. If something, you should watch out for stress...

@TSar Exactly! That's why I don't want to waste all of that on school!

I am seriously troubled by your question and comments. I hope your son can keep up on his work, and hopefully unaffected by you. He might not succeed from where he's going now, but he highly likely won't succeed if you successfully intervene. Answer these questions, What do you want your son to spend time and work on instead? Do you have any clear plans set in mind? Are those S.M.A.R.T. goals? If you don't even have a solid idea of those, leave him be.

Doing well at school is not a bad thing it's a great thing and should be encouraged. I think you're off base here.

Just my opinion but I think the OP is pot-stirring. It's one thing to want a child to have a balance in his or her life -- quite another to discourage that child's own preferences and academic choices or even in general. Academics in school are, or should be, the buffet of life choices. We try this or that, note our preferences and make our life choices.

@WillowRex I do understand your point, but the way my child lives he has no opportunity to try this or that. He just concentrates on school (where btw he doesn't seem to be interested in any of the subjects, and just wants to get the highest grade possible). I am afraid that when he will go into adulthood (where perfection is not graded) he will find it very difficult.

Why does he have no opportunities outside of school? Also in North America -- almost 1/4 - 1/3 of the time at school is taken by sports, art, music and other languages. In middle and high school we added in community service. Is it not the same where you are?

@WillowRex He is just not interested in them. He does do some sport at school, but always complains about it. He doesn't play a musical instrument and he hates art. It's a real shame.

@WillowRex We do sometimes. However he never enjoys doing anything apart from schoolwork.

Ruben, we can't continue this discussion in comments, and I really have no more suggestions to add. I honestly do not mean this to be rude or unkind -- but if you are defeated before you do something new, then that IS what you are -- defeated. I'd say the only way 'out' is to toss positive at the situation and keep trying. Best of luck.