7-Year-Old Refuses to Read Unless I Sit Beside Him – Is This

 

I'm looking for some advice. My 7-year-old is capable of reading, but refuses to do it independently. If I don't sit beside him, he quickly loses interest or says reading is "boring." The moment I leave, he starts playing with something else. 

I've tried different books, reading together, and even reward charts, but nothing seems to build his confidence to read on his own. 

Has anyone gone through something similar? Was it just a phase, or did something specific help your child become a more independent reader? 

I'd really appreciate hearing your experiences.