While you are likely right to some degree there has to be more to it than just having to do anything at home. I also care for his older brother (turns 3 in a month). He is a VERY independent child that wants to do everything himself. He is resourceful and comes up with good solutions to get what he wants (bringing a stool from another room to build his tower up higher etc).

The parents really don't strike me as the usual, baby the child and do everything for them. They don't leap when the child cries etc.

I only care for them part time and the kids have both adapted very well to our house rules. They clean up (with direction), sit quietly at the table when they don't like the food, and know the expectations and willingly follow them.

I will think over the idea of only allowing the child to play with the one toy. I don't see that working too well here as I don't limit what they bring out. I only have a small amount of toys out at a time and we rotate between a few different play spaces in the house. They are expected to fully clean the one play space before we move to the next. It would mean having very different rules for him (you have to put your one toy away before playing with another) than the other kids. I also try not to be in the middle of their play. I want them to be off playing on their own without my directing or being involved. My following him around making sure he doesn't move on to another toy seems invasive for all the kids. Is it worth it in this case? It would be different if he was hurting children or harming toys and needed to be shadowed but the only issue is he gives up without trying!

As I mentioned the child is a happy, easy going child. I can't complain about that. I just see a child that has no drive and I can't help but wonder how that works as he ages.