What do you think about parents doing kid's art projects?

[Anonymous]

I can't really say I spend much time thinking about it...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back in the 70's, I was the kid whose parents didn't help with projects and mine always sucked compared to the other kids and I was always embarrassed and really want my parents to help. So it's not a new thing, or a helicopter parent thing, or a competitive thing. Help your kid with the project.

My DD in first grade got so upset at me when she saw that other kids brought dioramas obviously completed by their parents. I expressed my confidence in her Ability to do a diorama and that the teacher knows whose parents do the project. She came home with the best grade he teacher can give in first grade with lots of complements from the teacher. Her confidence soared. She's 12 now and people still do their kids science projects. Like a 12 year old she rolls her eyes at them and we have a little laug.

[Anonymous]

I help. I think "decorate a pumpkin" is kind of a stupid assignment, and I don't have kids that enjoy doing arts and crafts, so I sit down with them and we do it together.

[Anonymous]

This is why I appreciate that the optional science fair at our school has clear guidelines. First of all, no grades or awards are given, so that pressure is off. The information clearly states that K-1 students can have parents help type/make their boards using the student's own words, but by 2nd grade students and up should do all their own writing or typing. This resulted in a wonderful variety of boards with large crooked print done in magic markers, graphs written by hand and lots of experiments about food, snap circuits and toys. The judges walked around to give written feedback and encouragement. I found it refreshing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I helped mine to plan the steps of their projects. If you break things down into small steps and show them how to put those pieces together you would be surprised at the kind of results that they can get.

But why won't you let them do the project, start to finish, on their own?

It depends on the project. Ex: A 1st grader might bring home a "Create an Animal Habitat for a Fox" and list 3 interesting things about your animal.

I could either take a completely hands off approach and let them figure that out for themselves or I could suggest some steps for them:

1) Look at some pictures of fox habitats. Print out some pictures.

2) Look up 4 interesting facts about a fox and their habitat.

3) Figure out what you can use to make the fox habitat. (Maybe some twigs from the yard, some Spanish moss...)

etc......

By the time they're done they've done a mini research project and created a pretty darned good approximation of an animal habitat.

If my 1st grader brought home an artwork assignment - "Make a my favorite things poster". I would probably give them art and craft supplies and let them use the printer to print out pictures if they wanted to. I would also probably look over their writing to make sure that they are using complete sentences, proper spelling, etc.

+1

PP is teaching her 1st grader how to manage projects. In a few years or less, s/he won't need mom's input at all. I'm willing to bet even now they can suggest some of the steps. If they are anything like my kids, they have some ideas about what they want to do before they get started.

I never did my kids projects and i have one child at Stanford and one about to head off to Columbia business school. The one in Stanford already has a successful App that is cash flow positive.

I think when kids not hovered over they flourish.

Good for you (and your kids!).

IMO, helping your 6 year old think through and list the steps they need to take finish a project is different than telling them what to do, Pinterest-ing their 6 year old project, and then having them turn it in.

There are certain things that based on my own experiences I will absolutely teach my kids. How to plan and execute a project is one of them.

[Anonymous]

It's lame. It also kind of seems like cheating; later on those same parents will be doing the kids' PowerPoint presentations for them. Let the kid do it! If you're like me and enjoy art projects, instead of hovering and helping your kids -- or worse yet doing it for them -- just get your own pumpkin and decorate your own pumpkin while they're doing theirs!

[Anonymous]

My mom did all my art projects when I was in school. I was an all-A student but was very clear that I a) don't like art, b) am not good at it, and c) have no desire or intention to become better. She was happy to step in for this purpose.

[Anonymous]

Ha ha! My kids got Math Worksheets in K where they had to count the pictures of icecream cones and write the number down. After she finished her homework, I totally colored those icecream cones and drew sprinkles on them.

I actually colored all her Math and English homework and prettied it up. She was not being graded for the coloring but the right answer, so this was not cheating in any way or form. I had a blast and my kids found it amusing.

I confess that I had a very deprived childhood. I may also be living through my kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why I appreciate that the optional science fair at our school has clear guidelines. First of all, no grades or awards are given, so that pressure is off. The information clearly states that K-1 students can have parents help type/make their boards using the student's own words, but by 2nd grade students and up should do all their own writing or typing. This resulted in a wonderful variety of boards with large crooked print done in magic markers, graphs written by hand and lots of experiments about food, snap circuits and toys. The judges walked around to give written feedback and encouragement. I found it refreshing.

Meh, the kids don't care about that, they care they had a crappy project. I let my kid do a project herself once back in 1st grade and learned my lesson fast. Sure they teacher praised her and all of that but guess what? My kid still wanted a really good looking project like all the other kids had. Little kids are rarely trail blazers and just prefer to have the same thing as their peers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I appreciate that the optional science fair at our school has clear guidelines. First of all, no grades or awards are given, so that pressure is off. The information clearly states that K-1 students can have parents help type/make their boards using the student's own words, but by 2nd grade students and up should do all their own writing or typing. This resulted in a wonderful variety of boards with large crooked print done in magic markers, graphs written by hand and lots of experiments about food, snap circuits and toys. The judges walked around to give written feedback and encouragement. I found it refreshing.

Meh, the kids don't care about that, they care they had a crappy project. I let my kid do a project herself once back in 1st grade and learned my lesson fast. Sure they teacher praised her and all of that but guess what? My kid still wanted a really good looking project like all the other kids had. Little kids are rarely trail blazers and just prefer to have the same thing as their peers.

Oh my.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is why I appreciate that the optional science fair at our school has clear guidelines. First of all, no grades or awards are given, so that pressure is off. The information clearly states that K-1 students can have parents help type/make their boards using the student's own words, but by 2nd grade students and up should do all their own writing or typing. This resulted in a wonderful variety of boards with large crooked print done in magic markers, graphs written by hand and lots of experiments about food, snap circuits and toys. The judges walked around to give written feedback and encouragement. I found it refreshing.

Meh, the kids don't care about that, they care they had a crappy project. I let my kid do a project herself once back in 1st grade and learned my lesson fast. Sure they teacher praised her and all of that but guess what? My kid still wanted a really good looking project like all the other kids had. Little kids are rarely trail blazers and just prefer to have the same thing as their peers.

Yeah.. forget the whole learning process part of it. As long as it looks like everyone else's.

[Anonymous]

My college roommate's dad wrote all of her term papers freshman year. If he couldn't email them, he'd dictate them to her. It was back before we had cellphones and had to share one landline. It never caught up to her because she tested well, and eventually went on to Yale Law.

[Anonymous]

I prefer that they just do the work on their own, but will scaffold and assist as much as necessary in order to make sure they're successful. Especially for busywork or pointless assignments that are more about looking good than educational value.