Parents, help, and wishes

Parents often ask how to help kids do math projects without upsetting the kids, taking over, or otherwise breaking the flow.

“Every time I correct my child’s mistake she starts crying.”

“We started to build a model, but as soon as I helped, my son stopped working!”

Our recipe is simple. It is similar to the advice, “Don’t answer questions nobody asked.” Be co-workers, doing separate projects side by side. Do what you want – on your side, on your project. And help kids do what they want, on theirs. Don’t impose your wishes on children’s projects.

Help kids do what they want.

Ask kids to help you do what you want.

Don’t help kids do what you want.

I mean, would you want someone to help you do something that person wants, not you? Exactly!