Oh no! Your child has another special project that he just has to get done - yesterday! Ideally, your child will create his or her own project without your help, but we know that seldom happens. At the very least, you will need to make sure your child has the materials needed to complete the project. You may also need a great deal of patience as you help your child help him or herself.

*Avoid the parent trap.

Your child's first task in completing his project will involve seeing how much he or she can get you to do for him. Do not fall for this. Your child needs the self-esteem that comes from creating his own special project with minimal help from others. Don't let this turn into a battle of wills, but use it to teach your child skills that will help him for a lifetime.

*Time Management:

All projects have a beginning, middle and end. A parent can use these moments to teach the child how to make a calendar with projected dates in which he or she will have certain portions of the project finished. This not only teaches the child to break down a bigger project into manageable portions, it also keeps them from having that "gotta get it done" panic attack the day before a project is due. How much you help with this will depend on your child's age and abilities.

*Chunking/Planning:

Next talk your child through the planning stages of the project. Help him or her visualize the end product by discussing the project, remembering to lead instead of giving answers. What materials will the child need to complete it? How does the child get the project to match his or her final vision? What materials will work best? Here we find an opportunity to teach project planning and the concept of learning from trial and error. Make sure your child has factored in a little time for this stage of creating.

*Trouble shooting:

Now give supervision and guidance as needed, allowing your child to use his or her own creativity to the fullest. Resist the temptation to take over the project in order to make it "better". Teachers are not as blind as you think, and the whole point of assigning the project is to teach the child, not show what the parent can do. At most, use the opportunity to complete the project with your child, using each step along the way as an opportunity to teach another concept. Allow him or her to use you as a resource when obstacles come, but only as a sounding board, not as a "fixer".

Your child's special project teaches him or her more than you know. Allowing your child to complete the project gives her or him more than you know as well. Spending time with you as the masterpiece comes to live is icing on the cake and may be the best reward of all for doing the homework. In the end, your child's grade will be his or her own, and you can celebrate with her or him on a job well done. The child will develop new confidence and realize it's fine to ask for help when needed. You will develop a sense of pride as you watch your child conquer each task. Your child will learn techniques that last a lifetime as she or he faces more and harder projects over his or her lifetime.

Learn more about this author, Angela S. Young.
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