Expectations have escalated and kids, already overscheduled, often overworked, are expected to originate and develop winning ideas and to present them in an articulate and graphically sophisticated way. The push to be original enough to stand out in a crowd of tri-panel boards has produced some very impressive projects. Some were made, in large part, by some very hard-working parents. Mommy made it. Hall resists parental temptation.
Most teachers say some parental help is good.
Students need guidance, someone to pick up supplies and to assist when a project requires more than two hands. The mothers' hypothesis is echoed by some experts. And doing it for them undermines the children's developing sense of competence. The more the parent takes over the project the less the child will reap from the experience. In some ways it's an overprotection.