Schools are having problems with parents doing their childrens’ homework, and are having to warn parents off. Some schools are making the kids do their assignments in class time to make sure it is actually their own work.

Sort of defeats the point of homework doesn’t it? I know parents hand hold their children, but this is over the top. How are they going to actually learn anything, if mum or dad does their work for them? Might get some better marks in the short term, but ultimately the kids have to stand on their own efforts. What, is mum or dad going to do their university assignments for them, or if they do that, going to get a job and do it for them?

The worry for educators, as well as children not learning by their own efforts, is potential psychological damage over-zealous parents are doing, robbing their self-esteem, undermining self confidence, causing kids to feel they can never be good enough.

“The message parents send when they do the work for their kids is, ‘You can’t do it well enough, I’ll do it for you,’ ” said Elbie Van Coller, a school counsellor on the North Shore. “It’s producing some very anxious children.”

According to psychologist Madeline Levine, parents are increasingly worried about their children’s future and exert, however subtly, pressure to excel. The more scared the parents, the more controlling they become. Many end up giving more than a helping hand in homework to ensure their child’s mark is high enough.

“While demands for outstanding academic or extracurricular performance are very high, expectations about family responsibilities are amazingly low,” Dr Levine said. “This kind of imbalance in expectations results in kids who regularly expect others to ‘take up the slack’, rather than learning how to prioritise tasks or how to manage time.”

The biggest problem I have with my kids’ homework is that I’ve forgotten how to do half the stuff, so I’m not that much use. As for me doing their work ….ROFLMAO!!!!!

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