how much help should parents give to thier child?

[Faster horses]

Good post!! I like it!!

I plan to print it off for our daughter (but something is wrong with my printer right now.)

[Broke Cowboy]

Nonothing

Well first off someone has to tell the parent - me - what a diorama is.

Second off it is - to a certain point - up to the parent to let the kid advance. A little competition is good.

Finally, it is up to the teacher to realize that there will be some folks who go too far.

As for grades - if the fancy program took the top grade in the class, I would have had a very polite and very quiet / disccrete word with the administration. I would not have let my kids know I did this.

After all, this is work assigned to the kids - NOT the parents.

It is that simple - and I have never helped my kids beyond finding them the basic tools and equipment to complete a project. Advice was always free and always there if they asked for it.

They are now almost adults and quite independent - and very capable of making a decision - maybe the way we raised them had something to do with this?

If I had been the child bringing in the shoebox - I would have very proudly put my "shoe box diorama" on the counter and proudly announced to all that "I built this all by myself" - all the time looking Miss, Mrs., Ms., or Mr. Teacher right in the eye - and then waited for the reaction.

That's what we taught our kids to do - seems to have worked. It did upon times cause a few disturbances - but that is why they are kids.

Chin up - seems you did the right thing - it is now a matter of it being recognized - and believe me - others do recognize "who did what".

We certainly do here. I do not have any doubt your parenting will bring this child farther than the other kid who had it "all done for".

In final close out - to directly answer your initial question:

1. Enough to keep them out of trouble.
2. Enough to help them recognize trouble before it hits.
3. Enough to encourage them to do better.
4. Enough to make the see honesty is truly the best policy.
5. Enough that they realize they are loved and cherished.
6. Enough that they will honour their parents.
7. Enough that they come to know without family they have nothing.

I have more but you get my drift. Your question was valid and made me think a bit - for that I thank YOU.

Regards,

B.C.