Parents are encouraged to take an interest in the child’s schoolwork, even to assist in homework. However, when parents do the homework for the child, they reinforce the child’s conviction that he or she is unable to do it. Incidentally, when parents do much for the child that he or she can do alone, they are acting codependently. A child who says, “I can’t do word problems,” and is allowed to get away with it, actually has the feeling of inadequacy reconfirmed.
