Aren't all his classmates about the same age? Is getting adult help for the child fair to all the kids who just do their own work? What are you teaching your child about individual responsibility? In the long run, you are also being unfair to your kid. You won't be able to help him when he takes the SATs, when he goes to college, when he takes his final exams.
Uh, all of these kids will be getting help from parents. That is part of being a parent. I do not mind helping. We are discussing all of the ideas right now for the monument. We are also discussing the reasons for war as well. Why sacrifice is sometimes required. But I have my childs best interest at heart, and I will help him any way I see fit. And he will learn to think on his own in the process. Nd he is laughing heartily and some of the funnier ideas you guys here have posted. The kid beating saddams head with a shoe is his favorite.
Helping a kid do some work doesn't mean doing it for him. It means steering him the right direction, giving feedback, giving perspective until the child is capable of doing it all on his own. Even for the SATs, the child will have help, for presumably most caring parents will assist with studying for the SATs and will buy coaching courses, books, or software. During college, there will be tutors, other kids, and professors to give guidance. During his later career, supervisors, colleagues, spouse, and employees may give help and direction. So helping a child does not fail to prepare him for real life.
For instance, my daughter, now 17 and accepted at a good private college, has a difficult essay to write. I could write it for her, but I won't. Instead we spent 20 minutes talking about it. The ideas will be hers. Later she'll come down and ask me if her work is making the right points and communicating what she intended. That's feedback.
This mom is doing the same thing. She may be collecting ideas, but ultimately the project will doubtless be the boy's.