Every homework battle in our inbox boils down to one parent question: "Am I helping or hovering?" Here's a 10-second test.
The 3-question test
- Do they understand the task? If no — sit with them for 5 min, re-explain, then leave.
- Is this a skill they've practised before? If yes — check in every 10–15 min, don't sit.
- Are they stuck on motivation or on content? If motivation — walk away. If content — micro-hint, don't solve.
The two traps
Trap 1: Solving. You sit down, glance at the problem, say "oh that's easy — it's 42". You feel helpful. The child learned nothing and is now less confident.
Trap 2: Disappearing. You leave a kid who genuinely didn't understand. They stare at the page for 40 minutes, build a belief that they're "bad at math", and give up earlier next time.
The MENA twist
In Cairo and Dubai especially, grandparents and aunts often step in to "help" at extended-family gatherings — usually by solving. It's affection, not sabotage. Gently reframe: "Can you ask him why he thinks so, instead of telling him?" Works surprisingly well.