Parents often feel as if they are balancing on a tightrope; one side is the wanting to help too much and the other needing to allow children to solve things themselves. Most will agree that they struggle to find this balance. Especially when the child is staring at a half-finished model, or typing an essay that reads like a suspense novel with no ending. The truth is, independence is something that needs to be nurtured over time and cannot be poured in from a bottle or app. It takes time, and each project is an opportunity to learn – no matter how “messy” it may seem. At home, support doesn't have to mean solving algebra problems or editing every line of an English paragraph. Sometimes, true support is just setting up a workspace for them to be free from distractions. Or interests and patience when listening to children describe outlandish baking soda science “experiments.” Parents can help by encouraging planning—maybe a weekly sit-down to map out homework, activities, and deadlines. The goal isn’t total oversight of every element, but gentle guidance so children can learn to plan and foresee what is to come. A simple, “What’s the plan for this?” can spark a small habit of self-organisation. It's like adding training wheels—not carrying the cycle. And when children forget something, or miss a deadline? Hard as it is, it’s often the best teacher. A missed submission or a low mark isn’t a failure—it’s feedback. These moments are golden opportunities to learn responsibility, resilience, and time management. All very grown-up skills, tucked quietly inside school assignments. What truly helps is not rushing to rescue, but staying calmly nearby. When children know that mistakes won't be met with panic or blame, they feel safe to try, fail, and try again. That’s where the real learning happens. Cheering effort over perfection, asking reflective questions (“What part was hard?” or “What might work better next time?”), and celebrating those little wins—like remembering to submit an assignment on time—are all simple but powerful ways to stay connected without taking over. Because at the end of the day, school is not just about marks and reports. It’s about shaping curious, confident learners who know they are trusted to take charge of their own path—with parents right behind them, cheering at just the right volume.