Most parents have had that moment—you’re halfway through dinner prep when your child bursts into tears over a school assignment that’s suddenly due tomorrow. Whether it’s overly complicated, emotionally overwhelming, or simply age-inappropriate, some schoolwork creates more stress than learning. From family tree projects that leave out entire households to group work disasters and cryptic math problems, these school assignments that left kids crying aren’t as rare as you’d hope. When education becomes a nightly meltdown, it’s time to rethink the assignment’s value. Here are 10 tasks that pushed kids past their limit—right at the kitchen table.
