Video Shows Confused Parents Up at Night Tackling School Project: “The Production Is On”

• A TikTok video showed parents tackling their child's school project late at night, confused as to what they needed to do
• The mother and father were outside with the materials needed, such as a can of paint and cardboard
• While some online community members felt they could relate to the parents, others felt the duo should have left the project in their child's hands

Two parents found themselves going back to school when they had to stay up late at night to help their child finish a school project. The post attracted many internet users, mostly parents, who related to the situation that was all too familiar.

On 25 August, 2025, TikTok user Karin Oshea uploaded a clip to her account showing the parents outside in the backyard, standing on either side of a table that held various shapes of cardboard, mostly cuboids, and a tin of black paint.

Read also

A TikTok clip showed young teachers striking poses with a bold red SUV in the school parking lot

At that point, it was not obvious what the project was all about.

Karin wrote in the caption of her post:

"When you thought you were done with school, but the school project is due. It's Sunday evening, and the production is on."

While the father tried to figure out the measurements for the project, the mother was vocal about her confusion. And the child? Shame, they were nowhere to be found.

A separate video showed the results of the parents' hard work: a black cardboard bridge.

Parents relate to school project woes

Several social media users felt they knew what the parents were experiencing and shared their stories in the comment section. Others stated that the parents should not have put so much effort into completing the school project.

@tibbytyson told people on the internet:

"I am a firm believer in a child doing their own work. If you fail, you fail."

Read also

"Not the easiest decision": Woman resigns without backup plan, life choices divide South Africans

@felimkhatshwa revealed with a laugh:

"I did two projects this past weekend while the owner was out playing. Ja, ne."

@mahlatsemokgotlha said to TikTok users:

"If we are being honest, those school projects are projects for parents, and the teachers know it. I just completed mine for my kid last night."

@mistyblu31 shared in the post's comment section:

"I love my child’s teacher. She tells the kids what materials to bring, and they have to do all projects in class themselves."

@talentedflower wrote about their experience as a child:

"I used to confess that I had a project at 3pm on a Sunday. I was living with my grandparents. They would call my mom and tell her. I was so scared of her. She always got her male colleagues to do it. I had police officers at my house doing my projects."

@pandals27 joked about the family pet in the background:

Read also

"Solving that mystery": Cape Town man shows how cars get removed from shopping malls

"The dog doesn't want to make eye contact just in case he must get involved."

Take a look at the TikTok video below:

3 Other stories about school projects

• In another article, Briefly News reported on a group of young learners who showcased their creative projects at a local career expo, which left a lasting impact on social media users.
• A 53-year-old mother showed the struggles of having a child later in life when she had to complete her Grade 3 son's project. The woman looked exhausted and revealed she had not rested.
• In 2023, two creative Grade 7 pupils impressed their teacher when they built a hydraulic excavator with cardboard and other materials. People lauded the kids as future scientists.

Source: Briefly News