What is the point?

Whoever thought that whole "flat" concept was a good one, I have a bone to pick. Or the bring the "blank" stuffed animal home with you for the weekend. I know the kids love it. And, sure it seems fun in the Flat Stanley books...but when you send one home with your kid from school is it a project for the kid or the parent? They forget about it after the first day. You have to remind them to take it places. You have to remember to take pictures. Then you have to download them, edit them, print them, cut them and help them paste them and write about it. The only interaction here that is any fun (or sorta fun) is the pasting and writing...so who is this homework for...the kid or the parent because...last I checked I got a very dusty unused diploma..or two or three around here somewhere. I want to help my kids learn, but what are these exercises teaching them exactly? Or what is it suppose to teach me...hmm...I learned that this took a lot of time away from me being with my kids this evening so I could mess with the pictures so my kid could hurry and write about it before bedtime.