Perfectionism and Gifted Students – What does it look like and how can we support them?
Perfectionism is a trait that our Gifted kids, and even Gifted adults, have. The interesting thing about perfectionism is that it can manifest in both healthy and unhealthy ways. Today I am going to talk about what unhealthy perfectionism might look like, what healthy perfectionism might look like, and ways we can support our Gifted kids with perfectionism. Keep reading for some actionable tips you can implement right away to start making a positive impact on your kids who show these unhealthy perfectionist traits.
Unhealthy Perfectionism – What it might sound like
The kid who is always asking questions about their work and if they’re on the right track may be a perfectionist. They may be trying to make it perfect and to ensure that you will think it’s perfect too.
- “Do I need to fix anything?”
- “Can you remind me what I’m supposed to do one more time?”
- “Am I doing a good job?”
- “Do you like what I have so far?”
- “Is this right?”
- “Is it better now?”
- “Is it okay if I do it this way?”
Unhealthy Perfectionism – What it might look like
- Student won’t stop until they think their work is perfect
- They get frustrated easily when something is difficult
- Can get overly frustrated when they make a mistake
- May have low self esteem
- Gets upset when it’s time to move on and they’re not done
- Will only engage in something that aligns with their strengths
Healthy Perfectionism – What it might look like
- Organized, tend to be significantly more organized than their peers
- Responsible
- Goal-oriented
- Knows when to take a break
- Understands their personal strengths & weaknesses
Supporting and Managing Perfectionism in Gifted Kids
- Tell them about your own mistakes
- Praise the effort and the process
- Don’t put too much emphasis on the end product
- Model positive affirmations and outlook
- Don’t show a model of the end product
- Encourage them to try
Do you notice any of these traits in any of your students, your children, or even yourself? It’s comforting to know that perfectionism can manifest itself in positive and beneficial ways, and hopefully these 6 tips to support and manage perfectionism in kids can help them get to a more confident and positive frame of mind.
