Post by kidsandpets on Dec 18, 2017 12:26:34 GMT -5
Anyone deal with a child who is a perfectionist?
DD will be 6 at the end of February. I am seeing traits come out that seem to be heading into perfectionism. Of course I like that she wants to do her best and wants to do things right. But I know that especially as kids get older perfectionism can make things tough.
Last night she made me a wonderful picture and wrote the words to "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" on it. But she about had a meltdown when she realized she forgot some of the words and was sure she needed to start over. I showed her how she could correct it without starting again - she wasn't so sure at first but in the end did accept my suggestion and was content to fix it that way.
We had a similar issue a while ago when she couldn't draw turkey feathers onto a turkey drawing exactly how she wanted to. She wanted me to do it because she couldn't make it work just right. I showed her a short-cut (drawing simple lines instead of oval feathers). It took her a bit but she did eventually accept the idea. (It was school work, not just something she was doing for fun so I wanted HER to do it, not me.)
Not sure if its related or not, but academically she is well ahead of her classmates in Kindergarten. She is even working on somethings that DS's 2nd grade class was learning last year. But socially and emotionally she is all kindergartner and fits in well with her classmates. She is happy to do things along with her class that are easy for her. Her teacher also gives her things to encourage her to keep learning and we do at home as well. I don't know if any of this relates to perfectionist traits or not.
Do you think this is something I should be concerned about yet? I am trying to teach her that it doesn't have to be perfect as things come up and give her ways to make it work. Anything else I should do?
DD will be 6 at the end of February. I am seeing traits come out that seem to be heading into perfectionism. Of course I like that she wants to do her best and wants to do things right. But I know that especially as kids get older perfectionism can make things tough.
Last night she made me a wonderful picture and wrote the words to "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" on it. But she about had a meltdown when she realized she forgot some of the words and was sure she needed to start over. I showed her how she could correct it without starting again - she wasn't so sure at first but in the end did accept my suggestion and was content to fix it that way.
We had a similar issue a while ago when she couldn't draw turkey feathers onto a turkey drawing exactly how she wanted to. She wanted me to do it because she couldn't make it work just right. I showed her a short-cut (drawing simple lines instead of oval feathers). It took her a bit but she did eventually accept the idea. (It was school work, not just something she was doing for fun so I wanted HER to do it, not me.)
Not sure if its related or not, but academically she is well ahead of her classmates in Kindergarten. She is even working on somethings that DS's 2nd grade class was learning last year. But socially and emotionally she is all kindergartner and fits in well with her classmates. She is happy to do things along with her class that are easy for her. Her teacher also gives her things to encourage her to keep learning and we do at home as well. I don't know if any of this relates to perfectionist traits or not.
Do you think this is something I should be concerned about yet? I am trying to teach her that it doesn't have to be perfect as things come up and give her ways to make it work. Anything else I should do?
