The following information was gathered during a facilitated discussion on perfectionism that included parents of profoundly gifted children.
While preparing for the discussion, one key point consistently surfaced in regards to perfectionism: the fact that it is a characteristic trait that will never go away, but instead can only become fine tuned. Once one is able to accept this, it is just a matter of finding a way to approach perfectionism in a more healthy and productive manner. The parents who attended my facilitated discussion shared many wonderful ideas and successful experiences that have helped them gradually help their children combat against the "disabling perfectionism" and move more toward fostering the "enabling perfectionism" instead.
Perfectionism and the Highly Gifted Child, Hately, S.
Tips for parents: Perfectionism and the Profoundly Gifted Child, Meckstroth, E.
Voices of Perfectionism: Perfectionistic Gifted Adolescents in a Rural Middle School, Schuler, P. A.
The Survival Guide for Gifted Kids: For Ages 10 & Under, Galbraith, J. This does not deal directly with perfectionism, but it may be a good resource overall.
The Gifted Teen Survival Guide: Smart, Sharp, and Ready for (Almost) Anything (Revised & Updated 4th Edition), Galbraith, J. & Delisle, J.
Managing the social and emotional needs of the gifted: A teacher's survival guide, Schmitz, C. & Galbraith, J.
Moving Past Perfect: How Perfectionism May Be Holding Back Your Kids (and You!) and What You Can Do About It (formerly titled Freeing Our Families from Perfectionism), Greenspon, T.
This article is provided as a service of the Davidson Institute for Talent Development, a 501(c)3 nonprofit dedicated to supporting profoundly gifted young people 18 and under. To learn more about the Davidson Institute’s programs, please visit www.DavidsonGifted.org.
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