Sometimes perfectionism is necessary, required, and even beneficial. Sometimes perfectionism is problematic and can impair decision making, progress, and communication. Thus, the goal is not to eradicate perfectionism, but rather to channel it when it is useful, and let go of it when it isn’t. Caring and educated adults can help gifted students who struggle with maladaptive perfectionism to decrease adverse thinking patterns and behaviors. It is important for these parents and educators to understand perfectionism, identify indicators of it, identify when it’s useful and when it isn’t, decrease negative perfectionism, and promote positive perfectionism. These themes will be addressed in this session, along with strategies that can be implemented within the regular classroom setting, in the exclusively gifted classroom, and in the home, with the ultimate goal of helping these students become more balanced and adaptable, enabling them to achieve their personal best.
