| PRODUCT SEARCH | |
| Age | |
 By Janet Bender and Amy Murray Help Children Realize That Mistakes Are Okay (Grades 3-6) Some children are underachievers; some are overachievers. Underachieving children do not perform as well academically as their potential indicates they can. Overachieving children are constantly working; never completely happy with the end result. What do these children have in common? Perfectionism! Both underachievers and overachievers feel that mistakes are bad. Underachievers often times are afraid to try new things for fear of making mistakes. They may only attempt activities in which they can easily be successful. Overachievers work constantly to get everything right, in order to avoid making mistakes or getting something wrong. Sometimes they develop unrealistic expectations, believing they can accomplish something when the task is beyond their current abilities. This book takes an honest look at the little known negative consequences of the excessive pursuit of perfection. Perfect Pals includes a delightful children's story, discussion guide, reproducible parent articles, helpful tips and 18 motivational student activities to help children and youth avoid the frustrating pursuit of the impossible and move toward the fulfilling achievement of excellence. Click here to get a sneak preview of the book! Note from the author, Janet Bender: Why Is This Resource Needed? Until recently, I never thought of perfectionism as a problem. In fact, I admired the trait in others, and aspired to achieve perfection in many areas of my own life.After researching the topic and reflecting on the dynamics of perfectionist thinking in my life and the lives of my students, I began to see things differently. Instead of viewing "perfection" as an admirable condition devoid of flaws or weaknesses, I now realize that "perfection" is an unattainable standard which, when pursued to excess, may result in negative emotional and relational consequences. Realistically, we live in a highly competitive society where people often equate self-worth with performance. From an early age, children learn that making A's and winning trophies or contests earns them approval from adults and popularity among their peers. If a child's quest for achievement is driven primarily by the fear of failure or a strong need for approval and acceptance, it may indicate the presence of some degree of perfectionism. Perfectionists often set unrealistically high goals for themselves. While others view them as successful, they rarely see their own performance as good enough. This mindset may result in a child who is anxious and hypercritical, or one who is overly competitive, boastful and judgmental. Some perfectionists who fear failure become procrastinating underachievers rather than risk doing a task imperfectly. In any case, identifying and challenging irrational perfectionist thinking early in a child's life can help him/her move from the frustrating pursuit of the impossible, toward the fulfilling achievement of excellence. |
|||
PO Box 22185, Chattanooga, TN 37422-2185
423.899.5714 800.477.8277 Fax: 423.899.4547 email: info@ncyi.org