Highly sensitive kids like to feel in control of their environment and enjoy knowing what to expect. They have trouble with unexpected surprises, especially unpleasant ones, such as criticism, making mistakes and/or unintentionally hurting others. As a result, they may try to control their environment and the actions of others around them by being “perfect.” This often means setting extremely high standards for themselves that are difficult, if not impossible, to meet. Perfectionism can cause a lot of anxiety, especially in the school setting. The trouble comes when they begin connecting their value to whether or not they meet these far-reaching standards.
If your child struggles with a fear of failure, it is important to help them understand that mistakes are an important part of learning and growing. Check out these seven children’s books about perfectionism to get the conversation started.
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7 Great Children’s Books About Perfectionism
The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes tells the story of a 9 year old who has never made a mistake. She prides herself on perfection until she makes her very first mistake. A great book that shows it is okay to make mistakes.
Beautiful Oops – A really fun book that celebrates mistakes and helps children see them as an opportunity for something great.
The Dot – Perfect for the child who has trouble starting a project or assignment, because they doubt themselves and their ability.
The Most Magnificent Thing – This story shows how failing is an important part of learning and that you don’t have to do everything perfect to be successful.
The Book of Mistakes – A unique picture book that show that mistakes are part of the creative process and how a blunder can inspire something even more beautiful.
What to Do When Good Enough Isn’t Good Enough: The Real Deal on Perfectionism: A Guide for Kids – Written for children ages 9-13, this book breaks the different aspects of perfectionism into easy to read chapters. It provides “real-life” accounts of children similar in age, while also asking questions of the reader. There are also a lot tips throughout and suggested activities to manage perfectionism.
What to Do When Mistakes Make you Quake: A Kid’s Guide to Accepting Imperfection – An interactive book to help children struggling with self-confidence and fear of failure.
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