What is an effective strategy for addressing perfectionism in gifted students?

Modeling risk-taking and responses to failure is an effective strategy for addressing perfectionism in gifted students because it encourages them to view challenges as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles to avoid. Gifted students often set unrealistically high standards for themselves and may fear making mistakes due to a desire to maintain their status or avoid failure. By demonstrating how to take risks and respond positively to setbacks, educators can help these students understand that errors are a natural part of the learning process. This approach promotes resilience, fosters a growth mindset, and enables students to engage with their work more freely, reducing anxiety and the fear of imperfection.

In contrast, establishing a reward system for careful work may inadvertently reinforce perfectionistic tendencies, as it can signal that only flawless work is valuable. Praising students daily for effort, while beneficial, may not fully address the underlying perfectionist mindset if not accompanied by modeling risk-taking behavior. Setting unreachable goals can exacerbate perfectionism, leading to frustration and a diminished sense of self-worth when those goals are not met. Thus, showing how to embrace risk and handle failure is key to helping gifted students overcome perfectionism.