Perfectionism, or the refusal to accept anything short of ‘perfect’ when it comes to one’s work, goes beyond just striving for excellence. Excellence involves a range of possible outcomes, but perfection implies an absolute which can’t be attained or even measured.
The dangers of perfectionism
I’ve seen perfectionism affect students as young as Kindergarten, and at every grade level beyond.
Holding themselves captive to unachievable expectations can leave kids feeling frustrated, angry, and even depressed. The more these students achieve, the higher they set the bar for themselves. Perfection is always just out of reach.
Perfectionism may not “ruin” a child’s life, but it will stifle it. It can prevent kids from trying new things, pursuing opportunities, finishing what they start, and following their dreams.
It’s worth doing whatever we can to help students avoid the trap of setting their standards so high they can never be achieved. Maybe if kids can learn to identify and reject this mindset while they are young, they can prevent perfectionism from following them into adulthood.
There isn’t just one way to beat perfectionism! Here are 5 ideas I’ve used with my students:
1. Talk about it…
Bring up the topic of perfectionism to discuss as a class (when you’re not in the midst of it happening). Get students talking and thinking about times they’ve found themselves being a perfectionist. It may help kids to hear that their classmates experience the same feelings at times, too.
2. Read about it…
Find a story to share, such as “Ish” by Peter Reynolds, that allows kids to see the effects of perfectionism through a fictional child’s perspective.
The ending of this sweet story offers a charming alternative to aiming for “perfect” that kids can really relate to. I won’t spoil it here… you just need to read this book to your students! Every K-8 classroom needs “Ish”.
3. Call it out…
Call out perfectionism when you see it. Without mentioning anyone specifically, use a catch-phrase directed to the whole class that reminds them of what you’ve talked about. I like to say, “Remember, only God is perfect!”
I’ve watched so many students release a heavy burden from their shoulders upon hearing this simple reminder. It really takes the pressure off. If you teach in a setting where mentioning “God” is allowed (I realize there are places where you can’t do that), these words may be just what your students need to hear!
If that reminder doesn’t work for you, come up with one of your own that your students will relate to. Encourage them to use it as an affirmation when they find themselves falling prey to the stress of unrealistic expectations.
4. Give them a visual…
Visual learners may relate especially well to an image that reminds them to resist perfectionism – without using any words at all. You can post a visual reminder in your classroom and occasionally direct students’ attention to it as the need arises. Use this famous painting, or choose a different visual that works for you and your students.
5. Make more “process art”…
If students are feeling stressed by their art lessons, it may be time to lighten the mood with some process art. With process art, the finished result isn’t so important… it’s all about the enjoyment of experimenting with art materials.
Making Gelli Prints is my favorite way to de-stress with process art, but the opportunities for playing with art supplies are truly endless! Focusing more on non-objective abstract art and less on realism for a while can help, too.
What’s possible without perfectionism
There is hope! Great things can be achieved when students avoid the trap of perfectionism. Inspire them by sharing what’s possible when an artist doesn’t let perfectionism get in the way. Check out my blog post, “Wishing you a Perfectionism-Free New Year.”
an inspiring quote:
“Better to do something imperfectly than to do nothing flawlessly.” ~ Robert H. Schuller
It’s ironic how perfectionism reflects a student’s intense desire to succeed, but it can actually be the very thing that prevents their success.
Perfectionism often leads to procrastination as a way to avoid the negative feelings perfectionism brings.
When students procrastinate it lowers their chances to succeed and do their best by decreasing the amount of time they have available to complete their work. Success is more likely when procrastination isn’t part of the process!
