Today's Tip for Families

11-25-2021

Stress Excellence, Not Perfection

As a parent, of course you want your teen to do his best in school. That’s different than demanding that he be the best. Trying for excellence is healthy and motivating. Insisting on perfection is unrealistic and stressful. It can also be harmful.

If either you or your teen is a perfectionist, it’s not too late to relax a little. Try learning a new skill together. It's a great way to develop a realistic attitude about mistakes.

Mistakes don’t mean you’re a failure. They mean you’re human. They also offer valuable opportunities to learn about a topic … or yourself!

If your teen has a hard time believing he can ever improve through trial and error, remind him that he already has. Show him his improvement over the years in scrapbooks and photographs or videos of his earliest attempts at a sport. Point out the kind of book he read two years ago, compared with what he can do now. Let him know he has what it takes to learn and grow.

Brought to you by:

Webster County Schools

[School Success Ideas for Families]

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