Perfectionism in children doesn’t always look like straight A’s and gold stars. Sometimes it’s a preschooler ripping up art over a crooked line. Sometimes it’s a middle schooler hiding unfinished homework because they’re afraid of being “found out.” And sometimes it’s a teen who can’t post a photo without editing it into oblivion.

We are breaking down the three perfectionist types, how temperament, neurodivergence, and cultural norms shape them, and why the wrong kind of praise or pressure can cement the problem.

Is your child shutting down at school? Avoiding hard tasks? It may not be a motivation problem. It may be a safety one. This research-rich guide shows how parents can build a real growth mindset system at home, and why that matters more than any classroom pep talk.

Your child didn’t forget everything over the summer. They just haven’t had enough safe, supported chances to recall it. Here’s the science-backed truth about memory, school readiness, and why your calm—not cramming—is what actually helps.

You don’t want to scare your child. You just want them to listen. But FAFO parenting (Fear based, authoritarian, fast obedience) feels easier sometimes… until it backfires. Here’s why even child development experts fall into it, what science says about its long-term effects, and how to rewire your reactions without losing authority.