Are you finding it difficult to communicate with your highly sensitive child?
If this is the case, then this article will discuss seven specific parenting strategies that you can use with your child and explain how to put those strategies into practice.
What makes a child sensitive?
A child who is born with a nervous system that is sensitive and reacts quickly to everything is said to be highly sensitive. These children are able to pick up on things that other children are not affected by, including sights, smells, sounds, and feelings. Because of this, highly sensitive children frequently exhibit overreactions and feelings of being overwhelmed.
Here are some signs that your child may be sensitive:
- Reacts emotionally to almost everything; dwells on past errors and shortcomings
- takes things personally and has trouble deciding between options
- Has a profound sense of remorse Is sensitive to other people and the feelings they are expressing
- Has a passion for animals
- Is naturally inquisitive and asks a lot of questions
- Prefers to be by themselves and to spend time alone.-
- Does not enjoy watching scary movies.
- Prefers to carry out their work in secluded settings where no one else can see them.
Being a parent to this child is not the easiest job in the world, and it may be very taxing on the parents’ energy levels. As someone who was once a highly sensitive child, I am aware of the challenges that were presented to my parents.
The good news is that there are strategies for highly sensitive child parenting that will assist you in better comprehending the requirements of your child and in developing trustworthy relationships with them.
- Accept your child being sensitive
One of the first steps on the path to achievement is acceptance. There are a lot of parents out there who, for some reason, refuse to acknowledge the fact that their child is highly sensitive. Because they believe that their sensitivity is a disease, they do not want to acknowledge that the child is ill.
However, this is how they were born, and it is impossible to change that about them. Your only option is to show support for them in their current state. You shouldn’t make an effort to alter your child’s disposition, and you shouldn’t try to stop them from expressing their emotions. Instead, you should focus on trying to teach them how to deal with their feelings, both positive and negative.
In today’s society, feelings such as anger, anxiety, and hurt are frequently regarded as “unhealthy,” and for good reason. You have a responsibility to reassure your child that this is not the case, and that feeling the way they do is perfectly normal.
It is possible for your child to benefit in a way that is really powerful if they are allowed to experience these feelings without being told that these feelings are negative. After that, you will be able to channel these unfavorable feelings into the production of fuel that your child can use later on to engage in an activity that is of benefit to them. You need to reassure your child that he or she can feel whatever emotion they are experiencing by telling them, “All of your emotions are valid.” You can also use other types of positive affirmations to help your child build their confidence and become better able to deal with the range of emotions they experience.
- Let your child have downtimes
Children who are sensitive to their surroundings are easily overwhelmed by a variety of stimuli, including large crowds, loud and chaotic environments, and bright lights. These children require some time to relax. As a result, you ought to steer clear of overscheduling your child’s activities. Make it a priority to limit the number of extracurricular activities they participate in and encourage them to spend more time at home, where they will be in a secure setting.
Prepare some calm and soothing activities, such as playing board games, listening to calming music, or coloring in books and coloring pages. These children need some time to themselves so that they can “recharge their batteries,” as the expression goes. I can say this because I was a highly sensitive child myself.
- Remember that it is okay to set limits
You probably do not want to cause your sensitive child any distress in your role as a parent; however, making consistent exceptions is not at all helpful. Your child must be aware, even so, that there are boundaries to be respected. It is not acceptable to ignore inappropriate behaviors and actions merely in the interest of preserving peace. A child needs to understand that there are boundaries and certain behaviors that their parents won’t let them engage in.
Yes, you still need to be flexible, but make sure you don’t overlook the importance of discipline. Discipline is what enables children to develop into responsible adults in the future. Children will not be prepared for the outside world if there is no discipline in the home where they are raised. If you choose not to discipline your sensitive child, this means that you are choosing not to give them the opportunity to learn and comprehend the results of their actions.
For this reason, it is imperative that you establish boundaries and do not give your child permission to disobey the rules. The following is a list of methods of family discipline that you may find useful in your own home.
- Problem-solving skills with technology
Although you definitely don’t want to upset your sensitive youngster in your capacity as a parent, consistently making exceptions is not at all beneficial. However, your youngster must understand that there are limits that must be followed. Just to keep the peace, it is not acceptable to disregard improper actions and behaviors. A youngster must be made aware of the limits and actions that their parents won’t tolerate from them.
Yes, you still need to be adaptable, but be careful not to lose sight of the value of discipline. Children can become responsible individuals in the future thanks to discipline. If there is no discipline in the house where children are raised, they will not be ready for the outside world. If you decide not to discipline your sensitive child, you are denying them the chance to understand and learn from the consequences of their behavior.
You must therefore set limits and prevent your youngster from breaking them by refusing to give them permission. The family disciplinary techniques listed below might be helpful in your own home.
- Determine what the issue is. You should assist your child in identifying the issue and encouraging them to voice it aloud.
- Find at least five different ways to solve the problem. The best way to solve the problem is to come up with ideas together. Talk to the child about how not all possible solutions have to be beneficial. Just encourage their originality and imagination. It is acceptable to assist them if they are having difficulty and have no ideas to offer. Do not pass judgment on the solutions that your child proposes because any solution, no matter how ridiculous it may sound, is still a good idea.
- Examine each of the possible solutions. Each potential solution comes with a unique set of benefits and drawbacks. Be sure to talk about both of them and draw comparisons between them. In order for your kid to be able to make the best decision, they need to have an understanding of the positive and negative outcomes associated with each option.
- Make sure you go with the best option. Choose the most appropriate response once you have considered and appraised all of the available options. You should not make your child’s decision for them; rather, you should encourage your child to make their own decision and then discuss it together.
- Experiment with the proposed solution. Tell your child to give the solution they’ve chosen a shot and observe the results. There are additional options that can be tried out in case this one does not prove successful.
- Let your child explore their creativity
As was just mentioned, kids who are sensitive to their surroundings are acutely aware of their surroundings. They are more sensitive than other children to the sensations of smell, sight, sound, and touch. Because of this, allowing your child to express their creativity is one of the most effective strategies that you can try to implement.
For instance, you could let them organize their room in the manner that most appeals to them so that it is convenient for them. Your child’s bedroom serves as a kind of retreat or sanctuary for them, a place where they can go to refresh themselves and get away from the rest of the world. You could ask your child what their favorite color is and then allow them to paint the walls in the room using that color if they want to. If there is a particular pillow or cover that they really enjoy using, you should give it to them because having it will increase their level of comfort and make their “shelter” cozier and more convenient to use.
By implementing this tactic, you will not only be able to assist your child who is highly sensitive, but you will also give them the opportunity to express their natural creativity. When they are adults, the creative skills they have developed will be very useful to them and can be applied to a wide variety of facets of their lives. For instance, by the time your child is an adult, he or she will be able to apply creative thinking and visualization strategies in order to build a better life for themselves. Additionally, this tactic enables them to access their own personal wellspring of joy and contentment, which is a significant benefit.
- Teach them time management skills
Children who are highly sensitive are more likely to experience stress, particularly when there are a lot of things to do. For this reason, it’s possible that your child will find the first few years of school to be quite challenging. I am aware that you would like to be of assistance to your child, and the most effective way for you to do so would be to instruct them in the art of time management.
They must acquire the skills necessary to adhere to a predetermined schedule and maintain continuity with it. Because sensitive kids thrive on consistency, this shouldn’t be too challenging for them. In addition, having the ability to manage their time effectively prevents children from developing the “dangerous” habit of putting things off until later.
The year 1999 saw the publication of research that provided conclusive evidence that there is a connection between academic anxiety and procrastination. Anxiety is one of the primary dangers that sensitive children face. Therefore, one ought to steer clear of doing so. Demonstrate to them how to take care of and complete their extracurricular activities and homework on the same day, without allowing any time for a delay.
If you want to be of assistance to your child, you should demonstrate to them how you handle your own busy work schedule. The ability to manage one’s time effectively is of the utmost significance because it contributes to the coherence and order of one’s life.
- Appreciate their efforts
Children who are highly sensitive typically lack sufficient self-confidence and require a great deal of encouragement. Make it a point to show your appreciation for your child’s efforts, even if they were unsuccessful or did not bring about the desired outcomes. If you’re looking for motivation to praise your sensitive child, you can find it in the words of famous people who have said things about self-esteem and self-confidence.
However, do not praise for no reason. Children who are constantly praised for no apparent reason have been shown in a number of studies to have lower levels of self-esteem than children who are praised on an irregular basis. Exaggerated praise has the potential to foster the development of narcissism. There are a lot of people in the public eye who are narcissistic, which has an effect on the way they communicate with other people and with the employees working for them.
When you want to give your sensitive child compliments, you should focus on praising their efforts rather than the outcomes of their hard work. For instance, if your child is having difficulty with mathematics, you could tell them, “I admire how you continue to work hard and are not giving up.” You are bringing attention to the fact that laborious work and efforts are deserving of praise, despite the fact that they are not flawless and do not produce any outcomes.
Bringing up a sensitive child is not an easy task; as a parent, you may need to approach many aspects of parenting in a different way. You ought to be aware that the children in question have unique requirements that must be met in order to ensure their well-being. You have the responsibility of providing your sensitive child with all of the confidence and solace they require.
You can help your highly sensitive child thrive in this world and succeed with their specific trait and unique personality by employing parenting strategies that are designed specifically for highly sensitive children.