"You’re too sensitive." I’ve heard this sentence hundreds of times.
Everything moves me. A movie, the news on TV, a piece of music.
When I was younger, I developed strategies to avoid being seen crying in public. I’d skip movie screenings, get up and walk away to cry in secret...
Hypersensitivity is still often seen as a "weakness" or flaw, especially in certain professional environments. In children, this heightened sensitivity can manifest as intense emotional reactions, a fear of loud noises, difficulty adapting to changes, or frustration in situations that may seem trivial to others. As parents, it’s crucial to understand this phenomenon to better support our highly sensitive child and help them find their balance.
What Is Hypersensitivity?
Hypersensitivity is characterized by an increased perception of emotional and sensory stimuli. Highly sensitive children may react more intensely to sounds, light, textures, or even other people's emotions. They may also struggle to regulate their emotions in stressful situations, such as returning to school, a change in environment, or conflicts with their peers.This doesn't mean they're "fragile," but that they experience everything with a particular intensity, which can sometimes overwhelm them.
How to Support a Highly Sensitive Child?
Validate Their Emotions and Listen Without Judgment: The first step in helping a highly sensitive child is to validate their emotions. Instead of minimizing their feelings ("It’s nothing, don’t cry"), it’s important to let them know that you understand what they’re going through. For example: "I see that you’re really sad because..." or "I understand that you’re upset, it’s hard when...". This recognition makes the child feel understood and less alone with their emotions.
Avoid Sensory Overload: Highly sensitive children can easily become overwhelmed by external stimuli. It’s important to adjust their environment by reducing sources of noise, bright lights, or excessive stimulation. For example, if your child has trouble concentrating at home, creating a quiet, isolated space with minimal distractions can help them refocus.
Offer Emotional Regulation Strategies: Teaching a highly sensitive child how to manage their emotions is crucial. You can introduce simple techniques like deep breathing, visualization, or journaling to help them express what they’re feeling. The goal is to provide them with tools that can help calm them down when they’re overwhelmed by their emotions.The tool I use most with children? EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), of course! Not familiar with EFT? Now’s the perfect time to give it a try!
Encourage Self-Confidence: Highly sensitive children can sometimes doubt themselves or feel different from others. It's important to strengthen their self-esteem by focusing on their unique qualities. For instance, you can highlight their great empathy, artistic sensitivity, or creativity. Show them that their sensitivity is a strength, not a weakness.
Finally,
It's important to have regular conversations with your child to understand their needs. A highly sensitive child might find it difficult to express what they’re feeling or what bothers them. Taking the time to talk with them, ask open-ended questions, and provide spaces for self-expression is essential. They need to know that they can confide in you without fear of judgment.
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