Highly-sensitive children, much like highly-sensitive adults, are individuals that are extremely sensitive to the world around them. Not just in the normal range of sensitivity, but also to a very high extreme.
If you have a highly sensitive child, likely, you have already picked up on it a bit, but you may still have questions. Thankfully, there are several traits and habits shared among highly-sensitive children. Here are 12 habits of highly-sensitive children.
1. They pick up on your mood, even when you try to hide it.
Even when you attempt to cover your emotions, your child easily picks up on how you feel. They are quick to pick up on your mood without you even having to say or do anything. It’s almost as though they are an empath.
2. They have extreme emotions.
When they get upset, they don’t feel their emotions in a level way. Instead, their emotions are extreme, ranging from one extreme to the next. Even happiness or excitement can seem intense from them.
3. They are extremely sensitive to sensory input.
Environments where there is heavy sensory input (bright lights, high-pitched noises, etc) cause them to become overwhelmed. In some cases, you have to separate them from the environment.
4. They cry easily.
Slight and even small things upset them to an extreme. They become very sad and upset, and may not even know why they are upset as they are. It’s almost uncontrollable.
5. They get upset with themselves easily.
When they mess up on something or get a bad grade in school, they get upset. They are very hard on themselves, and are prone to frustration, especially toward themselves.
6. Common discipline methods don’t work for them.
When you get onto them, normal discipline methods simply don’t work. They don’t respond the typical way to time-outs or even grounding.
7. Getting them to rest after a busy day is difficult.
After you’ve had a long day, with people or just out and about, they have a hard time winding down. Sometimes, they get so upset it’s hard to calm them down.
8. You have to gradually introduce them to new activities.
When introducing them to a new activity, or environment, they are easily overwhelmed. Because of this, you find you have to slowly introduce them in bursts. Otherwise, they will get upset.
9. They need time to recharge.
When they have been around others, or been in chaotic or overstimulating environments, they need time to themselves. Sometimes you may even have to pull them away for a few moments to allow them to refresh when you have them in a busy place.
10. They don’t like loud or overwhelming places.
Loud places like the supermarket or family events can upset them easily. They don’t like the overstimulation and may try to even avoid it at all costs.
11. They are highly attuned to others.
You may notice that your highly-sensitive little one seems to pick up on the emotions and feelings of others. And when others are upset or feeling things intensely around them, they may also seem to be affected by those emotions.
12. They have a hard time losing.
When they lose a competition or fail to do something they expect themselves to be able to do, they take it very hard. They hold very high standards for themselves and are sensitive to criticism.