5 tips for everyday life with a highly sensitive child
1. choose comfortable clothing
Many highly sensitive children react sensitively to certain materials or tight clothing. Make sure that your child wears soft and comfortable clothing that feels pleasant on the skin. Let them have a say in the choice of clothing to ensure that they feel comfortable. Avoid scratchy labels or tight cuffs as these often cause discomfort.
2. create smooth transitions
Highly sensitive children often have difficulties with sudden transitions, such as from play to bedtime or from school to homework. It is advisable to make transitions as gentle as possible. Let your child know in good time and use visual or acoustic signals to prepare for the change. Fixed rituals can help to make these transitions easier and prepare the child emotionally.
Create targeted retreats and allow breaks in quiet environments.
3. avoid overstimulation through targeted breaks
Highly sensitive children tend to be quickly overwhelmed by too many stimuli - be it noise, visual impressions or crowds of people. Create targeted retreats and allow breaks in quiet environments where your child can relax. Also be aware of possible overstimulation at school or during leisure activities and talk to teachers or carers to find suitable solutions.
- Scientifically based questionnaires for parents and children are a common and reliable method for assessing high sensitivity.
- Further information and corresponding questionnaires can be found on the website sensitivityresearch.com, which was created by developmental psychologist Michael Plüss and other experts.
- Behavioural observations by psychologists and interviews with parents, teachers and the child offer a supplementary, more in-depth analysis.
4. divide homework into small sections
Highly sensitive children often feel overwhelmed by large tasks. Therefore, divide the homework into smaller, manageable sections and plan regular breaks. Work with positive reinforcement systems to create incentives. It is important that the child has enough time to organise their thoughts before tackling the next task.
5. introduce relaxation techniques for everyday life
Teach your child simple techniques to calm down when they are overstimulated. These can be breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation or mindfulness exercises. These techniques help to regulate the nervous system and bring the child back into a relaxed state. In the long term, your child will benefit from integrating these techniques into their everyday life.
These tips are based on the findings from books by Elaine N. Aron, Brigitte Küster and Kathrin Borghoff, which deal with the topic of high sensitivity and dealing with highly sensitive children.
