How to Help a Highly Sensitive Child Who Feels Different

So your highly sensitive child feels different. It’s common. HSCs typically stand out from other children, even if they don’t want or intend to. By nature they are different, and it is noticeable. The problem is that many highly sensitive children are not comfortable feeling different.

When Your Child Feels Different – Help Them Embrace it!

As the parents of these amazing children it’s important to teach our highly sensitive children (HSCs) that standing out from the crowd takes courage but that being or feeling different is ok. In fact, it’s more than ok.

A reader of Happy Sensitive Kids recently got in touch with me to say that she has recently discovered her daughter is a HSC and her daughter actually loves the fact that she is different. What an amazing stance to take through life – and that surely has to be something we parents should strive to hear from our children as they grow up.

The fact is that HSCs do stand out, in many ways – and unless they suppress who they are or what they feel (and that would be a shame) then they will continue to do so as they go through life, even if the differences become more subtle as they move into adulthood.

The Ways in Which a Highly Sensitive Child Feels Different

Because tears fall easily and emotions run close to the surface.

Because they feel the emotions of others and those emotions affect them.

HSCs stand out because they notice the details.

A highly sensitive child feels different because they are more easily overwhelmed by their environment. And they cannot always control how this overwhelm outs itself.

HSCs stand out because they wear noise reducing headphones in the classroom and need lots of quiet time to recharge.

HSCs stand out because they, albeit reluctantly, decline a birthday party invite from their best friend because they know the party will be too much for them to cope with.

These are the children that stand out because they refuse to stay overnight at their grandparents without their parents.

HSCs stand out because they don’t want to go away on school camp.

A highly sensitive child may stand out because they stand at the side of the playground and observe instead of joining in the games of other children.

And because they are cautious about going down the slide in the playground and watch hesitantly as other children hurtle down with glee. (Note that thrill-seeking HSCs will not experience this – as this post points out).

Because they have a meltdown when their mother or father leaves them behind at pre-school or school.

HSCs feel different because they won’t co-operate when the doctor or dentist wants to examine them.

HSCs stand out when a shy label is stuck on their forehead.

When a Highly Sensitive Child Stands Out in a POSITIVE Way

A highly sensitive child can feel different in so many situations. It’s no wonder the idea of being highly sensitive eventually takes on a negative life of its own. However, HSCs can stand out in ways that parents can nurture and eventually use to help a HSC see just how amazing their characteristics are.

Because HSCs also stand out for many positive reasons too:

• They step in when they see someone being bullied or mistreated
• A HSC sees injustice and makes a stand
• There is no hesitation to comfort and help others in distress and need
• They feel strongly about a cause and stand up for those beliefs
• They care about animals and nature and take steps to help both
• HSCs notice the beauty in the world around them
• They stand out because they are creative
• HSCs stand out because they are insightful
• They see the dangers and warn others
• HSCs stand out because they understand far beyond the words that are spoken
• They are conscientious and hard working

The ways HSCs positively stand out can be nurtured to help a highly sensitive child realise that feeling different and standing out definitely has its advantages. Highly sensitive people have the characteristics, passion and insights to make a real difference to others and the world we live in.

And that’s how we help them feel comfortable standing out in a crowd.