TEMPERAMENT SERIES PART 3: SENSITIVITY
Well, hello! I am back! May-hem hit us hard in our household and boy oh boy were we busy. Between 2 kids doing Little League and Swim Team and all the other responsibilities of life we are just coming up for air. But I am excited to be back to talk about our next temperament trait: sensitivity. If you missed parts 1 & 2 of this series please go back in the archives and check those blog posts out!
Have you ever been in the car trying to navigate directions while the radio is on, the kids are yelling at you from the back seat while really needing to pee? Did you feel like you were suddenly on the verge of a nervous breakdown?? I have!! This is a prime example of sensory overload and sensitive kids can reach this breaking point seemingly out of nowhere.
If you have a kiddo who appears to go from 0-60 and shut down or meltdown without obvious warning, you are probably dealing with some degree of sensitivity. Sensitive kids can feel bombarded all day long with sights, sounds, and feelings that overstimulate them, overburdening their sensitive nervous systems. Stimuli that may seem innocuous to someone who isn’t sensitive can feel like an absolute barrage to someone high in sensitivity. This might look like complaints about how clothes feel, a food’s taste or texture, the lights or sounds in a crowded room, or even having big feelings about how someone spoke to or treated them. If, as a parent, you are unaware that you have a temperamentally sensitive child (i.e. part of who they are and not how they’re choosing to be) it can be easy to become exasperated with them, wondering “Why is everything such a big deal?!?!” For this reason, it is important to recognize this temperament trait in your child so that together you can approach the problem proactively and with empathy.
The following tips will help both you and your sensitive child recognize triggers and navigate the world to foster success:
Model emotional vocabulary to help build your child’s. Kids who can express their feelings are less lonely than those who can’t.
Be aware of how much stimulation your child is receiving and be proactive in protecting them from getting too much.
Teach your child to understand their own personal triggers and how to advocate for themselves.
Limit screen time. Although screens may seem like great downtime for sensitive kids, it will actually lead to overstimulation and make any negative behaviors more pronounced.
Use calming strategies when your child is ramping up: water play, heavy work, arts & crafts, reading, etc.
Manage your own stress - sensitive kids are like sponges sucking up all the stress around them.
If you have a sensitive child (or are sensitive yourself) try these strategies and let me know what you think. And don’t despair, if fostered, sensitivity allows for deep empathy, genuine connection, and a honed intuition. All really desireable qualities in a human! Your sensitive little person has so much potential for greatness!
Sending calming energy your way,
Morgan