12 Behaviors of a Highly Sensitive Child and How to Support Them

Raising a highly sensitive child (HSC) can be both rewarding and challenging. These children experience the world in a unique way, which can be more deeply and intensely than others. As a parent or caregiver, understanding the behaviors associated with high sensitivity can help you create a nurturing environment where your child can thrive.

12 Behaviors of a Highly Sensitive Child

In this post, we’ll explore 12 common behaviors in highly sensitive children and offer strategies for how to support them.

1. Deep Processing and the Need for ‘Down Time’

A hallmark of a highly sensitive child is their ability to process information deeply. HSCs reflect on their experiences and emotions more intensely than other children. After a busy day or emotional event, they often need “down time” to recharge and process what they’ve experienced.

To support your child, ensure they have quiet moments where they can decompress. Encourage activities like reading, drawing, or simply being alone in a calm space to help them recover from overstimulation.

2. Tendency to Become Easily Overstimulated

Highly sensitive children are particularly sensitive to their environment. Whether it’s loud noises, bright lights, or busy social situations, they can easily become overwhelmed by too much sensory input. This can lead to irritability, withdrawal, or emotional outbursts.

Create a calm, structured environment for your child to help prevent overstimulation. Set aside quiet spaces where they can retreat if they feel overwhelmed and help them recognize the signs of overstimulation so they can self-regulate.

3. Experiencing a Richer Emotional Range

One of the most noticeable behaviors in a highly sensitive child is their heightened emotional response. HSCs may feel emotions more deeply than other children, reacting strongly to both positive and negative experiences. They might cry at a movie or feel deeply affected by someone else’s sadness.

Encourage your child to express their feelings and validate their emotions. Offering comfort and reassurance during emotional moments helps them manage their intense feelings without judgment.

4. Attention to Subtle Details

A highly sensitive child is often keenly aware of small details that others may miss. They may notice a slight change in someone’s appearance, a small scratch on a surface, or a subtle shift in the environment.

While this can make them incredibly observant, it may also cause them to become distracted or overwhelmed. Celebrate their gift for noticing the small things, but help them understand when it’s appropriate to focus on more important tasks.

5. Empathic Abilities

Many highly sensitive children are natural empaths, meaning they have a strong ability to sense and absorb the emotions of others. If someone is upset, your child may feel their pain as if it were their own, leading to compassion but also emotional exhaustion.

Teach your child about emotional boundaries and how to protect themselves from taking on others’ feelings too much. Encourage self-care practices, such as taking breaks or spending time alone to recharge.

6. Strong-Willed or High-Spirited Behavior

Highly sensitive children can also exhibit strong-willed or high-spirited behaviors. This often manifests as a determination to stick to their preferences or desires, even if it leads to conflict.

While this can be challenging, it’s important to recognize that their strong will is a reflection of their deep sensitivity to their surroundings. Approach discipline with understanding, offering choices to help them feel in control and respected.

7. Sensory Sensitivities

Sensory sensitivities are common in highly sensitive children. They might dislike certain fabrics, seams, or tags in their clothing, or they may be extremely picky about food textures. This sensitivity to physical sensations is a core trait of high sensitivity.

Respect their sensory preferences by providing clothing that feels comfortable and offering a variety of food textures. Understanding and accommodating these needs can prevent unnecessary stress and meltdowns.

8. Shyness or Bossiness

Highly sensitive children may display a combination of behaviors that can seem contradictory. They might be shy or reserved in new or overstimulating situations but can also be assertive or bossy when it comes to their preferences or routines.

Support your child by encouraging them to engage socially at their own pace. While it’s important to nurture their leadership skills, also teach them the value of collaboration and compromise.

9. Big Emotional Outbursts

Another common behavior in highly sensitive children is emotional outbursts. These can happen when they feel overwhelmed by their emotions or the external world. Meltdowns are often triggered by frustration or sensory overload, and they may seem disproportionate to the situation.

When your child has an emotional outburst, remain calm and provide comfort. Use this as an opportunity to teach them how to identify their emotions and manage them more effectively in the future.

10. Observing Before Engaging

A highly sensitive child may prefer to stand back and observe before engaging in new activities or social situations. They might be hesitant to jump into play with other children or take part in unfamiliar activities until they have assessed the situation.

Be patient with your child’s need to observe and give them time to adjust. Encourage them gently without pressuring them to participate before they feel ready.

11. Aesthetic Needs and Preferences

Highly sensitive children may have specific aesthetic needs, such as a preference for certain colors, cup designs, or food presentations. They might insist on a particular way of having their sandwich cut or prefer to drink from a specific cup.

While these preferences can seem fussy, they are a sign that your child needs control over their environment in a way that brings them comfort. Understanding and respecting these needs can help reduce frustration and help your child feel more secure.

12. Struggling with Transitions

Transitions can be difficult for a highly sensitive child. Whether it’s moving from one activity to another or adjusting to a new routine, these changes can be particularly stressful for them. HSCs may need extra time to process these shifts.

To support your child, offer visual or verbal cues before transitions occur. Give them time to adjust to changes in routine, and use consistent rituals or activities to help them feel more secure during these times.

Nurturing and Supporting Your Highly Sensitive Child

Understanding the behaviors of a highly sensitive child is the first step in helping them navigate a world that may sometimes feel overwhelming. By recognizing and supporting their unique needs, you can foster an environment where they can flourish. Embrace your child’s sensitivity as a gift, and create a space where they can feel understood, accepted, and loved. ‘\

With patience and the right strategies, your highly sensitive child will grow into a compassionate, emotionally intelligent, and resilient individual.

A Must-Read for Parents of Highly Sensitive Children: Rico the Race Car: Rico’s Bumpy Week

If you’re raising a highly sensitive child, Rico the Race Car: Rico’s Bumpy Week by Jade Enright, Melissa Schwartz, and Amanda Ravensdale is a must-read. This heartwarming story follows Rico, a sensitive race car, as he learns to embrace his emotions and seek comfort from his mom after a tough day at school.

The book offers valuable tools for parents and educators to model for highly sensitive children, with a helpful guide at the back to support emotional growth. A perfect resource for both kids and adults, Rico’s Bumpy Week teaches the beauty of sensitivity and self-acceptance. Available now in paperback!