Key Takeaways

• Emotionally sensitive kids absorb sensory information more quickly, which can make them feel overwhelmed. 

• Emotionally sensitive children benefit from identifying their emotions and learning how to cope.

• Parents can offer support by demonstrating calmness and modifying their expectations of their child.

Emotionally sensitive children feel things deeply and are more sensitive to their environment than other children.

They express their emotions loudly and have difficulty managing their big feelings, so parents often find it challenging to raise emotionally sensitive children.

The best way to offer support is to understand what causes these overreactions and teach them how to cope when they become overwhelmed.

Common Causes of Overreactions in Children

Some children are born with a highly sensitive brain. However, others may experience temporary periods of extra tearfulness or meltdowns.

Developmental factors, psychological influences and environmental triggers may all cause your child to be more emotional than usual.

Developmental Factors 

If your child is highly sensitive, they possess a personality trait known as sensory processing sensitivity.

This trait indicates a tendency to process stimuli more deeply than most individuals. Up to 20% of people may have this trait.

Psychological Influences

Highly sensitive children feel their emotions more intensely than their peers. They also show a higher level of empathy toward others.

They tend to be perfectionists and may have an intense fear of making mistakes.

When exposed to too much stimulation (such as a loud or bright environment), these children may feel emotionally overwhelmed, which can lead to outbursts or meltdowns.

Environmental Triggers

Even children who are not typically emotional may experience periods of difficulty. However, these periods do not necessarily indicate that they are highly sensitive.

Recent life changes, such as a long-distance move or the arrival of a sibling, can temporarily make your child more sensitive.

Other triggers for heightened sensitivity may include: 

• Stress

• Illness

• Inadequate nutrition

• Lack of sleep 

If you're concerned about your child's emotional and behavioral changes, reach out to their pediatrician.

An underlying infection or illness might be causing these changes. However, it's important to remember that high sensitivity is a neutral trait, not a disorder or diagnosis.

Recognizing Signs of Emotional Overreactions

Parenting a highly emotional child can be challenging. However, it's crucial to remember that they are not overreacting deliberately.

Unfortunately, their heightened intensity makes them more susceptible to facing challenges as they adjust to life's expectations.

Behavioral Indicators

Highly sensitive children are prone to meltdowns and experience stress more quickly than their peers. They also react strongly to sensory input, perceiving sounds, sights, tastes, and textures more intensely.

For instance, they might avoid public bathrooms because of the loud hand dryers or refuse certain foods due to their richness.

Because they are very attuned to their surroundings, they can feel uncomfortable if something appears out of place.

Emotional Indicators 

Highly sensitive children experience their emotions at extreme levels. They become ecstatic and enraged and are more prone to meltdowns.

They continuously analyze everything because they remain keenly tuned in to their environment. Although this makes them highly empathetic and insightful, they become more easily overwhelmed than others.

How To Manage a Child's Overreactions 

Visit your pediatrician before trying to address your child's overreactions. After ruling out medical issues, you can begin teaching them positive ways to deal with their emotions.

Create a Supportive Environment

You may need to adjust your expectations if you have a highly sensitive child. They don't mean to overreact.

They just feel their emotions more intensely than others. Highly sensitive children can sometimes push buttons. In these cases, it's best to ignore the outburst while still being present for your child.

This approach can help you avoid reinforcing such behaviors. Although validating your child's feelings is important, repeating these kinds of statements can sometimes agitate them, worsening the situation.

Validate them once, and then stay quiet and calm as your child processes their feelings.

Teach Emotional Regulation Skills

Coping with daily routines and activities can be difficult for highly sensitive children unless they learn how to regulate their emotions.

Teaching them how to identify their feelings and cope effectively is crucial. Deep breathing exercises, repeating positive affirmations and identifying mood boosters can help them calm down and regain control when their emotions are overwhelming.

Implement Effective Communication Techniques

When dealing with a highly sensitive child, communication is essential.

Respect their boundaries and give them space and time to process their thoughts and feelings.

At the end of your child's school day, refrain from asking how it went.

Sometimes, this question is overwhelming for highly sensitive children.

Allow them to share when they are ready, and avoid suggesting they need to toughen up or that they are too sensitive. Be empathetic and practice active listening when they express their feelings.

When To Seek Professional Help 

If your child is struggling to cope and their challenges are affecting them academically or socially, seek professional help. Emora Health provides a broad network of therapists who can assist your child in understanding their emotions while teaching effective coping strategies.

Takeaway

Highly sensitive children face many challenges. However, their heightened sensitivity also enables a strong sense of empathy, creativity and the ability to form deep connections with others.

By supporting your child, you can teach them to identify and manage their emotions while still validating their feelings.

Sources:

1. Acevedo BP, Aron EN, Aron A, Sangster MD, Collins N, Brown LL. The highly sensitive brain: an fMRI study of sensory processing sensitivity and response to others' emotions. Brain Behav. 2014 Jul;4(4):580-94. doi: 10.1002/brb3.242. Epub 2014 Jun 23. PMID: 25161824; PMCID: PMC4086365.