Here are some questions you can ask yourself to evaluate if your child is a Sensitive Child: -
Do you think your child has Big Emotions for small situations?
Does your child get irritated when worn a rough piece of clothing or textured clothing?
Do loud/sudden noises startle your child?
Music levels that are common for you, is too loud for them to handle?
Is your child highly aware of subtle sounds, movements, emotions around?
Is your child high on empathy with those around them (peers, nature, animals)?
Does your child need things in place, organized or in structure?
Does your child flourish in creative fields - art, music etc.?
Being in midst of nature helps them calm down?
Does your child throw a tantrum on being hungry?
Your child feels easily overwhelmed in various situations?
Strong smells make them cough or irritation in their throat?
Does your child process everything around thoroughly and deeply?
Do extremely bright lights hurt their eyes or causes them a headache?
They usually avoid large groups, busy areas, high traffic regions.
Does your child have a low capacity to bear pain?
If something goes unlike their plan, do they feel like the whole world is coming to an end?
A small ache in the body may be a huge discomfort in their minds.
Is your child excessively shy in front of acquaintances or strangers?
Life events like sight of accident or some traumatic news make them deeply scared or discouraged?
Do they need a lot of downtime, being by themselves for hours at a time.
Does your child desire love, care, support, constant connection from you?
Is your child highly influenced by movies or visual media?
Others may feel something for days or weeks, does your child feel the same for months?
Does your child hold resentment for stretched amount of time?
Does your child try to avoid conflict or concerned about pleasing others?
Does your child catch fears and stay scared about that event, incident, person for years?
If most of your answers were a "YES" then it's likely that your child is a
"Highly Sensitive Child."
Above mentioned are just some of the aspects, there are many more characteristics of this nature. Did you know that 15-20% humans born are Highly Sensitive in nature? And most of the people have it genetically passed on to them. It simply means that they have a nervous system that is overreactive or quite sensitive in nature that was passed on to them by parents or great grandparents. I am sure you can trace a pattern to it.
Parenting these children can be challenging at times because these kids need a whole different way of parenting them. They need a lot more involvement from you. Since the time your child was born, you have worried about them being too shy, too emotional, too sensitive, too intense. The things that work for other children don't quite work for them.
Your child being difficult, stubborn, out of control on purpose - NO.
Is your child facing a difficult time dealing with their own sensitivity - YES.
Is it a problem to be born with a sensitive nervous system - NO.
Is it a personality trait to be sensitive - YES.
Do they need a lot more of your support, care, protection in younger years - YES, a lot.
Do they need a parent to guide, nudge and help them regulate emotions - YES, absolutely.
Do they remain sensitive for life - YES.
Do they learn to handle and deal with their sensitivity better & lead a normal life - YES.
Can they do this without you - NO.