When my daughter was a toddler she would sob the second I altered the tone or volume of my voice. I once shouted over a noisy lawnmower and the kid cried as though she was being dangled over a pit of fire.
“Oh, she’s just a sweet, sensitive girl,” the other mothers would coo when I shared my tales of frustration.
To this day, my “sweet, sensitive girl” still covers her ears when she encounters loud or unexpected noises, but at least she doesn’t break down in tears.
While many people are quick to label my child as “sensitive” I prefer to categorize her as “acutely aware of her surroundings” (well, most of the time). Nothing gets by that kid. Seriously; her hearing is almost inhuman. She’s like a dolphin. A dolphin with a memory like an elephant. She registers everything and remembers minute details as though it’s second nature.
Other than being a bit inconvenient at times (especially when a Harley roars by while we are in church) my daughter’s sensitivity to loud sounds hasn’t been a major problem… for me.
Other parents with sensitive children don’t share the same opinion. I know some moms and dads who constantly walk on eggshells in an effort to avoid situations that may trigger their child.
Is it frustrating? Sure. However, a new study reveals that children who are highly reactive to their environment may actually live more productive lives than kids who are more easy-going.
According to the psych journal Child Development, the type of home environment a child is raised in plays a huge role in his ability to cope with stressful situations. The study sampled nearly 350 kindergarteners, who were tested on how easily stressed they got during certain situations. For example, researchers asked the kids to repeat back a list of numbers while correcting their mistakes, placed two drops of concentrated lemon juice on their tongues, and then subjected them to interviews about their likes, and dislikes.
After each exposure, researchers measured the kids’ biological reactions, including their heart hate, breathing and sweat production. In the end, scientists found that laid-back children whose home environment featured a lot of anger and fighting or “harsh and restrictive parenting,” did not fare as well on the test as the ultra-sensitive kids who came from positive home environments.
Bottom line: Even if your kid is a categorized as a delicate flower, he can still blossom with the right care.
So for parents, who are constantly trying to toughen up the kid they perceive to be a wimp, think twice about your methods. In your aim to raise a dandelion, you may end up with a shrinking violet… for life.
Is your child ultra-sensitive?
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