Understanding Sensory Seeking and Hypersensitive Children

Episode #145

Today's podcast episode is the episode I wish I had when my first born was little.

Today we are talking all things sensitive and sensory with Melissa Schwartz from www.LeadingEdgeParenting.com

If your kid is HYPERsensitive, you are probably already aware of it. It usually shows up the first few years with a sensitivity to lights, noises, textures, smells and tastes. They might be easily overstimulated and have long lasting meltdowns when exposed to too much stimulation. Kids whose sensory information is disorganized might be light sleepers, sensitive to pain, refuse to wear sunscreen or certain clothes, reluctant huggers, or prone to anxiety.

If your child is emotionally sensitive you probably notice this, too. These kids cry when others cry, they don't like intense TV scenes or movies, they might be tuned in to your emotions and feel depleted after being in large groups. Perhaps they struggle extra hard with coaches who yell, friends who are mean, and chaotic environments. If your child has stopped eating meat, it's probably out of sensitivity to animals or our planet.

But if your child is HYPOsensitive, you might not notice these symptoms as much. These kids can complain very little. You might notice they are clumsy, always have things in their mouth, they are more likely to wet their pants than throw a tantrum. These kids have a high tolerance for pain, noise, excitement, and seek out stimulating activities. They might fill their mouths or bellies full of food so they can experience the feeling of being full, or they may skip meals because they can't recognize the inner sensation of hunger. If your kid loves wrestling, climbing up high places, making messes and eating salty, crunchy, chewy food, you might have a sensory seeking child.

Melissa was born an intense, sensitive, empathic, power seeker. She is a respected expert in the field of Highly Sensitive Children and brings clarity, personal experience and compassion for parents raising HSCs. Her intuitive ability to decode misbehavior and her passion for giving a voice to the legitimate needs of children naturally evolved into becoming the co-creator of Leading Edge Parenting and co-author of Authentic Parenting Power and Rico’s Bumpy Week. She is an internationally acclaimed author, coach and public speaker bringing new perspective based on current research and personal experience to transform the field of child development. Melissa is a Stanford University alumna and a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. She lives with her family in Southern California and coaches parents around the world.

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