Happily Homeschooling Littles
Picture yourself in a busy classroom surrounded by 24 other children.
The teacher just finished an engaging Science lesson, but you found yourself missing out on half of it due to the constant distraction of your neighbor's hushed whispers.
This scenario represents just a glimpse into the daily experiences of highly sensitive children in the school environment.
Sensitive kids can have many challenges in the school setting, making you wonder if homeschooling is worth considering.
Especially if your child is…
A child who suppresses their emotions during school hours only to release them in the safe haven of home.
A child who feels disoriented within the classroom setting, struggling to find their place.
A child who exhibits disruptive or detached behavior as a response to overwhelming stimuli.
It's only natural for you to hope your child's educators will recognize that these behaviors stem from their heightened...
Teaching Good Sportsmanship to Highly Sensitive Kids
If your kid is regularly pouting or freaking out during sports, and you find yourself wondering if it’s worth it, read on.
Do you feel like you're walking on eggshells, never knowing what will trigger the next emotional outburst, embarrassed that this is now happening in public?
You're not alone. Many parents of highly sensitive children struggle with the same challenges.
You might wonder if just changing the objective, expecting your child to do better at an individual sport like gymnastics or track will decrease the comparison.
But here's the truth: switching from soccer to an individual sport won't solve the problem, because your child needs collaboration skills.
The real issue lies in your child's inability to manage their emotions in overwhelming situations.
Whether it's a team sport or an individual activity, your child needs to learn how to regulate their emotions safely and effectively.
Once a child can do that, their flexibility and leadership in team sports...
Does Play Therapy End The Meltdown Cycle For Sensitive Kids?
You love your sensitive child with all your heart.
But the daily tidal wave of tears, tantrums, and meltdowns leaves you feeling drained and defeated.
No matter how patiently you respond, your child shuts down at the smallest frustration.
You want to help them thrive, but don't know where to start.
This is not for lack of trying that you’re locked in a daily battle of wills with a child who seems wired to overreact.
The judgmental glares, the well-meaning but useless advice from others, the isolation you feel - it cuts deep.
You question your parenting at every turn.
But here's the truth: you are not alone, and you are not a bad parent.
In fact, the very act of seeking help makes you an exceptional parent.
It takes courage to admit you need support on this journey. Your child's sensitivity is not a flaw to be fixed, but a difference to be understood and nurtured...
Does CBT End The Meltdown Cycle?
You're a problem solver and a high achiever, always striving to give your child the best.
But despite your efforts, your sensitive child struggles with daily refusals, shut downs, and meltdowns.
It's a cycle that leaves you feeling helpless and frustrated, wondering if you'll ever find a solution.
You've considered therapy, thinking it might be the answer you've been searching for.
And while seeking help is a brave step, not all solutions are equipped to handle the unique needs of your sensitive child.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), for instance, falls short in several key areas.
It's a thinking/feeling/doing approach that fails to address your child’s reactions to emotional overwhelm.
Because it's a reactive approach, taking the child's lead, this can perpetuate the meltdown cycle and grow your child’s shame reactions, leading to appointment refusal.
You and I both know your child doesn’t know how to end the cycle of daily meltdowns– and yet your...
Wondering What's Appropriate Behavior For Sensitive Kids?
Wondering what’s normal for sensitive kids?
When your child faces frequent outbursts and emotional turmoil, they are grappling with overwhelming emotions beyond their control.
They feel disoriented, confused, and burdened by these INTENSE FEELINGS.
And when they lack effective strategies to process and express their emotions, they explode.
And guess what?
This is not a phase they will outgrow.
As your HSC grows older, these meltdowns and outbursts can escalate into significant risky behaviors:
- Engaging in aggressive behavior, both verbally and physically
- Developing persistent depression and/or anxiety
- Engaging in self-destructive acts
In this week’s show we will discuss what behavior is developmentally appropriate, and what is not.
I understand your unwavering commitment as a parent.
I know that you are striving to provide the best possible life for your child.
...
Is Being Highly Sensitive Genetic?
Ever wonder whether this temperament trait can be proven in research?
I get it, you want an answer about why your child is struggling significantly, WITHOUT labeling them unduly…
AND make sure you’re covering all of your bases and not missing a serious biological cause for your child’s distress.
In your research you may have come across the traditional belief or advice that treats your child’s intense meltdowns as diagnosable anxiety, or a developmental delay, or some other pop psychology fad trend.
And yet, you know you (and your spouse/co-parent) arent’ on the same page, you’re reactive when you're not at your best and yelling or throwing your hands up, walking on eggshells…
and you know this is part of the problem.
Today’s message is short, because I am imploring you to save the time to watch this week’s show.
On it, you will hear me review hundreds of research...
Reactively Fighting Fire With Fire?
As an expert in parenting sensitive children stuck in the meltdown cycle, I know your daily struggles are overwhelming.
You want the best for your kids, yet traditional disciplining often backfires, worsening behaviors and hardening family dynamics… so you’ve obviously done away with that…
…until you hit your limit.
Please don't lose hope - there is a better way.
You can use gentle parenting philosophy with a sensitive child who is stuck in the meltdown cycle and passionate, driven, and fiery.
But you need to add structure.
You know research shows meltdowns usually stem not from defiance, but from sensitivities becoming overloaded without constructive outlets.
Since sensitive kids process emotions deeply and seek understanding, problems are exacerbated when they’re overwhelmed by their own inflexible demands.
Taking this perspective allows you to change your level...
Do You Have To Homeschool My HSC?
Are your sensitive child's school days filled with distress and challenges?
Considering homeschooling as the only way to solve this problem?
You undoubtedly want your child’s education to cultivate potential, not erode self-esteem, yet…
Seeing them drowning in overwhelm at home understandably sparks your protective instincts to advocate for drastic change.
This creates a sense of overwhelm for yourself, and yet you and I both know that’s not who you truly are.
You are your child’s advocate.
So, before you pull your kiddo out of school…focus on building that identity, and educate yourself on what it’s like to homeschool.
It might not be right for your family, so it’s important to do your research… but either way, no matter who is your child’s teacher, you will need to be her advocate.
An advocate accurately defines challenges to gain insight, not judgment, from school...
Safe Space
A child who is reaching their fullest potential feels successful in these 5 avenues: community, friendships, academics, family, and inner emotional intelligence.
A child does not categorize their inner self concept by how many of those categories they are thriving in and counting the highlights.
One category of a perceived failure to a sensitive soul is enough to be debilitating, especially if they're perfectionistic.
Sensitive kids don't think "at least 4 out of 5 areas are good".
One failure damages their spirit.
I know you’re doing the best you can, and believe your struggling child when they say it's not okay.
Do not diminish their meltdowns by saying "at home is their safe space".
No, daily chaos means they feel unsafe everywhere.
It is not resilience if children "cope" with inner turmoil alone.
They deserve tools to regulate their big feelings.
When perfectionistic kids can't achieve...
PDA or Sensitive Struggling with Flexibility?
Your child's meltdowns drain your energy and test your patience.
You want more for them, yet feel stuck in a struggle that repeats daily… even when you’re using gentle parenting techniques.
There is hope for a different future where your child thrives.
But first you must see them through new eyes of possibility instead of impossibility.
That includes the labels and perspectives that you take to characterize your chid’s behavior.
We’re discussing pathological demand avoidance on the show this week.
It might be a difficult topic to dive into, but it’s a necessary one.
Your perspective shapes your child’s world in ways you may not realize.
What if meltdowns stem not from stubbornness or ‘demand avoidance’ but from a sensitive nature that is overwhelmed?
Flexibility and nuance, not defiance, get lost in high-stakes situations.
Disorganization and shutdowns...
