I need to be brutally honest with you for a second …

Rigid, strict parenting is NEVER going to help your kid feel calm and in control.

I know, I know …

‘Traditional’ parenting advice tells us kids respond to discipline and order.

And hey, I’m not about to get super woo woo and new age-y.

But I can tell you from my 10+ years of experience as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, along with everything I’ve learned from helping 700+ families …

Kids in general don’t do well with rigid parenting.

And HSCs can get WORSE if you’re too strict.

So what should you do instead?

Bend over backwards and appease their every need?

Nope.

Not that either :)

Because when you’re too accommodating, and just do whatever your kid wants…

Well, that’s the fast-track to a needy, demanding kiddo who never learns what “no” means.

The secret is …

Compromise.

It sounds so simple, yet so many parents forget this.

It SUCKS to see your child struggle.

And because it’s painful when your kiddo’s stressed and upset, most parents make a huge mistake -

They swoop in the moment there’s any kind of distress …

… and they try to fix the problem.

That’s a big NO-NO.

“But Megghan, surely my kid needs me when they’re upset? 

You’re not saying I just leave them to ‘cry it out’ are you?”

No.

I’m not saying that at all.

But at the same time, I know just how destructive overprotective parents can be.

I don’t mean they deliberately sabotage their child.

But unfortunately, trying to fix every single problem the moment it arises is a recipe for disaster.

See, your kid’s struggles are actually an opportunity for growth.

If they know you’re going to be there every single time something goes wrong, how emotionally resilient do you think they’re going to be?

The answer: Not very, I can tell you that for free!...

Ever feel like your kid just does not listen whenever you give them instructions?

If so …

You need to chill out.

I mean it.

Because something I see sooooo often here at MTC, is parents who take their parenting way too seriously.

And most kids do NOT respond to serious parenting.

What do they respond to?

Play.

That’s right - Play is one of the BEST ways to help your HSC learn, grow and develop.

All the research supports this.

But perhaps a large scale 2018 study from The American Academy of Pediatrics summed it up best, when it concluded:

“At a time when early childhood programs are pressured to add more didactic components and less playful learning, pediatricians can play an important role in emphasizing the role of a balanced curriculum that includes the importance of playful learning for the promotion of healthy child development.”

Now, I know you’re not a pediatrician…

And that quote’s a bit formal …

But adding a play component...

Let me share with you the story of two California parents who were individually struggling to help their six-year-old daughter navigate her intense emotions on a daily basis. 

Each morning, Mom faced meltdowns, while Dad found it challenging to handle them at night. The contrasting parenting styles were starting to take a toll on their marriage.

Mom was concerned that she was undermining her husband's efforts when she had to take over after he lost his composure during bedtime.

Exhaustion consumed them both, and their daughter was having a staggering five meltdowns per day!

We intervened by identifying the differences in their parenting perspectives and finding ways to support their daughter when they took turns managing the morning and evening routines. 

We focused on:

• Understanding the specific struggles they faced
• Identifying the unmet needs contributing to the situation
• Outlining the exact steps they needed to take to support each other during their daughter's...

You can’t bubble wrap your child forever.

That might sound harsh …

But sometimes, tough love is what we need.

I speak with so many parents who are trying to shield their kid from the outside world.

They’re doing absolutely everything to protect them from harm.

And they’re so afraid to let them do anything that might be a little bit dangerous, or risky, or cause them any kind of distress.

I get it.

I really do.

Because our #1 job, as parents, is to protect our kids.

It’s a natural instinct.

But at the same time, what if this level of protection was actually harming your child?

Here’s what I mean -

Let’s say you’re going to the gym to get stronger.

How do you get stronger muscles?

Well, you have to break them down first, right?

This involves a certain degree of effort, discomfort and stress.

Okay, you’re not going to rip them apart to the point it takes a month to recover.

But when you lift weights, you create ‘micro tears’ in the...

Parenthood is an incredible journey filled with both heartwarming moments and immense challenges. 

We understand that firsthand here at MTC because we've been there ourselves. 

We know that when your child is facing mental health issues, it can shake you to your core and leave you feeling utterly overwhelmed.

If you're reading this, it means you're 

likely in a situation similar to what Rachel and Ash went through with their own HSC. Their little one was battling dark thoughts, expressing a desire to end their own life, and exhibiting behaviors like yelling, shutting down, and refusing to attend school. 

Rachel and Ash tried everything—they searched for the right therapists, experimented with various approaches, but nothing seemed to make a difference. 

The situation had pushed them to their breaking point, leaving them feeling helpless and unsure of what steps to take next. 

Their child's safety and well-being weighed heavily on their minds, and...

Last summer was a nightmare for Lori and her husband, Jeff.

See, while most families were enjoying the longer days, the awesome weather and more time outdoors …

They were going through hell with their HSC.

Like a lot of highly-sensitive children, their son struggled the minute his daily routine changed.

Which meant he was having constant meltdowns.

In their words, the summer was “a nightmare of boredom, frustration and complaints.”

Lori was feeling upset, helpless, and even started having panic attacks.

And Jeff felt like he was failing her, because no matter what he tried, nothing made the situation better.

Realizing they couldn’t solve this alone, they reached out to us.

We worked together for 8 weeks, and in that time, some amazing things happened.

Their son started listening and cooperating.

The daily meltdowns became less severe … Then less frequent … Then they all but disappeared.

And now?

Well, I checked in with them recently, and the family are ...

Every parent wants to build unwavering trust with their child.

You want them to come to you when they’re struggling …

Not be afraid of telling you how they’re feeling …

And to have the kind of bond that’s totally unbreakable.

Problem is, most parents don’t have this.

And building that kind of trust is even harder as a parent of an HSC.

Sometimes it feels, no matter what you try, there’s this wall between you.

That wall might just make for awkward conversations, and a lack of connection.

It might mean walking on eggshells at home.

Or, for some parents, it’s by far the biggest cause of stress and sadness in their lives, and a big reason why they’re battling against daily meltdowns.

Now, there’s a bunch of stuff I could share about removing those barriers and building trust.

But actually, most of this comes down to one thing -

Validation.

See, highly-sensitive children experience meltdowns because they don’t know how to...

While most kids couldn’t be more excited for summer …

… for HSCs, it can be a time of stress, anxiety, and confusion.

That’s why I’m writing today’s post.

After working with 600+ families over the past decade, I know just how difficult summer can be.

Whether you’ve got kids off to camp … You’re planning days out … Or it’s just a break in routine …

HSCs can struggle. 

There’s a bunch of stuff I could share.

But I figured the best way to kick things off was to give you a few pointers for the most challenging scenario - If your kid’s off to some kind of summer camp.

So here we go …

First and foremost, I always say it, but getting them prepared ahead of time is vital.

Make them aware they might be in situations where they aren’t 100% comfortable.

Speak with them about what emotions might come up.

And coach them through being emotionally resilient.

You can go a step further as well,...

Today’s blog is a must-read for any parent thinking of taking their child to therapy.

See, while hiring a therapist to help with your kid’s needs might seem like a responsible move …

Therapy is one of the best ways to make meltdowns worse.

That probably sounds controversial.

But there are 4 specific reasons I never recommend traditional therapy for HSCs:

Reason #1: Therapy is NOT a change-oriented process

Therapy focuses on feeling better in the moment, not creating lasting change.

And on the rare chance you do find a therapist who’s got an eye on the long-term future …

They tend to forget that highly-sensitive children are significantly uncertain in their capabilities.

That means they often can’t apply the principles taught in-session, to everyday instances that cause them distress and discomfort.

Reason #2: Therapy drives a wedge between the child and parents

Where therapy is child-led, and usually only 1 hour a week …

…...