Imagine the following: you are sitting in a train station and suddenly you see a lady crying. And you feel a brutal empathy. You try to restrain yourself, but at that moment a very sad melody sounds as you watch a child being embraced by his father. Nothing special would happen to you, would it? You would take your train and your mind would eliminate all those images and sounds.

If you are a child or a highly sensitive adult, it is not so; everything you witness you experience and feel multiplied by a thousand . They say that they are part of the category of the gifted, but there are no serious studies that corroborate this, so for the moment we will focus on what we are beginning to see. And it has been seen that there is a statistical association between high levels of empathy with a greater potential for abuse by peers, which gives clear reason for concern.

In what ways can a highly sensitive child struggle in school? We unravel the keys to understanding these little ones and how their minds work.

What are highly sensitive children like?

Let’s start with a summary of the psychological characteristics that are often typical in highly sensitive children . Although they often seem to be shy people they are, rather, introverted. They have no difficulty relating to others, although the truth is that they like to be alone more.

1. They like very creative activities

They often do activities that are not typical for most children. Jumping rope or playing football interests them less than reading or painting, possibly because they find them more stimulating and offer new experiences on a continuous basis.

2. feel easily stunned

These little ones are often dazed by the noise in class or the bustle. This makes them more vulnerable to unexpected environmental experiences, especially if they occur near them.

3. Their behaviors can be confused with hyperactivity

During childhood, it is possible to confuse their high sensitivity with hyperactivity because, in many cases, they will lose their attention when classes are extended too much.

4. They like nature

On the other hand, highly sensitive children are very attached to nature and animals, which calm them down . Music can also be their escape route from the world, giving them moments in which to lose themselves in introspection and keep in touch with the outside world only through what they hear.

5. Tend to introspective learning

Often, their vocabulary is richer than other children’s, they are much more intense than their classmates in terms of their interests, and they tend to get along better with adults than with children. This may be due to the fact that they spend more time carrying out introspective learning, which brings them closer, in some intellectual aspects, to the mentality and lifestyle of the adult.

6. They are very empathetic

High levels of empathy are one of their most remarkable qualities; they are very likely to feel a strong emotional connection with specific individuals, and established very quickly (without needing to know that person). If we consider how empathy usually is in childhood, we can understand how hard it can be for them to be with other children, who may see in these behaviours a sign of weakness.

7. They are hyperconscious

Often, these children suffer because their parents argue, because of a friend who has his grandmother who is ill, or because of environmental disasters. Their life experiences affect them more than other children, especially if they are negative, and leave painful memories.

The school environment, a battleground for highly sensitive children

After reading all of the above, you will be able to understand what a child goes through during the student stage. They are often abused by their peers and they feel it much more than other children.

Therefore it is essential that adults work in combination with a school counselor or psychologist . It is not that highly sensitive children have problems; the point is to know that channelling those wonderful skills can turn them into more successful adults, but to do so, they must be given the opportunity to develop in situations that do not harm them psychologically.

Having psychologists who help in the education and upbringing of highly sensitive children allows these youngsters to develop their potential and know how to better manage their emotions, as well as adopt life habits that are appropriate for their needs.

Are you looking for professional support for your child?

If you live in the Madrid area and are interested in having the help of psychologists specialized in child therapy, you will find the Psicoadapta psychological assistance center in the center of the city . Our team of experts has many years of professional experience attending to children, adults and families of all kinds. Our contact details are available here.