How to support highly sensitive children in class
Strategies for teachers and caregivers to help highly sensitive children thrive
Authors
What is high sensitivity?
Imagine if every sound, sight, or emotion felt a little bigger, brighter, or more intense. That’s how life can be for the 30% of children who are highly sensitive to their environment. Being highly sensitive is a natural, genetically based temperament trait—not a disorder or clinical condition. Highly sensitive children process thoughts and feelings more deeply and often react more strongly to stimuli like noise, light, or sound. This can make school a challenging environment.
“Highly sensitive children process thoughts and feelings more deeply and often react more strongly to stimuli like noise, light, or sound.”
Navigating school life with high sensitivity
Children who are highly sensitive are often successful academically, creatively, and socially, but they can find the school environment overwhelming. Highly sensitive children are more emotionally reactive to positive and negative experiences than other children during early childhood, and may benefit from support to help them adjust and adapt to the classroom environment. The noise and bustle of large groups can be particularly overwhelming, and bright lights and busy visual surroundings can be overstimulating. Big changes, like trying a new activity or making friends, can cause highly sensitive children to withdraw or can even trigger emotional meltdowns, which are difficult for the child, their peers, and their teacher. A calm, structured setting helps them feel safe and build effective coping strategies.
High sensitivity can be both an advantage and a disadvantage in school. Because highly sensitive children consider information thoroughly, they may be reluctant to be put on the spot or answer questions quickly. They are more likely than others to pay attention to details. In a recent study, for example, highly sensitive children made fewer impulsive mistakes in a visual search task than their peers. In the classroom, this means highly sensitive students tend to produce high quality work but can be prone to perfectionism. They are often diligent and successful, outperforming their peers.
“High sensitivity can be both an advantage and a disadvantage in school.”
The children in that study also identified emotions more correctly when shown pictures of people’s eyes. Their heightened empathy means they are thoughtful and kind. They can be naturally imaginative and creative, and light up when they hear kind words.
Children experience and express high sensitivity in different ways, and this can make it difficult to understand how best to help them. We have developed the following evidence-based strategies for educators and caregivers who want to support highly sensitive children.
Top tips for supporting highly sensitive children
1. Allow highly sensitive children more time
Highly sensitive children may need extra time to adjust to big changes and may appear shy or hesitant. A little reassurance that they can join in when they have considered the new situation and feel ready to participate can go a long way. Owing to their deep information processing, highly sensitive children may need extra time to think or to answer questions. Avoid putting them on the spot, as they may struggle under pressure or when being watched.
2. Encourage highly sensitive children with kindness
A kind word or thoughtful gesture can mean a lot to a highly sensitive child. Positive reinforcement, like smiles or small rewards when they do something well, is effective. These moments help them feel supported and build their confidence. Highly sensitive children often take criticism and conflict to heart, so approaching discipline calmly and helping them manage distress will prevent them from being upset and distracted after such events.
“A kind word or thoughtful gesture can mean a lot to a highly sensitive child.”
3. Teach highly sensitive children self-awareness and to seek support
Routine is helpful for sensitive children. Use visual reminders for daily activities and notify them of schedule changes in advance. Extra support may be needed during transitions or special events. Help children recognise their limits and ask for support. Encourage gradual participation in group settings through observation or working with trusted peers. Watch for signs of overstimulation, such as restlessness, anger, frustration, or withdrawal, and intervene with calming strategies. Consider giving them a quiet start to the school day by allowing them to go inside to read a book rather than waiting in a busy playground.
Helping highly sensitive children thrive
Being highly sensitive isn’t a weakness. These children feel the world deeply, which means they have the potential to grow into compassionate, creative, and resilient individuals. By understanding their unique needs, teachers and parents can help them navigate challenges and embrace their abilities, so they can excel socially and academically. While children can’t change a predisposition to high sensitivity, they can develop healthy coping strategies and learn techniques at school to recognise and manage situations or places where they may become overwhelmed. Understanding and building their resilience and strengths during childhood will also enhance their wellbeing in later life.
Free information and tools to identify and support highly sensitive children
Teachers and parents can register here for free access to our evidence-based interactive teacher-training module and questionnaire to help identify and support children who are highly sensitive and who may be experiencing challenges in school.
Our website sensitivityresearch.com is dedicated to providing information about high sensitivity in adults and children. Find answers to commonly asked questions such as ‘Are highly sensitive children generally introverted?’, ‘Is sensitivity related to autism and other developmental conditions?’, and ‘Why is my sensitive child often exhausted after school?’.
Key takeaways
- Sensitivity is a common trait, but some children are more sensitive than others.
- About 30% of children in class will be highly sensitive to their environment.
- Some highly sensitive children can be overwhelmed by noise, chaos, and strong emotions in the classroom.
- Teachers can use a questionnaire to identify highly sensitive children and adapt their teaching accordingly.
Authors