Parent Your Highly Sensitive Child Like A Ninja

It’s time to settle a debate that’s raging in the world of HSC parenting … What’s the BEST way to parent an HSC - With passive parenting, or with punishment? While passive parenting may provide benefits, it can also result in a lack of boundaries, emotional support… And you end up treating your child as fragile, worsening meltdowns. (Both the frequency and the severity.) Plus, if you passively par...

Does the thought of being invited out for a meal or family parties send you into a whirlwind of stress? That’s because dealing with social situations when you have an HSC is tough. Doesn’t matter if we’re talking about a big family party … Or even just playdates with one other kid. Any parent of an HSC knows just how stressful these can be. But the worst thing about all this? The shame you can fee...

I recently got pretty mad after a conversation with a client. She overheard a group of moms talking about her child, using words like 'weak, shy, and overly emotional.' It made me upset because these misconceptions about highly sensitive children are simply not true. HSCs are resilient, and with help, they can be sociable and control their emotions. As a parent, it starts with you to take responsi...

Screaming and shouting … Slamming doors, punching walls, and throwing books all over the room … If any of these happen the minute you try to get your kid to do homework - Welcome to the world of parenting an HSC! Most of us didn’t like homework when we were at school. But we all kinda sucked it up, and accepted homework as a necessary evil. That doesn’t happen with HSC kids though. And actually, I...

There’s something NO ONE is talking about when it comes to parenting highly sensitive children. Neglecting this one thing is a surefire way to keep you stuck in the meltdown cycle … With a kid who stays unpredictable and volatile … Leaving you tiptoeing around, worried about what to say 24/7 … And making you feel like you’re doing something “wrong.” What one thing am I talking about? Mindset. I do...

Ever feel like you’re walking on eggshells at home? One moment, your HSC is calm, loving and content … The next, they’re in full-blown meltdown mode … And then soon after, they totally shut down? If so, let me tell you something - This is expected in the meltdown cycle. In the world of HSCs, going from one emotion to another super quickly isn’t uncommon at all. We call this “The shutdown/ irritabi...

Growing up, I wasn’t a highly sensitive child … But I was the sibling of a highly sensitive child.  See, people often wonder why I got into the work I do at MTC. And while it’s because my passion truly is helping parents and kids in this situation, it’s also down to my personal experience. I want to preface this by saying that I have an amazing relationship with my parents. They’re kind, lovi...

Something that comes up a LOT in my Facebook group is judgment. We get parents posting almost every day about how family members simply can’t stop criticizing or passing comments on their parenting styles. Which sucks. Because there you are, doing the work needed to help your kiddo end the meltdown cycle, develop vital social skills, and grow into a calm, confident young adult … And you’re getting...

Being the parent of a teenager is never easy. But when your teen is highly sensitive … Well, that adds a whole other level of complexity. If you’re a parent of a teen though, and you heard my podcast last week about the importance of consistency with highly-sensitive kids, maybe you’re thinking - “Well, Megghan’s advice there should work for us, too.” Stop right now! There’s a BIG difference...

Does the following sound familiar: You read some advice about managing meltdowns. Maybe it’s something from one of my Facebook lives … Maybe it’s in an online forum … Or maybe you pick up a new strategy from a podcast or book. You try this advice, and, whadda ya know … It works! Your kiddo is calmer, more controlled, and the meltdowns reduce … … for a week or two. Then, before you know it, things...

Ever feel like no matter what you do, you just can’t get through to your kid? You’ve read all the books … Tried all the tactics … And diligently stick to everything you should be doing … But whenever you try to speak to them about emotions, they clam up? If so … Welcome to the world of parenting an HSC :) I’m not saying all HSCs are difficult to talk to about emotions. But the majority are. And th...

As parents, our number one priority is to make sure our kids feel safe at all times. But when you’re parenting an HSC, that’s easier said than done. We don’t want to see our kiddo hurting, and struggling to express their emotions. And we definitely don’t want them to feel unsafe. And so more often than not, we become their safe space. Now, a ‘safe space’ can mean a lot of different things for diff...

Should you intervene when your highly sensitive child is actually performing…well? I bet you’ve asked yourself this question too many times, and the answer can be a bit tricky. As a parent of a highly sensitive child, even if your child is high-performing, you may notice that your student can fall under the radar due to their performance. Or possibly even struggle to cope with the emotional demand...

As a parent of a highly sensitive child, you understand the unique challenges that come with navigating the world. Imagine being in a classroom with 14 other children, and your teacher just finished a Science lesson, but you missed half of it because you couldn't stop listening to your neighbor's whispers. This is just a small example of what highly sensitive children experience every day in schoo...

Is your kid struggling in school? Maybe refusing to do homework? Not playing or socializing well with others? Cruising alone fine one minute, then in full-on meltdown mode the next? If so, I’m guessing you’ve considered getting them a psych eval. Or maybe their school’s suggested this is the next step to figure out what’s “wrong.” But could a psych eval do more harm than good? Spoiler alert … Yes...

If your kiddo is like most at this time of year, the last thing they’ll want is to be outside. Chances are, they’ll have their head buried deep in a phone … Wasting hours on some games console … Or just staring blankly at the TV for hours. And while they might seem perfectly content doing this, so much time spent indoors -- particularly time in front of screens -- is one of the worst things for th...

Suicide isn’t a comfortable topic to speak about. Especially when talking about suicide in kids and teens. But it’s something I feel I need to cover. Because shockingly, a recent CDC report showed that suicide rates have increased 195% since 1990. And that’s not all. In youths aged 5-19, self-harm has also risen by a staggering 411%. And in children aged 5-12, suicide is now the 5th leading cause...

Whenever I speak to parents in January, they tell me one thing - “I feel like I need another break already. That vacation was hardly worth it.” Which is sad. Because we all want to enjoy our downtime, appreciate our family over the holidays, and go into the New Year feeling upbeat and optimistic. But as a parent of an HSC, that’s often the last thing you feel. Because despite best intentions, the...

Are you tired of feeling frustrated and helpless when it comes to your child's aggressive behavior? Do you feel like you've tried everything from traditional parenting techniques to yelling and rewards, but nothing seems to work? Here at MTC we understand how difficult and stressful it can be to deal with a child who is exhibiting aggressive behavior. It can take a toll on your relationship with y...

Do you find yourself resorting to "clap backs" or responding to your children with anger and aggression? While this may provide momentary relief and compliance, it can ultimately push your children away and damage your relationship with them in the long term. Research has shown that when parents raise their voices or justify their anger towards their children, it has negative effects on their ment...

Here at MTC we understand that parenting can be one of the most rewarding, yet challenging experiences in life.  When your child is struggling with mental health issues, it can be especially difficult and overwhelming.  If you're reading this, you may be in a situation similar to what Rachel and Ash experienced with their HSC. Their kiddo was suicidal, wishing to die, yelling, freezing u...

"This too shall pass." We've heard this encouraging statement so many times. Unfortunately this is what parents cling to for years with no end in sight to the meltdown cycle. It is crucial to recognize when it is time to reach out for support.  Today we discuss "enough is enough" as a sign that it is time for a strategic change in your parenting approach & t he dangers of holding on in su...

So you ‘survived’ the first 12 or so Christmases of your HSC’s life, and now you’re looking forward to a smoother, less stressful holiday season? Well … Good luck with that! Unfortunately, parenting a sensitive child at any age comes with its challenges. And while those holiday challenges might be different now than when they were younger … You’re still going to have your patience tested this holi...

There's a huge misconception in the mental health field and with professionals across the board entirely... Teaching coping skills is reactive when used to stop the meltdown. In that moment, your child is beyond the point of learning from you or learning a coping skill. Join me as we discuss the top skill your HSC needs to learn ASAP If your child is demonstrating the meltdown cycle, watch ou...

Any parent of an HSC knows, the holiday season can be a NIGHTMARE. Whether it’s overstimulation at family parties … Disappointment surrounding gifts … Or just the change from day-to-day routine … There’s so much happening that can trigger a meltdown. So it’s totally understandable why a lot of the parents I speak to dread this time of year. While other parents are putting up the tree, buying gifts...