Why guidance with transitions in the classroom is extra important for highly sensitive children.

You have probably already noticed that highly sensitive children very often do NOT like transitions.

Sometimes that can be the transition from a warm bed to the bathroom, from a safe house to the car, from the familiar car to…the classroom. I could name numerous things!

Transitions in school are especially important to talk about.

Surprises and unknown situations are not appreciated by sensitive children. That is why they truly need to know in advance WHEN, WHAT and HOW something will happen in the classroom.

Highly sensitive children thrive with ‘predictability’ and you can help them in providing an overview of their situation.

I advice you to announce and discuss upcoming changes in advance, preferably even several times prior.

A highly sensitive child needs to prepare him/herself mentally for those upcoming transitions.

They prefer to purposefully mentally ‘shut down’ an activity and then to prepare for the next thing.

If these children are cut off from what they are focussing on…it feels ‘unsatisfying and unfinished’ and so their thoughts will keep ‘flowing’ in between activities and they will not be able to focus on the next task.

Highly sensitive children don’t like to be rushed.

Creating familiar neural pathways is KEY to keep calm the nervous system of your child or student.

They are already hyper aware of their surroundings by nature. You can help by reducing the overwhelm, stimuli, and sometimes anxiety by giving clear and predictable directions.

How are you helping your child or students with transitions?

Write your response in the comment section below.

If you want support with learning how to help your child or student, send an email to Susanne for a free 30 minute video call to get to know each other and chat about your situation: internationalhspcenter@gmail.com.