healthykids
Children’s intuition
A special key to success in Life
by Catherine Crawford
A child’s intuition, or sixth sense, may be more important in the life of a
child than many people realize. Intuition helps alert kids to danger, provides
guidance in decision making and helps in problem solving, enabling young-
sters to jump more quickly to a solution. Nurturing children’s intuition and
keeping it alive helps them maintain a clear connection to this inner compass.
A
ll children are intuitive, but some are more highly so How to support an intuitive Child
and experience more intuitive messages, or perceptions,
with greater frequency than others. They often are unusually In parenting and guiding, we can make a big difference
aware of the needs and feelings of friends, parents, siblings in supporting children’s intuition and empathy. Three keys are
and animals. These children may translate the unspoken to give kids positive feedback for these abilities, help them
needs of younger siblings and pets with striking accuracy and learn how to deal with associated stressors and teach them
even pick up on the predominant feeling of a group of peo- real-life skills designed with their individual abilities in mind.
ple as they enter a room. Others may tune into an unspoken Children’s messages to us can be simple and direct. Here
family conflict or tell someone to be careful before stumbling are ways we can help and support an especially intuitive child:
into an unknown situation. • Stay open to her perceptions without judgment.
In my psychotherapy practice over the past 20 years, I’ve • Try not to inflate or deflate her intuitive experience
noticed that intuitive children who are raised with respect when we respond to it.
for their insights and taught to manage the stressors that • Help her see that her way of feeling and seeing life is an
can emerge with this trait generally grow up to be healthy, important part of who she is, just like any other gift or talent.
balanced, intuitive adults. On the other hand, when highly • Realize that she may need our help in learning how to
intuitive children learn to suppress their inner truth and stop manage the stressors associated with this innate lens
respecting their own inner compass, they suffer undesirable through which she sees the world.
consequences. Many manifest reduced self-esteem, self- • Let him know that he is never alone and we are avail-
doubt, confusion in decision making and difficulties with able to help him.
interpersonal boundaries as adults. They are more likely to • If he has empathically taken on someone else’s mood,
defer to what other people want, even at the expense of their aches, pains, or worries, help him to practice asking, “Is
own health, boundaries and better judgment. this feeling mine?” Remind him that he’s not responsible for
anyone else’s feelings.
• If a child is stuck in a pattern of being in tune with others’
pain or the pain of the world, help him learn to switch to being
on the “self channel.” We can help him do this through exercise,
by encouraging him to express his feelings in art, or even by tak-
ing a couple of slow deep breaths along with us.
Perceptive children call for perceptive parenting. Parents
can help keep intuition strong in their children and help so-
lidify this gift for life by adopting these supportive behaviors.
Catherine Crawford is a licensed marriage and family
therapist and registered art therapist, specializing in the needs of
intuitive empaths. Her new book is The Highly Intuitive Child: A
Guide to Understanding and Parenting Unusually Sensitive and
Empathic Children. Learn more at
LifePassage.com.
30 Broward County
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