Father holds his little daughter tightly in his arms
Parent & Child
15.01.2026 Ifenna Ekezie 1899

High sensitivity in children: significance and help for parents

Highly sensitive children feel more intensely, perceive stimuli more strongly, and often think more deeply than others. This article explains how high sensitivity manifests itself in children, what causes it, and how parents can support their highly sensitive child. 

An article by Ramona Krämer, parent counselor and systemic family therapist at pme Familienservice. 

High sensitivity in children: a brief summary

High sensitivity in children manifests itself in the fact that they perceive and process stimuli and emotions particularly intensely. Typical signs include pronounced empathy, high sensitivity to noises or smells, and a clear need for retreat and quiet. The causes usually lie in a specific genetic and neurobiological predisposition.

Parents can specifically strengthen their highly sensitive child by responding with understanding, providing a structured daily routine, and taking the child's individual needs seriously. 

What you can expect in this article:

What is high sensitivity in children? 

High sensitivity describes a particularly sensitive nervous system that reacts very sensitively to external and internal stimuli such as bright light, noise, smells, or moods. Highly sensitive children often become stressed or exhausted more quickly, process information more deeply, and need more time to process impressions. They also pay particular attention to details and usually have a pronounced emotional life. 

High sensitivity in children – understanding and guiding emotionally intense children

 🗓️ February 25, 2026 / 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (via Zoom)

Specialized lecture on high sensitivity in children

Learn from Ramona Krämer how you as parents can best deal with your child's special needs.
 

How does high sensitivity manifest itself in children? Symptoms in everyday life 

Typical symptoms and signs of high sensitivity in childhood are:

  • Strong emotional reactions and compassion: You are particularly sensitive to other people's moods, react passionately to injustice or when consuming stories and films, and show marked empathy.
  • Hypersensitivity to sensory impressions: Loud noises, strong smells, light, touch, or certain items of clothing (e.g., with scratchy seams) are quickly perceived as disturbing. 
  • Deep processing and lots of questions: Highly sensitive children often ask an unusually large number of profound questions and think through situations intensively. 
  • Great need for retreat: After exciting or noisy situations, they need periods of rest and like to retreat to process what they have experienced.

"Special events can have a lasting impact. Highly sensitive children find it difficult to fall asleep after eventful days and may still show signs of stress in the days that follow" – Ramona Krämer, parent counselor at pme Familienservice 

  • Problems with change and groups: Unexpected changes, new situations, or large groups quickly trigger uncertainty or reluctance. 
  • Perfectionism and conscientiousness: You want to do things "right," react sensitively to your own mistakes, and have high expectations of yourself. 
  • High sensitivity to food and taste: Certain textures, tastes, or smells in food are perceived intensely and often rejected.

"Highly sensitive children sometimes perceive even the smallest amounts of spices, heat, or salt and find them unpleasant, making the food inedible as a result." – Ramona Krämer


 

How can you recognize high sensitivity in children? Test & diagnosis

Since high sensitivity is a personality trait and not a mental disorder, there is no official medical diagnosis.  

A self-assessment based on Elaine Aron's Highly Sensitive Person Scale therefore remains the basis for determining high sensitivity. Based on this, there is also a high sensitivity test for children that helps parents recognize the signs.  

If the child exhibits typical symptoms, it may still be worthwhile to consult a child and adolescent psychologist in order to obtain a more accurate assessment and, if necessary, to distinguish it from other diagnosable disorders. ADHD in children or autism spectrum disorder can manifest similarly in some areas.  

What are the causes of high sensitivity? 

The predisposition to high sensitivity is usually genetic— it can run in families. Neurobiologically, highly sensitive children have higher concentrations of norepinephrine in their blood and a faster release of adrenaline, meaning they become excited more easily.  

Conscious stimulus suppression is less active, allowing more information to enter consciousness unfiltered. In addition, the limbic system in the brain, which is responsible for emotions and stress processing, shows increased activity.  
 

What are the strengths of highly sensitive children?

Highly sensitive children have many positive qualities and strengths that are evident in everyday life: 

  • High level of empathy 
  • Creativity and strong intuition 
  • Strong connection between thoughts and images ("big picture") 
  • attention to detail 
  • Strong sense of justice and ethical awareness 
  • Reflective ability and thorough consideration

These strengths enable highly sensitive children to act efficiently, thoroughly, and with great foresight. 

What do highly sensitive children need? 

In order for highly sensitive children to develop optimally and contribute their strengths, they need emotional and structural support from their caregivers. In detail, this means:

Emotional support for highly sensitive children

  • Unconditional love, acceptance, and the assurance of being taken seriously
  • Lots of affirmation to boost their self-confidence, because they often feel that their differences are not understood. 
  • Positive role models in dealing with emotions 
  • Strategies for fulfilling your need for rest and distancing yourself from unwanted stimuli and feelings

Structural support for highly sensitive children

  • Plenty of rest and sufficient breaks, as well as trips into nature, are good for them.
  • Clear routines, rituals, and a low-stimulus environment (limited media consumption, sufficient unplanned time, not too many hobbies) 
  • Preparing for upcoming changes or new developments
  • Consideration of individual stimulus thresholds   

7 tips on how you as a parent can support your highly sensitive child

  • Recognize and accept that your child is not being "difficult" on purpose.
  • Avoid sensory overload by reducing electronics, creating orderly spaces, and offering your child designated places of retreat.
  • Make sure you take regular breaks and moments of calm in your daily routine.
  • Guide your child clearly and calmly in challenging situations. 
  • Take your child's perception seriously; do not question or dismiss it.
  • Seek out exchanges with other parents and critically question well-intentioned advice.
  • Get support if the burden becomes too great, for example through counseling services or support groups.
Book recommendations on high sensitivity in children  

The Highly Sensitive Child: How to Respond to Your Child's Special Weaknesses and Needsby Elaine N. Aron 

“Highly Sensitive Children – Solutions for 51 Challenging EverydaySituations” by Johanna Hinze 

The pme parent counseling service 

Our parent advisors support parents in all matters from pregnancy to their child reaching adulthood. Personal and confidential: we are available online, by phone, and on site. You can find more information on the pme parent advice page. 

FAQs about high sensitivity in children 

1. How can I tell if my child is highly sensitive? 

Highly sensitive children are particularly sensitive to noises, smells, or moods, show strong empathy, and often need opportunities to retreat. 

2. Is high sensitivity an illness? 

No, high sensitivity is not an illness, but a personality trait. 

3. What helps my highly sensitive child in everyday life? 

Fixed routines, quiet places of retreat, understanding communication, and targeted breaks promote the well-being of highly sensitive children. 

4. Can high sensitivity be changed through education? 

Sensitivity itself cannot be "trained away," but children can learn to deal with stimuli better and make use of their strengths. 

5. Should I seek professional help? 

If uncertainties exist or hypersensitivity leads to everyday problems, counseling by professionals such as child and adolescent psychologists can be helpful in finding support and relief. 
 

zero Spouses' emergency representation law: What you need to know!

Spouses' right of emergency representation
Age & care
28.12.2022 Gabriele Strasser 31745

Spouses' emergency representation law: What you need to know!

If a person was no longer able to make decisions about their own health due to an accident or serious illness, this often came as a nasty surprise for their spouse or partner.

Contrary to what they often thought, life partners were not automatically entitled to make decisions for their partner. The emergency spouse representation law gives spouses and civil partners the opportunity to make decisions in emergency medical situations, for example regarding medical examinations or treatments. 

In this article you will learn

  • When does the spouse's right of emergency representation apply and what options does it offer?
  • In which areas spouses will be able to make decisions in emergencies in future.
  • What limits the spouse's right of emergency representation has.
  • Why individual provision is still important.

When does the emergency spouse representation law apply and what does it include?

The "Right of emergency representation between spouses in health matters" comes into force in January 2023 .

According to this regulation, spouses can represent each other in emergency medical situations even without a living will or power of attorney and take over the healthcare of their partner who is unable to make decisions. However, this right only applies for a maximum of six months. 

If the condition has not improved after this, a legal guardian can be appointed by the guardianship court. Relatives, volunteers or full-time caregivers are usually considered for this.

In which areas will spouses be able to make decisions in future?

They can make decisions about treatments and examinations as well as decisions relating to property law that are directly connected to this (e.g. concluding treatment and care contracts). 

What are the limits of the spouse's right of emergency representation?

The new regulation expressly refers only to emergencies.

For example, spouses are only authorized to act once a doctor has confirmed their partner's incapacity in writing. In addition, the right of emergency representation only applies in direct connection with health care - but not for residential matters or the care of property.

Is the right of emergency representation mandatory?

No, it does not apply if it is contrary to the wishes of the patient. It does not apply if the patient has previously authorized another person in a health care proxy or has expressed a different will.

It also does not apply to spouses who are separated. 

What is recommended for comprehensive prevention? 

The spouse's right of emergency representation can be a great relief in acute situations. However, it does not replace the tried and tested precautionary options such as a health care proxy and living will.

On the one hand, these are not limited in time, and on the other hand, they offer considerably more freedom of design because they allow very individual arrangements for a wide variety of areas. 

An overview of spousal emergency representation law: 5 key points 

  • The emergency representation law comes into force in January 2023.
  • Spouses and registered partners can represent each other in healthcare matters.
  • The right of representation is only valid for a maximum of 6 months. 
  • A doctor must have confirmed the partner's legal incapacity.
  • Living wills and health care proxies are still recommended for comprehensive provision.
  •  

Learn more about pme Familienservice

 

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Ramona grocer

Parent counselor

Ramona Krämer is a parenting consultant at pme Familienservice and accompanies families through the various phases of pregnancy, birth, parenting, puberty and school. With her expertise, she supports parents in mastering the challenges and joys of these stages of life.

Contact:

ramona.kraemer@familienservice.de