Raised Resilient: Help Your Highly Sensitive Child
Dr. Hilary Mandzik - Psychologist
Parenting is the hardest job ever – and parenting a highly sensitive child who’s struggling can feel downright impossible.
If you’re suffering through endless ...
What's the Difference Between High Sensitivity and Autism? Is My Highly Sensitive Child Neurodivergent? Understanding the Differences, Overlap, and Nuance to Best Support Your Sensitive Child
What does it mean to be a highly sensitive person? Is it the same as being neurodivergent or on the autism spectrum? These are tricky and sometimes controversial questions, especially when raising sensitive kids. In this episode, we’re unpacking what sensitivity really means and why it matters for kids and adults alike.
The thing is, labels aren’t about limits—they’re about understanding. By recognizing your child’s sensitivities (or your own), you can support them in becoming their best, most authentic self. Sensitivity isn’t a flaw; it’s often tied to incredible strengths and beauty.
Through evidence-based insights and practical guidance, we’ll explore how to truly support the sensitive people in our lives—whether that means helping kids manage big emotions or giving yourself space to recharge. With the right tools and a little compassion, sensitivity can be something to celebrate, not just navigate.
FREE Breakthrough Call: https://www.raisedresilient.com/breakthrough
Is Your Child Highly Sensitive? Take My FREE Quiz! https://www.raisedresilient.com/quiz
FREE Guide: 10 Things Your Highly Sensitive Child Needs You to Know: https://www.raisedresilient.com/10things
Mastering Meltdowns Support: https://www.raisedresilient.com/meltdowns
Join Our Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisedresilient
FREE Mindset Shifts: https://www.raisedresilient.com/mindset
Holiday Meltdown Guide: https://www.raisedresilient.com/holidaymeltdowns
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Parenting Reflections: Why I Chose an Advanced Gymnastics Class for My Sensitive 3.5-Year-Old – Even Though It’s Not What Experts (Including Myself!) Typically Recommend
Why would I enroll my 3.5-year-old daughter in an advanced gymnastics class when everything I believe—and most experts agree—says that activities at this age should focus on fun and exploration? Today I’m sharing the story behind this decision and why I chose to go against the grain.
This wasn’t an easy choice, and it certainly wasn’t about pushing my child to perform or excel. Instead, it was about following her lead, honoring her natural abilities, and recognizing when she was truly ready for a new challenge. Parenting sensitive kids often means rethinking the “rules” and trusting your gut, even when it feels unconventional.
And here’s the thing: While I still believe in fun, explorative play for young children, there are exceptions where a more structured path can be the right choice. It’s all about balancing their enthusiasm with the right support to help them thrive, even when it’s outside the usual mold!
FREE Breakthrough Call: https://www.raisedresilient.com/breakthrough
Is Your Child Highly Sensitive? Take My FREE Quiz! https://www.raisedresilient.com/quiz
FREE Guide: 10 Things Your Highly Sensitive Child Needs You to Know: https://www.raisedresilient.com/10things
Mastering Meltdowns Support: https://www.raisedresilient.com/meltdowns
Join Our Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisedresilient
FREE Mindset Shifts: https://www.raisedresilient.com/mindset
Holiday Meltdown Guide: https://www.raisedresilient.com/holidaymeltdowns
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Extracurricular Activities and Sensitive Kids: When to Push, When to Pause, and Why It’s Worth It
Extracurricular activities can feel like a battle when your highly sensitive child resists joining. Should you push them to participate, or let them sit this one out? In this episode, we’re diving into why extracurriculars are so valuable for sensitive kids, even when it feels easier to back off.
Big feelings like nerves, fear of failure, or overwhelm often come with trying something new—no wonder highly sensitive kids might resist! But these activities offer so much more: structure, confidence, and meaningful connection that can help them thrive.
Here’s the thing: those moments of discomfort can lead to incredible growth when handled with care. If you’re wondering how to navigate the push and pull of extracurriculars, tune in for practical tips and heartfelt encouragement to help your child embrace the benefits of sticking with it.
FREE Breakthrough Call: https://www.raisedresilient.com/breakthrough
Is Your Child Highly Sensitive? Take My FREE Quiz! https://www.raisedresilient.com/quiz
FREE Guide: 10 Things Your Highly Sensitive Child Needs You to Know: https://www.raisedresilient.com/10things
Mastering Meltdowns Support: https://www.raisedresilient.com/meltdowns
Join Our Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisedresilient
FREE Mindset Shifts: https://www.raisedresilient.com/mindset
Holiday Meltdown Guide: https://www.raisedresilient.com/holidaymeltdowns
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Parenting Reflections: Surviving a 5-Week Break with My Highly Sensitive Kids: Tips, Tricks, and Moments That Got Us Through
Winter break with highly sensitive kids can feel endless, especially when snow days extend time at home or school breaks stretch on. With my kids in year-round school, we’ve been navigating a five-week break, and I wanted to share how we’re making it through. From cozy moments to screen time challenges, it’s been all about staying grounded and finding balance.
I’ll share the strategies that have been keeping me (and my kids!) sane, from embracing a flexible routine to finding moments of connection that don’t involve elaborate activities. Plus, I’ll dive into how I handle screen time without the guilt, and what I’ve learned about making the most of those unexpected extra days off.
If you’re looking for practical tips and a dose of solidarity during this long winter break, this episode is for you. Let’s survive these extra days together while still finding joy in the season!
FREE Breakthrough Call: https://www.raisedresilient.com/breakthrough
Is Your Child Highly Sensitive? Take My FREE Quiz! https://www.raisedresilient.com/quiz
FREE Guide: 10 Things Your Highly Sensitive Child Needs You to Know: https://www.raisedresilient.com/10things
Mastering Meltdowns Support: https://www.raisedresilient.com/meltdowns
Join Our Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisedresilient
FREE Mindset Shifts: https://www.raisedresilient.com/mindset
Holiday Meltdown Guide: https://www.raisedresilient.com/holidaymeltdowns
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How to Handle Power Struggles with Your Sensitive Child (Without Getting Pulled Into the Tug-of-War!)
Power struggles with highly sensitive kids can be draining—but what if there’s a different way to handle them? In this episode, we’ll unpack why power struggles happen and what’s really going on beneath the surface. Hint: it’s less about “winning” or “losing” and more about understanding the underlying need for control.
These struggles often arise when sensitive kids feel the need to assert control, whether to feel secure or to avoid difficult emotions. While it’s natural for them to draw us into these moments, trying to overpower them isn’t the solution.
Here’s the thing: power struggles can be a chance to connect and guide your child instead of engaging in a standoff. Tune in to discover practical, effective strategies to step away from the tug-of-war, encourage cooperation, and make your child feel truly understood.
FREE Breakthrough Call: https://www.raisedresilient.com/breakthrough
Is Your Child Highly Sensitive? Take My FREE Quiz! https://www.raisedresilient.com/quiz
FREE Guide: 10 Things Your Highly Sensitive Child Needs You to Know: https://www.raisedresilient.com/10things
Mastering Meltdowns Support: https://www.raisedresilient.com/meltdowns
Join Our Facebook Group! https://www.facebook.com/groups/raisedresilient
FREE Mindset Shifts: https://www.raisedresilient.com/mindset
Holiday Meltdown Guide: https://www.raisedresilient.com/holidaymeltdowns
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About Raised Resilient: Help Your Highly Sensitive Child
Parenting is the hardest job ever – and parenting a highly sensitive child who’s struggling can feel downright impossible.
If you’re suffering through endless meltdowns, walking on eggshells to avoid your child’s huge emotions, and losing sleep worrying that you’re failing your child, you’ve landed in the right place.
I’m Dr. Hilary Mandzik – clinical psychologist, parenting specialist, and mom of 3. And I’m here to help you feel GOOD about parenting your highly sensitive child.
Join me each week on the Raised Resilient podcast as we explore the topics parents worry about most when it comes to raising highly sensitive kids: managing meltdowns, building emotion regulation, understanding highly sensitive kids, making sense of challenging behaviors, building self-esteem, finding parenting strategies that actually work *with* your child’s sensitivity ... and everything in between.
I’ll help you understand your child’s behavior (and your reactions to it!) so that even the really hard moments make more sense. I’ll empower you with tools, strategies, and scripts to navigate those really hard moments with connection and confidence. (And I’ll remind you that no tool, strategy, or script is as powerful as your parenting ace – your relationship with your child!)
I’m passionate about parenting differently – parenting in a way that sees all kids as good, even when they’re struggling. I’m passionate about breaking unhelpful generational cycles and putting a hard stop to spanking, time outs, shaming, and yelling. I’m passionate about helping highly sensitive kids build the skills they need in order to manage their big emotions successfully ... and parents learning to regulate their own emotions alongside their children. I want to help you stop worrying about whether you’re “raising them right” and feel confident that your kids will grow up trusting themselves and feeling comfortable in their skin … because they were raised resilient.
And that’s big. Because raising our kids resilient can literally make this world a better place.
Listen, parenting is hard no matter how you do it. You won’t “enjoy every moment”, no matter what that lady at the store says. But I’m here to help you go from just barely surviving to parenting in a way that genuinely feels good, for you and your highly sensitive child.
So warm up your coffee and grab your ear buds. It’s time to turn your child’s sensitivity into their SUPERPOWER!
Connect with me:
https://www.raisedresilient.com/
IG: @raisedresilient
Schedule your FREE Breakthrough Session: https://www.raisedresilient.com/breakthrough
Do YOU have a highly sensitive child? Take my FREE QUIZ to find out: https://www.raisedresilient.com/quiz
Major themes: parenting highly sensitive / deeply feeling kids; cycle breaking; building emotion regulation; generational healing; respectful parenting; gentle parenting; peaceful parenting; attachment theory / building a secure attachment
New Zealand