The Highly Intuitive Child: A Guide to Understanding and Parenting Unusually Sensitive and Empathic Children [Paperback]

Catherine Crawford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2009

Some children can walk into a room and feel “the vibe” instantly in their body. Others may tune into an unspoken family conflict, or tell someone to "be careful" before stumbling into an unknown situation. These may seem to be the normal human qualities of intuition and empathy, but in highly intuitive children (and adults), such traits are supercharged. Growing up in a culture that favors the rational and the five senses can be difficult for gifted children. This book shows parents, teachers, and therapists how to help them — and those around them — embrace and exercise their gift. The Highly Intuitive Child covers a wealth of topics including: how to easily identify the intuitive child; how life is different for them; the 10 skills they must master before leaving home; the connections between neuroscience and intuition; what other cultures can teach us about supporting intuitive children; "indigo" children; success stories; and much more.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Crawford, a psychotherapist, approaches her topic from the perspective of a professional who has dealt with many intuitive children during the past 20 years, and also as an intuitive individual herself. Children who are highly intuitive and empathic, she explains, both present and face unique challenges, and parents who are not particularly intuitive themselves may be shocked, perplexed and even frightened by their offspring's unusual gifts. While certain indigenous cultures have long regarded intuitive children in a positive light (such as the Inuit and ancient Mayans), mainstream America—and its parenting books—have avoided the topic, the author claims. Crawford steps up to the plate, dealing with the intuitive child's difficulties at home and at school, and encouraging parents to offer love and acceptance. She explains that empathic children often take on the weight of the world, and may become overly stressed by and sensitive to injustice. In a useful chapter, Crawford outlines 10 important skills that parents can teach intuitive children ranging from learning how to tell the difference between random fears and intuition, to how to turn down the volume on intuitive antennae. While Crawford's audience may be somewhat limited, she offers sincere support and practical information to parents searching to aid and more deeply understand their highly intuitive child. (Dec.)
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Review

"Crawford, a marriage-family therapist and registered art therapist, offers a gentle and insightful approach to parenting children with highly intuitive abilities or sensitivities. Conceding that all people have intuition and sensitivity, she argues that certain children are born with these traits functioning at a higher capacity, and they encounter specific challenges such as feeling responsible for others' emotions or absorbing group stress. She does not seek to lessen their sensitivity but rather to teach acceptance and self-help for their authentic nature, while helping parents understand how best to support them. Crawford identifies ten skills that intuitives should master, including differentiating between fears and intuition and distinguishing one's energy from others'. She is especially strong when discussing the value of art in a child's growing development...There are pearls of wisdom here for parents of children on the high end of the sensitivity spectrum, with or without intuitive abilities. Recommended for comprehensive parenting collections..." —Library Journal, Julianne J. Smith, Ypsilanti Dist. Lib., MI

"Crawford, a psychotherapist, approaches her topic from the perspective of a professional who has dealt with many intuitive children during the past 20 years, and also as an intuitive individual herself. Children who are highly intuitive and empathic, she explains, both present and face unique challenges, and parents who are not particularly intuitive themselves may be shocked, perplexed and even frightened by their offspring's unusual gifts. While certain indigenous cultures have long regarded intuitive children in a positive light (such as the Inuit and ancient Mayans), mainstream America—and its parenting books—have avoided the topic, the author claims. Crawford steps up to the plate, dealing with the intuitive child's difficulties at home and at school, and encouraging parents to offer love and acceptance. She explains that empathic children often take on the weight of the world, and may become overly stressed by and sensitive to injustice. In a useful chapter, Crawford outlines 10 important skills that parents can teach intuitive children ranging from learning how to tell the difference between random fears and intuition, to how to turn down the volume on "intuitive antennae." While Crawford's audience may be somewhat limited, she offers sincere support and practical information to parents searching to aid and more deeply understand their highly intuitive child." - Publishers Weekly

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Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Hunter House (January 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0897935098
• ISBN-13: 978-0897935098
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #329,041 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Better help for parents of Indigo/Crystal children, January 31, 2009

By 

Ursadiana "Trisha Sides" (Topeka, KS United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Highly Intuitive Child: A Guide to Understanding and Parenting Unusually Sensitive and Empathic Children (Paperback)

I wish I had had this book 14 years ago when my son was born. It could easily have been written about him. This book addresses the children others have labeled Indigo, but in less esoteric and new-agey tems. It demystifies empathy and intuition in children and outlines simple and practical ways to support them.
Many books i've read on the subject are great at explaining the what and why of intuitive children (and adults) but offer very little real advice on the how of living with it day to day. This book, I feel, does a wonderful job of that

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A guide to dealing with children who are especially empathic or intuitive, March 13, 2009

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Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Highly Intuitive Child: A Guide to Understanding and Parenting Unusually Sensitive and Empathic Children (Paperback)

Every child is different, and every child has different gifts. "The Highly Intuitive Child: A Guide to Understanding and Parenting Unusually Sensitive and Empathic Children" is a guide to dealing with children who are especially empathic or intuitive to their own feelings and the feelings of others. With advice for parents on understanding if their own child is particularly empathic and how a parent can help their child with it and turn it into a gift rather than a problem, "The Highly Intuitive Child" is a top pick for these parents and their children reach a greater understanding.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Book Just Might Change Your Life and Your Child's Forever, February 2, 2009

By 

Hansine P. Goran "Hansine G." (California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Highly Intuitive Child: A Guide to Understanding and Parenting Unusually Sensitive and Empathic Children (Paperback)

The Highly Intuitive Child: A Guide to Understanding and Parenting Unusually Sensitive and Empathic Children The remarkable gifts of highly developed intuition, empathy and the type of intuition that may present as premonition are exquisitely addressed in this book. Too often a child with rare and exceptional gifts is not understood or tolerated, particularly when the parents have differing gifts. Catherine Crawford explains beautifully the types of behaviors you might see in an empathic or intuitively gifted child and explains how to best support and nurture the gifts and your child. This book delivers understanding to parents and through them to the children so fortunate to possess these gifts. Highly recommended for therapists and educators. I recently heard Catherine Crawford interviewed about The Highly Intuitive Child on the Dresser After Dark Show on Lifestyle Talk Radio. The interview was also excellent and can be heard on the Lifestyle Talk Radio affiliates. As a therapist for more than three decades, I would like to say that allowing these gifts to grow and flourish when a child is young will save the child untold years of working to reclaim them.