How to Raise a Happy Child

What is an empathic child? An empathic is not to be confused with the gift of prophesy or clairvoyance per se, although some have insight into the future. An empathic or empathy-clairsentience is a person whom psychically tunes into the emotional state of another person, group, animal, nature, or the nation ...unconsciously or deliberately. They perceive the emotions of others for the most part at the same time that they are feeling them, or sometimes they feel them before or after they feel them. All of us are born with an innate intuitive ability. There are however, children born with a gift of empathy that goes beyond the norm.

Empathic children will seem highly sensitive to the feelings and reactions of those around them. You hardly ever have to punish them because they are almost too obedient. The reason for this is that they can feel your stress and anticipate how to please you before you are even aware of what you need yourself. And, if you do punish them they suffer more than your average child before during and after the punishment because they can feel all of your thoughts of anger, guilt, or confusion surrounding the punishment itself. Many times it is punishment enough just to be around the struggling parent, because depending on the age of the child, many of the emotions of the adult are just too overwhelming for them to make sense of.

How do you recognize if your child is empathic?

*They will have a sweet and sensitive spirit about them.

*Many times they will seem shy, however they are mainly observing people around them, and trying to decipher all the thoughts and feelings they are taking in, not realizing that most of them are not their own.

*Sometimes they seem like they are behind with walking and talking but then they do everything all at once and very well.

*Some see things in there room at bedtime that no one else can see, and this can be particularly scary.

*Most have imaginary friends, however theirs are really there.

*They are sensitive to light and sound, and startle easily.

*They get images of the future but don't know how to tell you that, or put it into words.

*They have natural instincts for knowing there is a bad person in the room, however if you do not agree they may feel isolated and unprotected because of your inability to know what they know, or they might second guess themselves, and become confused with worry that it is them that is bad.

And the list goes on.... What is the best way to raise these children? It is best to handle them softly. Validate their feelings. Take them seriously when they see things that you cannot see and ask them questions about it. If they seem distressed let them know they are safe and that they are in control of the situation. If what they see is scaring them, tell them to tell, what they are seeing to go to the light, or pray with them if you are so inclined. Nurture their natural abilities and teach them to follow their instincts. Let them know that they are loved and understood. But most importantly, if this ability runs in your family and you are aware of this, don't hide that fact from them. Let them know they are gifted like such and such a relative, and talk of it openly. Encourage their natural talents and abilities and never stifle their growth by trying to force them to be someone they're not.

What about other people and what they might think? Of course you want to protect your child from feeling different and being picked on or ridiculed by others. These worries are natural but just make sure it is not your own fear or embarrassment talking rather than your concern for them. Teach them what others can accept or not, and let them know what they have to keep private. Try not to make their little lives harder than they have to be. Having children like this is a gift and many of them go on to do great things and are a treasured asset to our society. Nurture them accordingly!