How to Support a Sensitive Child Through School Struggles

Author

Jill Gilbert
April 24, 2025

Raising Highly Sensitive Kids. No Filter.

Hey there, Mama!

This week’s topic hits close to home. For a long time, my son struggled deeply with going to school (aka “school refusal”)—and every morning felt like torture. I’d lie awake at night dreading the next day, my chest tight, my brain racing, and this deep pit of anxiety gnawing at me like I was failing him somehow.

It took a lot of time. It took me trying to be extremely flexible and creative. And it took a lot of support. And honestly, it took me down to my lowest point before I was able to find our way forward.

He goes to school regularly now—but I haven’t forgotten what it felt like to be in the thick of it. So if mornings are hard for your family right now, I see you. This issue is for you.

In this issue:

✨ Why “one-size-fits-all” classrooms miss the mark—and what you can ask for instead
🚪 Understanding school refusal (and how to support your child)
📝 How to advocate for school accommodations—without feeling like “that mom”
🪑 The tool that can help calm school-day chaos from the feet up
📚 The worry-busting book that helped my son stand up to his anxiety

Jill

HSC MAMA, FOUNDER & CEO

🔮 WHAT YOU NEED MOST RIGHT NOW

✨ Why “One-Size-Fits-All” Classrooms Fail Our Kids—And What You Can Ask For Instead

If your sensitive child seems totally lost in the classroom—or like they’re acting out just to cope—this one’s for you.

This post breaks down what differentiated instruction actually is (no jargon, promise), and why it matters so much for kids who don’t thrive with a standard teaching approach. You’ll also get exact phrases to use when talking to your child’s teacher—so you’re not just advocating… you’re getting results.

🚪 “I Can’t Go”: Understanding the Real Reasons Behind School Refusal

If your mornings are full of stomachaches, tears, or silent standoffs at the door… there’s more going on than meets the eye.

This post gets to the real root of school avoidance in highly sensitive kids and helps you reframe what looks like defiance as distress. Learn how to decode what’s really going on, and how to start supporting them without shame or power struggles.

📚 School Accommodations 101: How to Ask for What Your Child Actually Needs

If your mornings are full of stomachaches, tears, or silent standoffs at the door… there’s more going on than meets the eye.

This post gets to the real root of school avoidance in highly sensitive kids and helps you reframe what looks like defiance as distress. Learn how to decode what’s really going on, and how to start supporting them without shame or power struggles.

💞 YOU'RE NOT ALONE IF...

😭 You’ve cried after drop-off—not because of the meltdown in the car, but because deep down, you’re scared it’s always going to feel this hard.

🔧 HSC MOM HACK OF THE WEEK

If your child is holding it together by a thread at school, this simple tool might be the difference between a meltdown and a manageable day. It’s low-effort, low-visibility—and surprisingly high impact.

🪑 The Tiny Classroom Tool That Helps Big Feelings Stay in Check

THE PROBLEM

Your child’s struggling to sit still at school—and it’s starting to impact their focus, their behavior, and how teachers see them.

A QUIET SOLUTION THAT HELPS

Bouncy Bands! These stretchy, unobtrusive bands attach to the front legs of a classroom chair, giving kids an easy way to get calming movement while seated. They can push, bounce, or fidget their feet—without being called out or needing to leave the room.

WHY IT WORKS (especially for anxious kids)

Many highly sensitive children avoid school or act out because they feel unsafe—not physically, but emotionally and sensorially. Small tools like this can help their body find a sense of control in an overstimulating environment. It’s not just about fidgeting—it’s about regulation. And if you bring it up to your child’s teacher, there’s a good chance they’ll be supportive—especially when it might reduce the outbursts or anxiety-driven behaviors they're seeing.

☕ Sip & Support: While "A Cuppa Momsense" is our gift to you, some product links may be affiliates. If you treat yourself, we might get a little something too – at no extra cost to you. It's how we keep the coffee flowing! 💖

📚 ON OUR NIGHTSTANDS

🧠 The Book That Helped My Son Stand Up to His Anxiety

If school mornings are a battle and your child is wrestling with fears they can’t quite name, this book might be the magic wand you didn’t know you needed.

This gem breaks down anxiety in a way young kids can actually understand—by turning those intrusive thoughts into “worry bullies.” When I read it with my son, we didn’t just talk about his fears—we stomped them out together (literally, on the bed). It turned fear into something he could face, name, and laugh at.

It’s playful, empowering, and practical—perfect for helping highly sensitive kids externalize their anxiety instead of being consumed by it. A great tool to help ease the school-day dread.

🥰 Could this newsletter help a mom you know?

If you know a mom who needs a little more calm and a lot more support, click the button below and grab your unique referral link to share with friends through text, email…or however you communicate. Plus, get you’ll get a special reward after 5 referrals!

Until next week, sip slowly & savor the calm ☕️