Say “I’ if you have a little kid with big feelings! Ah, I can basically hear the unanimous yeses through my laptop screen. Maybe it’s because many of us millennial parents grew up on-edge with undiagnosed anxiety disorders (no? Just me?), but I know so many moms and dads of my generation whose kids are ultra-sensitive and anxious.

And though it’s not an official diagnosis like, say, autism or ADHD, being highly sensitive is a real character trait. In fact, roughly one in five children are highly sensitive, according to psychologist Elaine Aron, who coined the terms “highly sensitive person” and “highly sensitive child.” These children may be slow to warm up in new situations, have a hard time losing, hold high standards and perfectionist tendencies for themselves, and/or be extremely smart and observant beyond their years.

Just like with any other neurodivergent child, a highly sensitive child needs to be parented in such a way that meets their specific needs. So while I certainly rely on my spouse and friends with kids who have anxious tendencies like mine does, sometimes it’s good to get some advice from qualified experts too (in addition to our son’s therapist, who’s one of the many members of our IRL parenting village).

Here are five experts’ Instagram accounts that I follow who share helpful tips, coping mechanisms, and more, each a must-follow for parents of kids with heightened emotions:

@drbeckyatgoodinside, 2.4 million followers

Perhaps one of the most well-known social media personalities in this category is Dr. Becky Kennedy, a clinical psychologist, podcast host, author, and “Millennial Parenting Whisperer,” according to TIME magazine. Dr. Becky roleplays common kid predicaments in her videos, offering up exact “say this, not that” verbiage to help parents manage fighting with a sibling, whining, or having trouble ending a playdate, to name a few. The best part is her tips are approachable, not judgey, and easy enough to incorporate into our everyday parenting lives. 

@ishinna_b_sadana, 1.2 million followers

With a PhD in Human Development, I’d say Dr. Sadana knows a thing or two about how to raise emotionally intelligent kids. Though some of her videos are in Hindi (but dubbed in English!), she's worth a follow for her A+ tips and class offerings with advice on anger and tantrums, calm parenting, positive discipline, and building connection between parents and kids. 

@themompsychologist, 890K followers

The Mom Psychologist, better known as Dr. Jazmine, is a mom of three, psychologist, and parenting educator whose social media content resonates universally across the parenting spectrum, because aren’t we all guilty of telling our kids to “stop it!” and figuring out how to discipline? I appreciate that the San Francisco-based expert’s page also includes actionable tips on specific parenting conundrums that are practical and not preachy, like, for example, how to encourage our kids to open up to us.

@curiousparenting, 750K followers

If your kid hits, resists bedtime, doesn’t listen, hates everything you’ve offered them for dinner, is impatient—all the things us parents experience regularly, basically—the folks behind @curiousparenting have some solid advice for you. Founded by Clementine and Maximilian Foxglove, these two and their staff of mental health professionals share actionable tips backed by research on how to raise confident and empathetic kiddos.

@parentingstyleblog, 40.8K followers

Janice Chou of Parenting Style is a New York-based mom of two who trained in the “respectful parenting” approach in order to become more calm with her own boys. I love that her tips reiterate a lot of the ideas we highlight here at The Starglow Parenting Weekly, like why you shouldn’t always entertain your child and how to raise confident kids. One note: Her content (and her in-person playgroups) is primarily geared toward infant and toddler parents, so expect lots of advice on how to handle tantrums, set boundaries, and actually follow through on discipline.

Lastly, when you’re having a rough day and in the trenches of tantrums or tears, read this poem by Loryn Brantz titled “Sensitivity” which has helped me appreciate that my kid is who he is for a reason… and I wouldn’t change a thing.

What’s your number one tip for parenting a highly emotional child?

Email us or give us a shout on our socials. We’re all ears👂! And if you enjoyed this article, sign up for our weekly newsletter below, with tips, tricks, and trends coming to your inbox every Sunday morning.