Children as Mediums: How to Recognize Early Spiritual Sensitivity

What if your child could perceive the invisible with startling clarity? Some children seem « different. » They ask existential questions from a young age, talk to « imaginary friends » with unsettling precision, describe places they’ve never visited, or sense emotions that don’t belong to them. For many parents, this can be unsettling, even worrying. What if, instead of dismissing it as a passing phase or an overactive imagination, it’s something else? An early spiritual sensitivity. A child who is a medium.

Mediumship in children, though rarely discussed in mainstream educational circles, is widely observed in spiritual and therapeutic communities. These so-called « sensitive » or « connected » children pick up on subtle information that most adults have learned to ignore or suppress. They may sense the energy of a place, perceive someone’s aura, receive spontaneous messages, or demonstrate extraordinary empathy.

This phenomenon isn’t new. Throughout history, many cultures have recognized the existence of « wise » or « visionary » children, often integrating them into special roles. Yet in our modern society, these abilities are frequently misunderstood or even labeled as concerning. Without proper guidance, such sensitivity can become a source of anxiety or confusion for the child.

But how do you recognize early mediumship?

What signs should alert you without falling into over-interpretation? And most importantly, how do you support your child with compassion, without boxing them into a label, while honoring their unique potential?

In the following sections, we’ll explore how to identify signs of mediumship in children, support them day-to-day, and establish a secure and nurturing framework so this sensitivity remains a gift… not a burden.

Recognizing Mediumship in Children: The Telltale Signs

All children have heightened sensitivity, but in some, this receptivity crosses a much more subtle threshold. Here are the main signs observed in children with medium abilities:

• Persistent imaginary friends described in very precise detail, sometimes with adult-like behaviors or emotions
• Hyper-intuition: the child « knows » things they couldn’t have learned, anticipates situations, picks up on hidden intentions
• Extreme emotional sensitivity: they may absorb others’ emotions like a sponge, become upset for no apparent reason, or display a form of sadness that’s difficult to explain
• Intense or lucid dreams, sometimes prophetic or connected to deceased loved ones
• Spontaneous conversations about spiritual or existential topics: the child naturally talks about reincarnation, souls, or spirit guides without apparent outside influence
• Frequent sleep disturbances: nighttime fears, refusal to sleep alone, feeling watched or visited

It’s important to note that these signs, taken in isolation, aren’t enough to make a « diagnosis. » What matters is their intensity, frequency, and especially how the child experiences them. Are they anxious? Curious? Misunderstood?

Supporting a Medium Child: Keys to Compassionate Guidance

1. Listen Without Judgment
   When a child tells you they see « someone » in their room, they don’t need you to contradict or dismiss them. Even if it’s beyond your understanding, listen and ask open-ended questions: « What does this person look like? How do you feel when they’re there? » You’re not validating a hallucination—you’re acknowledging an experience they perceive as real.
2. Create a Safe Framework
   Medium children are often « open » all the time. Teach them to set boundaries using simple phrases like « I don’t want to be disturbed at night » or « I’m not available right now. » They’ll learn they can be in control of their intuitive channel. Simple rituals (soft lighting, a protective stone, an evening prayer or mantra) can also provide reassurance.
3. Encourage Grounding
   Mediumship can make a child feel unmoored, especially if they struggle to manage the flood of emotions. Activities that reconnect them to their body (dance, gardening, time in nature, gentle sports) help them return to the concrete and avoid dissociation.
4. Foster Creative Expression
   Drawing, writing, and music are powerful outlets for highly receptive children. Through creativity, they transform their perceptions into tangible forms. Offer them journals, varied materials, and above all, never judge what they create.
5. Teach Them About Being Different
   It’s crucial to explain that not everyone perceives the same things, and that doesn’t make them weird or superior. They simply have a particular sensitivity, just as others are gifted at math or art. This acceptance eases much identity-related anxiety.

Helpful Resources for Parents

• Recommended books: « The Highly Intuitive Child » by Catherine Crawford, « Is Your Child Psychic? » by Alex Tanous
• Support groups or forums: to connect with other parents facing similar situations
• Specialized professionals: some energy therapists, sophrology practitioners, or transpersonal psychologists can help structure this sensitivity without denying it

Real-Life Applications

• At school: A medium child may struggle with commotion, noise, or social pressure. It’s important to explain to teachers that they’re highly sensitive, without necessarily mentioning mediumship, to get a bit more understanding or accommodation.
• Within the family: Siblings may struggle with this « difference. » Involving brothers and sisters by explaining it simply can prevent tension or jealousy.
• During crisis moments: If the child feels overwhelmed by their perceptions, surrounding them with calm, helping them breathe, and reminding them they’re safe brings them back to themselves.

Early mediumship isn’t a problem. It’s a gift. A language of the soul seeking early expression. The challenge isn’t to silence it, but to nurture it.

Testimonials: They Learned to Listen to Their Children Differently

Caroline, mother of Leo, age 7
« Leo said a ‘woman in blue’ came to see him at night. At first, we thought it was a nightmare. But it was so precise, so recurring… We consulted a gentle energy healer who helped us understand that Leo was perceiving presences. We established a small protective ritual at bedtime. Since then, he sleeps better and feels heard. He’s no longer afraid. »

Samir, father of Lina, age 10
« Lina has always had extreme sensitivity. One day, she told me she could sense when someone was sad, even if they were smiling. I took her to see a transpersonal therapist who taught her to differentiate between her emotions and those of others. Today, she meditates regularly. She feels better, and so do we. »

Emily, special education teacher
« In my work, I’ve met several children who were labeled ‘troubled’ when they were simply very sensitive to the subtle realm. With compassionate support, these children were able to transform their perception into creative strength. The problem isn’t their mediumship—it’s the lack of understanding around it. »

FAQ: What You Need to Know About Medium Children

Does a medium child see « ghosts »?

Not necessarily. Some perceive presences, others sense emotions, hear inner messages, or pick up on symbols. Each mediumship is unique and can evolve over time.

Should you consult a psychologist if a child says they « see » things?

It can be helpful, especially if the child is suffering or seems disturbed. But seek out professionals who are open to the spiritual or energetic dimension, to avoid premature pathologizing.

Can you help a child « close » their perceptions?

Yes, you can help them set energetic boundaries. This involves simple rituals, grounding practices, and clear intentions. But the goal isn’t to block, only to learn to manage.

Will this sensitivity last?

Sometimes it fades during adolescence. Sometimes it strengthens. What matters is that the child has learned to welcome it and use it with respect and balance.

Should you tell the school?

Not always under the « medium » label. But mentioning heightened sensitivity or a need for quiet can help teachers better understand certain reactions.

What If Your Child Came to Remind You What You’d Forgotten?

Some souls, from the moment they arrive, challenge our certainties. They don’t always speak the language of logic, but that of feeling, intuition, and the invisible. These children we call « mediums » may simply be consciousness bridges. Through their pure perceptions, they remind us that reality doesn’t stop at the five senses. They compel us to reopen long-sealed doors: those of the soul, the heart, the subtle.

Supporting a medium child means accepting to kneel before mystery. It’s stopping the need to explain everything, to control everything, and finally allowing yourself to be touched by what can’t be proven, but can be felt. It’s reconciling with our own intuition, often forgotten, muzzled by education or the demands of reason. It’s, in a way, beginning a shared healing journey.

These children aren’t « different. » On the contrary, they’re at the heart of what humanity desperately seeks: a more authentic connection, finer listening, a more vibrant relationship with the world. Their mediumship is neither an anomaly nor a weakness. It’s a strength to be nurtured, a soul language still unknown, but profoundly precious.

By listening to them, you don’t just reassure them. You allow them to stay luminous in a world that dims too quickly. You offer them a space where being themselves is possible, even if that « self » defies comprehension. And in return, you receive a key. One that reopens within you a forgotten sensitivity, a magic you thought lost.

So if one day your child tells you they see what you don’t see, don’t correct them. Listen. Ask questions. Caress their imagination without crushing it. Give them guidance, yes, but never walls.

Because perhaps by offering this listening, you’ll do far more than help them: you’ll learn, alongside them, to see the world differently. To remember that true intelligence isn’t always what we teach… but what feels, intuits, and loves beyond forms.

What if, ultimately, it wasn’t your child who needed « educating »… but you whom they came to awaken?