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Mini Minds SAMMY
Sammy Move · Focus · Learn · Thrive

Your emotional regulation journey

Every small moment of connection and calm builds lifelong emotional resilience.

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Current programme 4-week programme

SAMMY 2 — Big Feelings and Frustration

Guidance and practical strategies for navigating frustration, anger, and emotional escalation safely.

Next step — Week 1 8 sections ready

When Feelings Get Loud

Big feelings like frustration and anger are not 'bad'—they are powerful signals that an obstacle or unmet need is present.

How is your child's body budget today?

Check in with your child's body energy. No zone is good or bad — each is simply helpful information.

Green

My body feels ready

Calm, steady, and ready to learn, play, and connect.

Yellow

My body is getting busy

Restless, silly, fluttery, or feeling a little spark rising.

Red

My body needs help

Overwhelmed, stormy, upset, or needing safe comfort.

Mini Minds parent support

12 practical guides for calm, connected parenting

From co-regulation and body budget to connection before correction and big feelings.

Mini Minds · SAMMY journey

SAMMY 2 — Big Feelings and Frustration

Four weeks of playful, parent-supported tools designed to help children navigate intense frustration and big emotional surges.

Week 1

When Feelings Get Loud

Big feelings like frustration and anger are not 'bad'—they are powerful signals.

Ready to explore
Week 2

Noticing the Spark Before the Fire

Catching the 'spark' (early tension) is much easier than stopping a blaze.

Ready to explore
Week 3

Finding My Safe Anchors

Children need reliable physical and emotional anchors to feel safe when their internal world feels stormy.

Ready to explore
Week 4

Trying Again with Courage

Recovery and reconnection after big feelings build lifelong resilience.

Ready to explore
Mini Minds — SAMMY Programme

Week 1: When Feelings Get Loud

Explore all eight weekly sections together at your own pace.

Section 1 of 8 — Parent guide

What Your Child is Learning

Big feelings like frustration and anger are not 'bad'—they are powerful signals that an obstacle or unmet need is present.

Why It Matters

Removing shame from anger helps children express their limits safely without feeling broken.

What You May Notice

Notice early triggers, hunger, fatigue, sensory overload, or sudden unexpected changes in plans.

How You Can Support:

Stay calm and grounded. "I see how frustrating this is, I am right here with you."

Section 2 of 8 — Meet Sammy

Meet Sammy

Hey there! Sammy is here with you.

Sammy says:

"Have you ever felt like a volcano getting warm inside? I have! It is okay to feel angry. Volcanoes are natural. We just learn how to let the steam out safely."

"Big feelings are okay. We can pause and get help whenever we need."

Section 3 of 8 — Main play activity

The Steam Release Valve

Objective: Practice harmless physical outlets for building frustration.

Household Materials

Recycled scrap paper to tear, a soft pillow or cushion, a cardboard box.

Quick Setup

Create a safe steam release zone on a carpeted area.

Step-by-Step Play

1. Talk about how steam builds in a kettle when it gets hot.
2. Tear scrap paper into small strips with quick, satisfying rips.
3. Toss the paper strips into the cardboard box.
4. Take one big sigh out together: *'Phew'* like the kettle lid lifting.
Parent Says: "We can let the energy out through our hands safely without hurting anyone."

Child Does: Tears paper and throws it into the box, noticing the muscle release.

Parent Observes: Watch for the shift from intense tension to laughter or a relaxed sigh.
Section 4 of 8 — Movement activity

Heavy work and grounding: Stomp & Float

1. Stomp your feet firmly into the rug like a big dinosaur three times: THUD, THUD, THUD!
2. Float — Now blow out a big breath and float your arms down like a leaf in autumn.
3. Shake out your wrists like you are shaking water off your fingertips.
4. Rest your hands on your tummy.
Regulation Goal: Provides proprioceptive input (heavy work) to ground the nervous system.
Section 5 of 8 — Conversation activity

Conversation Activity

Keep conversation natural, cozy, and pressure-free. It is not an assessment.

Parent Opens With:

"Anger is just a feeling telling us something feels hard or unfair right now."

Gentle Questions to Ask

"What does your body feel like when a puzzle piece won't fit?"
"Do your hands want to squeeze tight or push when you're frustrated?"
"What can you say if you want me to pause and help you?"
Possible Child Thoughts: "My chest gets hot and I want to throw it." / "They want to squeeze tight." / "Say 'Help please!'"

How You Can Respond: Praise their insight: "That is so clear. Squeezing a pillow is a great choice when your hands feel tight."
Section 6 of 8 — Everyday practice

Normal Routine Scenario

Toys Not Cooperating or Building Blocks Tumbling.

Step in early before the tower collapse turns into a meltdown.
Narrate before intervening: "That block is wobbling. That feels tricky!"
Offer presence before solutions: Sit close and breathe slowly.
Remind: "You don't have to do it perfectly. We can try again together."
Section 7 of 8 — Mini mission

The Big Sigh Detective

Your mission:

Take one big steam-release sigh with Sammy whenever something feels tricky today.

"A deep sigh is your body's built-in reset button."

Section 8 of 8 — Parent reflection

Pause & reflect

Take a quiet moment to record your thoughts. Your notes stay saved on this device.

Mini Minds — SAMMY Programme

Week 2: Noticing the Spark Before the Fire

Explore all eight weekly sections together at your own pace.

Section 1 of 8 — Parent guide

What Your Child is Learning

Emotional escalation happens on a curve. Catching the 'spark' (early tension) is much easier than stopping a blaze.

Why It Matters

Early intervention prevents full dysregulation and protects the child's feeling of control.

What You May Notice

Look for clenched fists, raised shoulders, sharp breathing, or sudden silence.

How You Can Support:

Use low-key co-regulation: lower your vocal volume, slow your speech, and soften your eyes.

Section 2 of 8 — Meet Sammy

Meet Sammy

Hello explorer! Sammy here.

Sammy says:

"Before a fire starts, there is just a tiny spark. When I notice my little spark, I like to take a cold sip of water and sit down on the carpet."

"Your feelings give you hints before they grow big. Let's spot the sparks!"

Section 3 of 8 — Main play activity

The Spark Thermometer

Objective: Visualise rising emotional temperature using simple colored rings.

Household Materials

Three colored strips or circles (Green, Yellow, Orange), a toy figure or Sammy cutout.

Quick Setup

Place the colored markers in a row on the floor from Green to Orange.

Step-by-Step Play

1. Explain: Green means calm and cruising, Yellow means a little busy, Orange means tricky.
2. Ask: When someone grabs your toy, where does your Sammy figure land?
3. Practice walking Sammy from Orange back down to Green by taking a pause.
4. Discuss what helps Sammy step back down to Yellow and Green.
Parent Says: "When we see Sammy step onto Yellow, we know it's time for a cuddle or a pause."

Child Does: Moves Sammy along the colors and describes the feeling.

Parent Observes: Check if the child understands that they can move backwards down the scale.
Section 4 of 8 — Movement activity

Contrast movements: Lion to Mouse

1. Make a big, fierce lion face and stretch your claws wide (silently or with a low rumble).
2. Shrink down into a tiny, quiet mouse under a blanket.
3. Whisper three quiet squeaks.
4. Notice how quiet and safe the mouse hole feels.
Regulation Goal: Helps children move smoothly between high arousal states and restorative stillness.
Section 5 of 8 — Conversation activity

Conversation Activity

Keep conversation natural, cozy, and pressure-free. It is not an assessment.

Parent Opens With:

"We can always stop and take a break. Breaks are strong choices."

Gentle Questions to Ask

"What is your body's early spark clue?"
"Would you like me to hold your hand or give you space when you feel the spark?"
"What is a cozy word we can use when we need a reset?"
Possible Child Thoughts: "My teeth press together." / "Hold my hand tight." / "Pineapple! Or Sammy break!"

How You Can Respond: Honor their cue: "Got it. Whenever you say 'Sammy break', everything stops and we reset."
Section 6 of 8 — Everyday practice

Normal Routine Scenario

Sharing or Taking Turns with Siblings or Friends (Waiting is physically uncomfortable for young nervous systems).

Acknowledge the physical ache of waiting: "Waiting feels so hard in your tummy!"
Use concrete timers rather than vague phrases like "in a minute".
Give their hands an active job while waiting — holding a favorite toy or sock.
Section 7 of 8 — Mini mission

The Cool Water Sip

Your mission:

Take three slow sips of cool water through a straw when your body feels warm today.

"Drinking through a straw is a wonderful way to soothe your nervous system."

Section 8 of 8 — Parent reflection

Pause & reflect

Take a quiet moment to record your thoughts. Your notes stay saved on this device.

Mini Minds — SAMMY Programme

Week 3: Finding My Safe Anchors

Explore all eight weekly sections together at your own pace.

Section 1 of 8 — Parent guide

What Your Child is Learning

Children need reliable physical and emotional anchors to feel safe when their internal world feels stormy.

Why It Matters

Safety is the prerequisite for regulation. Children cannot think logically until they feel physically safe.

What You May Notice

Notice which sensory inputs calm your child (weight, soft texture, dim light, or steady pressure).

How You Can Support:

Create a predictable, comforting 'calm corner' with pillows and soft textures—never as a punishment or time-out.

Section 2 of 8 — Meet Sammy

Meet Sammy

Hi buddy, it's Sammy!

Sammy says:

"When ships are out in a big storm with giant waves, they drop a heavy anchor right down to the ocean floor so they stay steady. We can have anchors too!"

"You are never alone in a storm. We are your safe anchor."

Section 3 of 8 — Main play activity

Building Sammy's Cozy Island

Objective: Create a peaceful sanctuary corner together.

Household Materials

Two or three soft cushions or pillows, a cozy blanket, a favorite cuddly toy or book.

Quick Setup

Choose a quiet corner of the living room or bedroom together.

Step-by-Step Play

1. Lay down the blanket to make the island boundaries.
2. Stack the pillows like soft rocks around the edges.
3. Place Sammy or a cuddly friend right in the middle.
4. Sit together inside and test how cozy and calm it feels.
Parent Says: "This is our calm island. Anyone can come here whenever they want a peaceful rest."

Child Does: Arranges the pillows and tests out the snugness.

Parent Observes: Watch whether your child relaxes their posture upon entering the space.
Section 4 of 8 — Movement activity

Proprioceptive calming: The Heavy Turtle Shell

1. Crawl onto the rug on hands and knees.
2. Tuck your head in gently.
3. Parent places a folded blanket or light cushion over the child's back like a safe shell.
4. Take three slow breaths, feeling the gentle weight on your back.
Regulation Goal: Gentle weighted input stimulates deep pressure receptors, soothing the nervous system.
Section 5 of 8 — Conversation activity

Conversation Activity

Keep conversation natural, cozy, and pressure-free. It is not an assessment.

Parent Opens With:

"Your cozy island is always open. You are never sent there—you choose to visit."

Gentle Questions to Ask

"How does your body feel when you sit inside your island?"
"Who would you like to invite to your island when you feel stormy?"
"What is the softest thing on your island?"
Possible Child Thoughts: "It feels like a warm hug." / "You and Sammy and my bear." / "The fluffy yellow pillow."

How You Can Respond: Affirm their sanctuary: "I would love to sit with you there anytime you want company."
Section 6 of 8 — Everyday practice

Normal Routine Scenario

Sensory Overload After School or Daycare (Returning home often causes an emotional release after holding it together all day).

Offer a quiet transition period with minimal questions upon arrival.
Provide a crunchy snack or cold water right away.
Allow 10 minutes on the cozy island before discussing tasks or shoes.
Section 7 of 8 — Mini mission

The Island Visit

Your mission:

Visit your cozy island today for 3 minutes just to enjoy a quiet moment.

"Visiting when you are already calm makes it easy to remember when you are busy."

Section 8 of 8 — Parent reflection

Pause & reflect

Take a quiet moment to record your thoughts. Your notes stay saved on this device.

Mini Minds — SAMMY Programme

Week 4: Trying Again with Courage

Explore all eight weekly sections together at your own pace.

Section 1 of 8 — Parent guide

What Your Child is Learning

Recovery and reconnection after big feelings build lifelong resilience.

Why It Matters

Knowing that relationships survive conflict and that mistakes can be mended gives children immense security.

What You May Notice

Notice if your child feels shy or guilty after a big feeling, and offer immediate reassurance.

How You Can Support:

Lead with connection before correction: "We had a stormy moment, but our love never changes. Let's try again."

Section 2 of 8 — Meet Sammy

Meet Sammy

Hello again! Sammy is back.

Sammy says:

"Even the bravest explorers fall down or stumble sometimes. What matters most is that we can always stand back up together and try again with a smile."

Section 3 of 8 — Main play activity

The Fresh Start Bridge

Objective: Practice playful repair and resetting after a mock silly frustration.

Household Materials

A soft toy or cushion to act as a "bridge".

Step-by-Step Play

1. Act out a silly moment where a tower falls or a toy slips.
2. Take a shared deep breath and say the magic repair phrase: "Mended and ready!".
3. Walk the toy across the pillow bridge to symbolize starting fresh.
Section 4 of 8 — Movement activity

The Reconnection Stretch

1. Reach your arms up as high as the sky to stretch away any leftover tension.
2. Give yourselves a warm, wrapping self-hug.
3. Share a gentle high-five or fist-bump for finishing the journey.
Section 5 of 8 — Conversation activity

Conversation Activity

"What was your favorite tool we practiced together during our Sammy journey?"

Section 6 of 8 — Everyday practice

Normal Routine Scenario

Everyday repair: Whenever a minor upset happens today, close it out with a clear connection moment and a clean slate.
Section 7 of 8 — Mini mission

The Fresh Start High-Five

Your mission:

Give your child a special high-five and tell them how proud you are of their emotional toolkit today.

Section 8 of 8 — Parent reflection

Pause & reflect

You've reached the end of this programme. 🎉

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