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Sammy Vector WELCOME BACK

Hello, there!

Welcome back to your personalised Sammy emotional regulation journey.

CURRENT PROGRAMME

SAMMY 1 β€” UNDERSTANDING MY FEELINGS

4 WEEK PROGRAMME PARENT SUPPORTED

Your child's personalised emotional regulation journey with Sammy.

Continue Your Journey

Pick up where you left off in your Sammy programme.

Resources for You

Explore practical parent-support resources across Foundations, Connection, Growth and Everyday Tools.

Sammy Vector MY JOURNEY

SAMMY 1 β€” UNDERSTANDING MY FEELINGS

Supporting children to recognise, name and understand sensations and emotions with warmth and safety.

Four Progressive Weeks 8 Sections Each
WEEK 1

Noticing What My Body Feels

Children begin noticing body clues and connecting them with their experiences and feelings.

READY
WEEK 2

Naming My Feelings

Children begin building a richer emotional vocabulary by noticing, naming and talking about different feelings.

READY
WEEK 3

Feelings in Motion & Rest

Children explore how feelings change throughout the day and how moving or resting helps shift energy.

READY
WEEK 4

Connecting & Sharing My World

Children learn to communicate their feelings and notice how friends and family members might be feeling.

READY
Sammy Vector SAMMY 1

UNDERSTANDING MY FEELINGS

Week 1: Noticing What My Body Feels

Explore all eight weekly sections together at your own pace.

Parent Guide

What your child is learning

Children begin noticing body clues and learning that their bodies can give them information about how they are feeling.

Why it matters

Noticing body clues can help children begin to understand their feelings before they become overwhelming.

How you can support

Use calm, curious language and gently wonder together about what your child may be noticing.

Meet Sammy

Sammy helps children become curious about their bodies and feelings in a warm and playful way.

"Let's slow down, notice our clues and see what our bodies are telling us."

Main Play Activity

The Body Weather Map

Explore how different parts of the body can feel during different experiences.

Parent

Invite your child to notice different body clues without needing to change or fix them.

Child

Draw, point to or describe what different parts of their body feel like.

Movement Activity

Tension and Release

Explore the difference between holding tension and gently letting the body soften.

Gentle Jellyfish

Move softly and loosely.

Sturdy Tree

Stand strong and steady, then soften your body again.

Conversation Activity

Keep the conversation natural and pressure-free.

"What does your body feel like right now?"

Everyday Practice

Notice body clues during ordinary moments such as getting dressed, eating, playing, resting or preparing for bedtime.

Mini Mission

Sammy's Sensation Detective

Notice one body clue during the day and talk about what your child noticed.

Parent Reflection

Take a quiet moment to reflect on your child's week.

Sammy Vector SAMMY 1

UNDERSTANDING MY FEELINGS

Week 2: Naming My Feelings

Giving feelings names helps children begin to understand what they are experiencing and communicate it with confidence.

Parent Guide

What your child is learning

Children learn that feelings can have different names and that finding a word for a feeling can help communicate what is happening inside.

Why it matters

Feeling words give children a way to communicate their experiences with the people who care about them.

What you may notice

Your child may begin using familiar feeling words or may look to you for help finding the right word.

How you can support

Model simple feeling words throughout everyday moments without requiring your child to identify a feeling correctly.

Meet Sammy

SAMMY'S FEELING WORDS

Happy β€’ Excited β€’ Worried β€’ Frustrated β€’ Sad β€’ Calm β€’ Proud β€’ Nervous

"You don't have to know your feeling straight away. We can slow down, notice what is happening and find a word together."

Main Play Activity

The Feeling Word Hunt

Find feeling words around the home and talk about what they might mean.

Household Materials

Paper or card, crayons, basket, toys, books or objects.

Quick Setup

Create simple feeling-word cards with words or faces.

Step-by-Step Play
  1. Place the feeling cards around the room.
  2. Find one feeling card.
  3. Talk about what the feeling might mean.
  4. Ask if your child has ever felt it.
  5. Choose another card and continue.
Parent

Stay curious and model your own feeling words.

Child

Finds, chooses and talks about feeling words.

Observe

Notice which words your child recognises or connects with.

Extension

Create your own family feeling-word cards.

Movement Activity

MOVE LIKE A FEELING

Happy

Bounce or stretch.

Worried

Use small movements and look around.

Frustrated

Make strong pushing movements, then soften.

Calm

Move slowly and gently.

Regulation Goal

Notice that feelings can show up in different ways and can change.

Conversation Activity

WHAT'S THE FEELING WORD?

Keep conversation gentle and pressure-free.

Gentle Questions

  • What feeling word could describe that?
  • Have you ever felt like that?
  • What could we call that feeling?
"That's okay. We don't have to know straight away. We can wonder together."

Everyday Practice

EVERYDAY FEELING WORDS

Model feeling words during play, disappointment, connection and moments of uncertainty.

Mini Mission

Sammy's Feeling Word Detective

Notice three moments during the day and choose a feeling word for each one.

Parent Reflection

Take a quiet moment to answer these questions.

Sammy Vector SAMMY 1

UNDERSTANDING MY FEELINGS

Week 3: Feelings in Motion & Rest

Children explore how feelings change throughout the day and how moving or resting helps shift energy.

Feelings in Motion & Rest

This week helps children notice changes in their feelings and energy throughout the day and explore how movement and rest can support their regulation.

Parent Guide

Support your child to notice changes in their energy and feelings throughout everyday experiences.

Meet Sammy

"Our feelings can move and change. Sometimes our bodies need movement, and sometimes they need rest."

Main Play Activity

Explore how different movements and quiet moments can change the way the body feels.

Movement Activity

Try changing between active movement and slow, restful movement while noticing how the body feels.

Conversation Activity

Talk about times when your child feels full of energy and times when their body wants to slow down.

Everyday Practice

Notice energy changes during ordinary routines such as mornings, after school, playtime and bedtime.

Mini Mission

Notice one time your child's body wanted movement and one time it wanted rest.

Parent Reflection

Take a quiet moment to reflect on your child's week.

Week 4 of 4
Sammy Vector SAMMY 1

SAMMY 1 β€” UNDERSTANDING MY FEELINGS

Week 4: Connecting & Sharing My World

Explore all eight weekly sections together at your own pace.

Parent Guide

WHAT YOUR CHILD IS LEARNING

Children learn to communicate their feelings and notice how friends and family members might be feeling.

WHY IT MATTERS

Sharing feelings creates safety, connection, and empathy with others.

WHAT YOU MAY NOTICE

Notice small bids for connection, such as a child bringing you a toy or standing near you during big feelings.

HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT

Respond with presence and warmth:

"I am right here with you. We have all the time we need."

Meet Sammy

HIGH-FIVE FROM SAMMY!

"Look how far you've come! You know your body clues, your feeling names, and your engine speeds. Sharing that with people who care about you is like sharing sunshine."

Sammy says:

"You are a thoughtful feeling explorer! I am so proud to be on this journey with you!"

Main Play Activity

The Sammy Connection Bridge

Objective: Build a symbolic bridge of connection and kind words.

HOUSEHOLD MATERIALS

Building blocks, cardboard boxes, or cushions.

Small paper cards or notes.

QUICK SETUP

Create two islands on the floor using blankets, connected by a block bridge.

STEP-BY-STEP PLAY
  1. Build a sturdy bridge between two cushions.
  2. For each block placed, name one thing that helps when someone feels unsure.
  3. Walk Sammy across the bridge together from one island to the other.
  4. Give each other a gentle high-five or hug on the middle of the bridge.
PARENT SAYS

"This bridge connects us no matter what feelings come along."

CHILD DOES

Builds the bridge and walks their figure across.

PARENT OBSERVES

Watch how proud the child feels as they name supportive strategies.

OPTIONAL EXTENSION

Keep the bridge up for the afternoon as a quiet cozy nook.

Movement Activity

RHYTHM AND IMITATION

Mirror Dance of Kindness

  1. Stand facing each other about two steps apart.
  2. One person moves their arms very slowly and gently like a tree branch.
  3. The other person matches the movement exactly like a mirror.
  4. Switch roles so your child leads the gentle movements.

REGULATION GOAL

Fosters non-verbal co-regulation, empathy, and shared attention.

Conversation Activity

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

PARENT OPENS WITH

"Whenever feelings get big or confusing, we are on the same team."

GENTLE QUESTIONS TO ASK

  • "How can we tell when someone else might need a gentle helper?"
  • "What is your favorite feeling we talked about this month?"
  • "What would you say to Sammy if he was having a wobbly day?"

POSSIBLE CHILD THOUGHTS

"If they are crying or looking down."

"I like feeling proud and cozy!"

"I would give Sammy a big hug! You're okay Sammy!"

HOW YOU CAN RESPOND

"That is such a kind, caring thing to do. Sammy would feel so supported."

Everyday Practice

NORMAL ROUTINE SCENARIO

Bedtime Wind-Down

Review the day's feelings with gentle acceptance before sleep.

PRACTICAL FAMILY TIPS

  • Ask: "What was your body's favorite part of today?"
  • Acknowledge any tricky moments without lecturing.
  • Remind them: "Your body worked hard today. Now it's time to rest peacefully."

Mini Mission

The Kindness Wave

Offer a warm smile or gentle word to someone in your family when they seem busy.

"Kindness is a superpower that starts right in your heart."

Parent Reflection

Take a quiet moment to answer these questions.

YOU DID IT!

You've completed Sammy 1

Celebrate the journey you've taken together and the conversations, connection and learning you've shared.

Claim Certificate
Sammy Vector PARENT SUPPORT

Supporting Your Child

Practical guidance to help you understand, connect with and support your child's emotional development in everyday life.

FOUNDATIONS

Understanding the Foundations

Build a deeper understanding of body states, behaviour and co-regulation.

CONNECTION

Building Connection

Strengthen safety, connection, body awareness and emotional communication.

GROWTH

Encouraging Growth

Help children build emotional vocabulary, resilience and genuine confidence.

EVERYDAY TOOLS

Practical Everyday Tools

Simple strategies for routines, choices and transitions.

FOUNDATIONS

Body Budget

Understanding bodily energy and state readiness without judgment.

The Core Concept

Just like a bank balance, a child's nervous system has energy deposits and withdrawals. When the budget is depleted by sensory load, fatigue, or hunger, children experience emotional dysregulation.

Why It Matters

Framing regulation in terms of energy budgets removes blame and helps adults address physiological needs before expecting emotional composure.

Practical Everyday Steps
  • Check the three zones: Green ("My body feels ready"), Yellow ("My body is getting busy"), and Red ("My body needs help").
  • Offer physical energy deposits: protein snacks, cool sips of water, outdoor movement, or quiet cuddles.
  • Notice early withdrawal signs before the balance drops to zero.
Helpful Phrases to Try
  • "Let's notice what your body is telling you right now."
  • "Are you in Green, Yellow, or Red? Let's check in."
  • "Your body engine feels busy. Let's make a quick energy deposit together."
Phrases to Gently Avoid
  • "You need to calm down right now."
  • "Why are you acting like this?"
  • "Stop being dramatic."
Sammy Says: "When my body is in Yellow, a slow sip of water through a straw helps me refuel!"
FOUNDATIONS

Behaviour is Communication

Looking beneath the surface action to find the unmet need.

The Core Concept

Every challenging moment is a child's best attempt to communicate that they are overwhelmed, disconnected, or lacking the skills to navigate a current situation.

Why It Matters

When parents interpret behaviour as a cry for support rather than defiance, responses become compassionate and constructive rather than punitive.

Practical Everyday Steps
  • Pause and take a deep breath before reacting.
  • Ask yourself: "What is my child feeling or needing right now that they cannot express in words?"
  • Address the vulnerability first, then guide the behaviour once calm.
Helpful Phrases to Try
  • "I hear you. You are trying to tell me something really important."
  • "I see how hard this is for you right now."
  • "You are safe with me. We will work this out together."
Phrases to Gently Avoid
  • "You are being bad."
  • "Go to your room until you behave."
  • "Don't give me that look."
Sammy Says: "When I throw a block, my hands are saying: I'm tired and this is too hard!"
FOUNDATIONS

Co-regulation

Lending your calm until your child can find their own.

The Core Concept

Children are not born with mature self-regulation; they develop it through thousands of experiences of co-regulating with calm, attuned adults.

Why It Matters

An upset child cannot calm an upset nervous system. The adult's grounded nervous system acts as the biological anchor.

Practical Everyday Steps
  • Lower your vocal volume, soften your eyes, and loosen your shoulders.
  • Position yourself at or below the child's eye level without towering.
  • Maintain a slow, steady breathing pattern within earshot.
Helpful Phrases to Try
  • "I am right here with you."
  • "You can borrow my calm until your body feels steady."
  • "Take your time. I am not going anywhere."
Phrases to Gently Avoid
  • "Calm down or else!"
  • "I don't have time for this."
  • "Look at me when I'm speaking!"
Sammy Says: "When my friend holds my hand and breathes slowly, my heart learns how to slow down too."
CONNECTION

Emotional Connection

Building safety and trust as the bedrock of cooperation.

The Core Concept

Children naturally want to cooperate with adults with whom they feel deeply connected. Emotional safety opens up the learning centers of the brain.

Why It Matters

Without emotional connection, guidance feels like coercion and triggers defensive resistance.

Practical Everyday Steps
  • Spend 10 minutes of uninterrupted child-led play each day.
  • Greet your child with warm eye contact and a gentle smile before making requests.
  • Delight in who they are, separate from their achievements or tasks.
Helpful Phrases to Try
  • "I love spending time with you."
  • "Tell me more about what you madeβ€”it's so interesting!"
  • "My favorite part of today was laughing with you."
Phrases to Gently Avoid
  • "Can't you see I'm busy?"
  • "Only good children get special time."
  • "Hurry up, we don't have time for chatting."
Sammy Says: "A 5-minute cuddle in the morning fills my emotional tank for the whole day!"
CONNECTION

Body Awareness

Cultivating interoceptive awareness of physical cues and sensations.

The Core Concept

Interoception is the sense of internal body states. Teaching children to identify heartbeats, breathing shifts, and muscle tension enables them to manage distress before it escalates.

Why It Matters

Children cannot regulate sensations they cannot feel or understand.

Practical Everyday Steps
  • Practice noticing heartbeat rhythms before and after active games.
  • Talk about body sensations during everyday moments (warm hands, cold toes, tummy butterflies).
  • Use descriptive, non-judgmental words for internal sensations.
Helpful Phrases to Try
  • "What is your tummy saying right now?"
  • "I notice your shoulders are high up by your ears. Let's let them drop down soft."
  • "Feel your heart going thump-thump! It's working so hard for you."
Phrases to Gently Avoid
  • "There's nothing wrong with you."
  • "Stop complaining about your tummy."
  • "You're just imagining it."
Sammy Says: "I like to put my chest and count three steady thumps when I feel busy inside."
CONNECTION

Naming Feelings

Giving emotional experiences precise, validating words.

The Core Concept

Neuroscience reveals that naming an emotion ("name it to tame it") engages the prefrontal cortex and reduces reactivity in the amygdala.

Why It Matters

Naming feelings gives form to chaotic internal sensations and validates the child's lived experience.

Practical Everyday Steps
  • Expand beyond happy/sad/mad to include curious, unsure, proud, cozy, and overwhelmed.
  • Name feelings without attaching consequences or reprimands.
  • Model naming your own everyday feelings in real time.
Helpful Phrases to Try
  • "It sounds like you felt really disappointed when the park was closed."
  • "You look so proud of that tall block tower!"
  • "I am wondering if you feel a little nervous about tomorrow?"
Phrases to Gently Avoid
  • "Big boys/girls don't cry."
  • "You shouldn't feel that way."
  • "Cheer up, it's not a big deal."
Sammy Says: "Feelings are like colors in a paintbox. Every single color has a place!"
GROWTH

Emotional Vocabulary

Equipping children with rich words to express nuances of experience.

The Core Concept

Moving beyond basic emotion words empowers children to pinpoint their exact inner state and select appropriate coping tools.

Why It Matters

Language development and emotional regulation are deeply intertwined; verbal expression replaces physical acting-out.

Practical Everyday Steps
  • Read picture books and pause to discuss the characters' emotional states.
  • Introduce nuanced words: frustrated, startled, relieved, curious, hesitant, cozy.
  • Connect words to body sensations: 'Tense shoulders often mean unsure'.
Helpful Phrases to Try
  • "Did you feel startled when that loud dog barked?"
  • "It sounds like you felt torn between staying and going."
  • "You look so relieved that the doctor's visit was easy!"
Phrases to Gently Avoid
  • "Only using 'good' and 'bad'."
  • "Assuming anger when the true feeling is fear or shame."
  • "Dismissing complex feeling words as too old for the child."
Sammy Says: "Every new feeling word is a shiny key in your emotional keyring!"
GROWTH

Trying Again

Reframing setbacks as natural checkpoints in mastery.

The Core Concept

Resilience is not the absence of difficulty; it is the willingness to pause, self-soothe, and re-engage with courage.

Why It Matters

Fear of failure causes avoidance and anxiety; normalization of attempts fosters healthy persistence.

Practical Everyday Steps
  • Praise the courage to try rather than the flawless completion.
  • Break intimidating skills into smaller stepping stones.
  • Celebrate the recovery as much as the triumph.
Helpful Phrases to Try
  • "You don't have to do it perfectly. Let's try again."
  • "Look at you bouncing back after that tumble!"
  • "Every time we try again, our brain builds new pathways."
Phrases to Gently Avoid
  • "Why can't you just get it right?"
  • "See, I told you that wouldn't work."
  • "Taking over and finishing it yourself in frustration."
Sammy Says: "Champions aren't the ones who never fall; they're the ones who give an Oops high-five and get back up!"
GROWTH

Building Confidence

Nurturing genuine self-worth through authentic contribution and capability.

The Core Concept

True confidence arises from feeling competent, trusted, and valued for who one is, rather than from superficial empty praise.

Why It Matters

A child with secure internal confidence navigates social and emotional hurdles with calm assurance.

Practical Everyday Steps
  • Give real household responsibilities (watering plants, setting spoons).
  • Acknowledge specific effort: 'You noticed how to line up those puzzle edges'.
  • Trust them with age-appropriate challenges without hovering anxiously.
Helpful Phrases to Try
  • "You worked so hard on that!"
  • "Thank you for helping our familyβ€”you made a real difference."
  • "I trust your judgment on this."
Phrases to Gently Avoid
  • "Generic 'Good job!' without context."
  • "Comparing to siblings or peers ('Look how well your brother listens')."
  • "Doing tasks for them that they can accomplish with patience."
Sammy Says: "When you try something brave today, give your heart a gentle pat and say: I did that!"
EVERYDAY TOOLS

Predictable Routines

Creating an environment of external safety through rhythm.

The Core Concept

Predictability reduces cognitive strain and cortisol levels in growing nervous systems. When children know what to expect, they feel secure.

Why It Matters

Uncertainty triggers vigilant arousal in children who struggle with emotional regulation.

Practical Everyday Steps
  • Establish consistent morning, mealtime, and bedtime sequences.
  • Use simple picture cues or verbal previews for the day's events.
  • Give gentle advance notice before major transitions.
Helpful Phrases to Try
  • "First we put on shoes, then we walk to the car."
  • "Our bedtime rhythm tonight: bath, two stories, cozy song, then sleep."
  • "Here is what our afternoon looks like today."
Phrases to Gently Avoid
  • "Surprise changes without warning."
  • "Inconsistent expectations from day to day."
  • "Rushing without rhythm."
Sammy Says: "Knowing what comes next makes my feet feel steady on the ground!"
EVERYDAY TOOLS

Giving Choices

Fostering healthy autonomy within safe parental boundaries.

The Core Concept

Offering limited, acceptable choices honors a child's need for personal agency while keeping adult leadership intact.

Why It Matters

Power struggles disappear when children have legitimate avenues of control over their bodies and routines.

Practical Everyday Steps
  • Offer two acceptable choices: 'Red cup or blue cup?'
  • Give choices on the 'how' rather than the 'whether': 'Hop to the bath or crawl like a bear?'
  • Respect their choice immediately once made.
Helpful Phrases to Try
  • "Would you like to put on your jacket first or your boots?"
  • "Do you want to hold my left hand or my right hand?"
  • "You are in charge of choosing your story tonight."
Phrases to Gently Avoid
  • "Do you want to go to bed now? (when bed is not optional)"
  • "Infinite open-ended choices that cause overwhelm."
  • "Overriding their choice because you prefer the other."
Sammy Says: "When I get to pick between two good things, I feel like a proud captain!"
EVERYDAY TOOLS

Supporting Transitions

Easing the physical and mental friction of moving between activities.

The Core Concept

Shifting attention from a preferred activity to a new demand requires immense executive function and can feel like a physical jolt to sensitive children.

Why It Matters

Transition meltdowns occur when nervous systems are forced to pivot too abruptly.

Practical Everyday Steps
  • Provide sensory-friendly warnings (5-minute and 2-minute notice).
  • Bridge the transition by joining their play for 60 seconds before concluding.
  • Give them something tangible to carry into the next space.
Helpful Phrases to Try
  • "In two minutes, we will say goodbye to the playground and hello to lunch."
  • "Show me the last cool trick on the scooter before we head to the car."
  • "Can you be Sammy's helper and carry the keys to the door?"
Phrases to Gently Avoid
  • "Leaving immediately without warning."
  • "Pulling toys directly out of hands."
  • "Threatening abandonment: 'I'm leaving without you!'"
Sammy Says: "Carrying a favorite smooth stone from one room to another helps my mind transition!"