Fraggle- Anxiety
Support and Strategies
Who is Fraggle?
Fraggle is the feeling of anxiety, those butterflies in the tummy, shaky knees, or the “what ifs” that make children (and adults) feel nervous or worried.
Fraggle isn’t bad; he’s just trying to keep us safe. But sometimes he makes things feel scarier than they really are. With your help, your child can learn that Fraggle is a messenger trying to help us.
How can we help our Children learn about Fraggle?
🤔Start With Curiosity
Try asking your child:
“Where do you feel Fraggle in your body right now?” (Tummy? Chest? Hands? Face?)
“If Fraggle had a colour today, what would it be?” (Grey? Green? Blue?)
“What do you think Fraggle is trying to tell us?”
🧰Fraggle Toolkit/secret soft side
Fraggle’s secret is that deep down, he cares. He’s trying to protect us from danger, even when there isn’t any.
You could help by:
Worry box or jar: write worries down and “post” them so Fraggle doesn’t have to hold them all.
Butterfly breathing: hands on chest and tummy, breathing slow like wings opening and closing.
Draw your Fraggle: make him big, small, silly, or gentle, so he feels less scary.
👇 Dr Nat’s Top Tips for parent, carers and Teachers: When Fraggle is around…
• Stay steady, even if they wobble. Children borrow calm from us, breathe slow, speak softly.
• Name it gently. “I think Fraggle might be here right now. That makes sense.”
• Don’t rush to fix. Anxiety needs presence and safety (not quick solutions) and the quiet steady understanding that it will pass.
• Celebrate small steps. Notice every brave moment, no matter how tiny.
🧘 Children’s Disarming strategies for Fraggle (Anxiety)
•🃏 Storm Sorter
🌈 Write or say out loud three things I can do now, three things I’ll save for later.
Helps calm the Thought Storm into an ordered rainbow.
🃏 Fidget Friend
🎾 Hold a squishy ball, doodle, or tap your toes on purpose.
Turns the Fidget Flick into a steady rhythm.
🃏 Wide View Window
🌅 Pause, look around the room, and name five things you can see.
Breaks the Overfocus Beam and brings balance back.
🃏 What-If Whisper
🕊 Take the loud “what if” and answer softly: “Even if… I’ll be okay.”
Soothes the Echo Whirl into a gentler echo.
🃏Slow-Go Step
🐢 Before starting, place your hand on your tummy and take one deep breath. Say: “Slow is strong.”