Minezo- Envy
Top Tips and Support
Who is Minezo?
Minezo is the feeling of envy — that “I want what they have” moment. He often pops up when siblings, friends, or classmates get something shiny, fun, or special. Minezo isn’t bad; he’s a signal showing us what we value or wish for. But he can feel heavy and make children sulk, stomp, or compare themselves to others..
How can we help our Children learn about Minezo?
🤔Start With Curiosity
Try asking your child:
“Where do you feel Minezo in your body right now?” (Tummy? Chest? Face?)
“If Minezo had a colour today, what would it be?” (Green? Blue? Red?)
“What do you think Minezo is trying to tell us?”
🧰A Practical Minezo toolkit
Underneath the sulks, Minezo is really showing us what matters to a child. You can help by:
Creating an ‘I’ve got’ list: write or draw things they already have and love.
Gratitude jar: fill it with daily notes or doodles of small joys.
Celebrate Others Game: take turns saying something kind or proud about someone else.
Minezo’s Treasure Box: keep a box with photos, small objects, or drawings that remind your child of their own strengths, toys, and happy times.
👇 Dr Nat’s Top Tips for parent, carers and Teachers: When Minezo is around…
1. Name it – “That sounds like envy. Do you wish you had what they’ve got.”
2. Validate it – “It’s okay to feel envy. We all do sometimes.”
🧠Remember when we are validating an emotion we can also boundary the behaviour. It is ok to feel envy it is not ok to take from others/push/grab etc. 🧠
3. Shift the focus and grow gratitude- Ask: “What do you already have that you like?” (move the brain from comparison to gratitude. Invite your child to share 3 things they’re thankful for today. (Helps shift the brain from comparison to appreciation!)
4. Celebrate Others in everyday life as a family – Model how to be happy for someone else without losing your own joy. This makes it easier when envy shows up to move out of comparison mindset.
🧘 Disarming Strategies for Minezo (Envy)
🃏 Glimmer Check
🔍 Pause and ask: “Is that really as perfect as it looks?”
Clears the Glimmer Glitch into a more balanced view.
🃏 Jump Switch
🪂 Instead of stomping, bounce on the spot or jump for joy, saying: “I’ve got good things too!”
Turns the E-Jump into playful energy.
🃏 Echo Flip
🎵 When the “I want it!” voice shouts, answer back softly: “I’m glad they have it. What’s one thing I love about me?”
Quiets the Echo Envy.
🃏 Gratitude Glow
🌈 Name three things that are already yours — big or small.
Breaks the Wish Warp tunnel and widens the view.
🃏 Sparkle Share
💫 Clap, cheer, or give a kind word to the person shining.
Reverses the Sparkle Snatch, spreading sparkle instead of stealing it.