Snixx - Frustration
Support and Strategies
Who is Snixx?
Snixx is the feeling of frustration, that prickly, fidgety, “nothing is working!” energy that builds up when things don’t go our way.
Snixx shows up when a toy does not work, homework feels too hard, or when waiting feels just too much.
Snixx isn’t bad; he is a signal that a child is trying hard and cares. But if Snixx gets too big, he can spill over into snapping, shouting, hitting or tears.
How can we help our Children learn about Snixx?
🤔Start With Curiosity
Try asking your child:
“Where do you feel Snixx in your body right now?” (Hands? Face? Tummy?)
“If Snixx had a colour today, what would it be?” (Spiky red? Orange? Grey?)
“What do you think Snixx is trying to tell us?”
🧰Snixx Toolkit/Secret soft side
Snixx’s secret is that underneath his prickles, he’s really saying: “I want to do this, but it’s hard!”
You could help by:
Movement breaks: stomping feet, shaking arms, or jumping out the prickles.
Do-over option: letting your child pause and try again later.
Frustration drawing: scribbling messy lines and then turning them into shapes.
Snixx Kit: stress ball, stretchy band, calming jar, or fidget toy to release the energy.
👇 Dr Nat’s Top Tips for parent, carers and Teachers: When Snixx is around…
•Name the feeling. “Looks like Snixx/frustration is here, it feels tough when things don’t work.”
• Acknowledge the effort. “I can see you’re trying so hard. That makes sense.”
• Offer small steps. Break the task into tiny bits so Snixx doesn’t feel so big.
• Model calm persistence. Show that mistakes and trying again is part of learning.
🧘 Children’s Disarming strategies for Snixx(Frustration)
🃏 Burst Breaker
🪁 Blow out a big breath like you’re letting the air out of a balloon.
This softens the Snarlburst before it spreads.
🃏 Thread Untwist
🧵 Imagine rolling up a ball of yarn, one loop at a time, while naming steps aloud: “First… then… next…”
Helps loosen the Tangletrap.
🃏 Gentle Grip
👐 Squeeze fists tight, then slowly release and wiggle fingers.
Releases the tension of the Gripcrack safely.
🃏 Cool Mist
💨 Take a sip of water, then breathe out slowly through pursed lips, like blowing out a candle.
Cools the Steamspike.
🃏Soft Step
👟 Walk slowly, heel to toe, whispering: “Small steps, small problems.”