the day the energy spilled over ⚠️💥 – a playful story about energy regulation 🌈

co-created in therapy with a particular brave spark, this episode helps kids explore what happens when energy gets too big — and how to bring it back to calm. 

when a mysterious chemical spill energises a curious spider, and then mr. peter and mr. simon, chaos erupts on the worksite! from wild zooming and slippery puddles to giggle-inducing magic rugs, this playful, sensory-rich story helps kids recognise their energy states and discover strategies that support balance. 

inspired by real therapy sessions, this episode gently introduces vestibular and proprioceptive input — movement-based supports that can help neurodivergent kids regulate big energy and build interoceptive awareness (how their body feels inside). 

🎧 includes: 
 – a playful therapeutic story 
 – reflection questions to chat about 
 – ideas for home, school, or therapy 
part of brave sparks — a storytelling podcast shaped by the voice, needs, and strengths of neurodivergent children ✨ 

🎧 sound credits:
✍️ written by: trust children and the kids we support (with a sprinkle of ai magic)
🎙️ voice: the brave sparks team
🎛️ sound mixing: brave sparks team
🎶 music: serene acoustic guitar melodies by lolamoore — https://freesound.org/s/768424 — attribution 4.0

🔊 sound effects include:
 🛠️ drilling noises & construction site by khenshom — https://freesound.org/s/477599 — cc0
💦 water_splash_18.wav by junggle — https://freesound.org/s/427910 — attribution 4.0
🫧 multiple bubbles bursting by florianreichelt — https://freesound.org/s/593902 — cc0
💨 whoosh_07.wav by dymewiz — https://freesound.org/s/396261 — attribution 3.0
🦶 footsteps in mud by iainmccurdy — https://freesound.org/s/243682 — attribution 4.0
🔍 zoomIn.wav by tkshredder — https://freesound.org/s/404936 — attribution 4.0
🔧 swish wire x4 by rhumphries — https://freesound.org/s/405958 — attribution 4.0
🤕 bonk sound effect by thecoolcookie17 — https://freesound.org/s/547290 — cc0
🪑 footsteps & chair pull by minimumlabyrinth — https://freesound.org/s/558869 — attribution 4.0
🐝 bee buzz by akkingstudio — https://freesound.org/s/662097 — cc0
🌀 syn_whoosh_01.aif by aishabag23 — https://freesound.org/s/583233 — attribution 3.0
🎯 boing cartoon sfx by deleted_user_7146007 — https://freesound.org/s/695490 — cc0
🔔 wind chimes (6 chimes) by iainmccurdy — https://freesound.org/s/241158 — attribution 4.0

🌀 part of the brave sparks podcast — co-created in therapy, shaped by the voice, needs, and strengths of neurodivergent children. 🌟

🎧 co-created in therapy — inspired by your child’s voice, strengths, and needs.

🎙️ voice: children who helped shape the episode with simone mossop
 🎛️ sound design: brave sparks team
 🎵 intro/outro music: serene acoustic guitar melodies by lolamoore — https://freesound.org/s/768424 — attribution 4.0

✨ explore more spark stories or learn about our therapy approach: trustchildren.au/bravesparks

Transcript

📖 transcript — the day the energy spilled over 🌊⚠️

mr. peter, boss and worker, was in charge of the worksite. 🦺
 he had a great team, and one of the team members was mr. simon.
 together, they worked hard... and got along really well.

one day, something very strange happened.

there was a chemical spill! 😲
 and when a curious spider ran into it...
 …it suddenly got revved up with energy!
 it zoomed around, ran up walls, spun in crazy circles.

mr. peter, boss and worker, and mr. simon couldn’t believe their eyes. 👀
 they decided to investigate the chemical.
 was this strange spill really the source of the spider’s sudden burst of energy?

mr. peter stepped into the spill.

immediately, his energy exploded!
 he ran at top speed, shook his hands, jumped, crashed into things, and climbed up everything in sight.

his energy was wild!
 it was fun... but also... a bit too much! 😵

next, mr. simon gave it a try.
 he felt something strange in his knees—like bees buzzing inside them! 🐝
 his heart thumped, his breath got fast... and he felt overwhelmed.

he sat down and decided to calm his body.
 big... slow... breaths.

“blowing up the big balloon on the wall...”
 “those are ceramic balloons, you know!”
 “yes, i do know this. i like pretending. plus, it’s the blowing out that really helps me calm down.”

and slowly… the ants-in-his-pants feeling disappeared. 🐜
 he felt better.

now it was time to get creative.
 what else might help their energy feel just right? 🤔

they found a magic energy rug!
 it was big and stretchy.
 mr. peter lay down, and the rug gently pulled him across the floor.

it tickled!
 it slid!
 it made him giggle!

on the carpet, it felt even better.
 peaceful.
 so peaceful that he let out a big...
 “ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...” 😌

mr. simon slithered beside him, sliding side to side like a careful snake.

“no, no, stop!”
 he realised that a little sliding was perfect...
 but too much was overwhelming.
 he preferred slower, more controlled motions. 🐢

mr. simon was proud.
 mr. peter had figured out what helped his energy feel just right. 💛

together, they learned how to manage their energy —
 and take care of their bodies and feelings when things got a little too much.

i wonder what helps you when your energy feels too big... or too small? 🤔
 what helps you find your 'just right' zone? 🌈💫

💭 reflection questions

– when your energy feels too big, what helps bring it back to calm?
 – when your body feels too slow or sleepy, what helps wake it up?
 – what would your “magic energy rug” be?

💛 note for grown-ups

the “magic rug” in this story was inspired by a large piece of lycra, often used in therapy to explore the vestibular and proprioceptive senses — those deep-body signals that can help kids feel calm, coordinated, and connected.

this episode was co-created in therapy with a particular brave spark.
 the strategies in this story worked well for them — your child might need something different, and that’s okay.

💡 check in with your child’s therapy team to find what supports are right for them.

the good news is… trying these ideas can do no harm — and might even open up a conversation about your child’s energy and what helps them feel just right. 🌈✨