Stag Lane Primary School has recently embraced the Stix Remotes to help enhance their pupils mental health and wellbeing. After an initial free trial proved successful, the school purchased five sets of Stix, which are now being used to support students, particularly those with social, emotional, and behavioural needs. The Stix Remotes are a unique tool that combines sensory engagement with voice-guided activities to help children manage stress, anxiety, and emotional regulation in the school setting. Tracy, one of the school’s learning mentors, shares her experiences with Stix and its impact on the students at Stag Lane.
At Stag Lane, the five sets of Stix are distributed among various classrooms and are primarily used by Tracy and her colleague, both of whom are learning mentors at the school. Tracy works closely with students facing various challenges, including Autism, ADHD, and behavioural difficulties. She has introduced Stix in both one-on-one settings and small groups, particularly with students in Year 1 and Year 2. "I’ve mainly used them with our SEND children," Tracy explains, "and I found them particularly useful for calming children with emotional, social, and behavioural needs."
One of the most compelling aspects of Stix is its ability to immediately capture the attention of the children. Tracy recalls a particularly positive experience with two students who were having a difficult day. "The first time I showed the two children the Stix, they were fascinated, especially with the colourful lights," she says. "When they heard the voice, they immediately started to do what she said. It was enough time for them to calm down, relax, and be still after a particularly busy and challenging day."
Feedback from the students has been overwhelmingly positive. "One child said he liked the lady's voice—he said she sounded nice and calm," Tracy shares. Another student enjoyed the light session the most, saying he liked the changing colours. These responses underscore the effectiveness of Stix’s multi-sensory approach, which resonates with children and helps them engage more deeply in the calming activities.
Teachers at Stag Lane have also begun to incorporate Stix into their classrooms. One teacher, who works with a child struggling to regulate his emotions, found that giving the child ownership of the Stix during carpet time had a significant impact. "It has helped him to remain calm," Tracy notes, adding that the child now seeks out the Stix whenever he feels upset. This self-regulation has not only helped the individual child but has also contributed to a more harmonious classroom environment.
Although Stix is still a new addition to Stag Lane, Tracy is confident that it will complement the school’s existing mental health and emotional support strategies. The school already benefits from having two learning mentors who are trained in interventions like ‘Draw and Talk’ and ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant). "Both these interventions are very powerful, and Stix will work wonderfully alongside them," Tracy says, emphasising the tool's potential to enhance the school’s overall approach to student wellbeing.
While parents have not yet been formally involved in the introduction of Stix, Tracy sees potential for this in the future. As the school continues to explore the tool’s capabilities, involving parents could help extend the benefits of Stix beyond the classroom and into the home, further supporting children’s emotional health. Parents can consider investing in a set of Stix for use at home, as it can provide a consistent and familiar tool for children to manage their emotions in a safe and supportive environment.
Before integrating Stix, Stag Lane relied on methods such as one-on-one mentoring and structured emotional support programs. These approaches have been effective, but Stix offers something unique by combining physical interaction with guided mental exercises. "Stix is a valuable tool that the children enjoy using," Tracy states. "Used alongside other mental health and emotional support interventions, they will be invaluable in supporting the wellbeing of our children."
Tracy believes that Stix is a tool other schools should consider. The children at Stag Lane have responded positively to it, and it offers a fun and engaging way to support their mental and emotional wellbeing. "So often we get bogged down in school with all the academic learning, we forget that children need some time out as well to focus on their wellbeing" Tracy reflects. With Stix, Stag Lane is ensuring that its students have the tools they need to find balance, calm, and resilience in their daily lives.
If your school would like a free Stix trial, get in touch today!
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