Hello there,
In my conversations with teachers, I frequently receive inquiries about techniques to help children manage their worries and concerns effectively. One highly recommended and incredibly simple technique is the Worry Monster!
The Worry Monster is a fantastic way for children to express their worries and concerns. It's a popular activity often used by teachers to monitor and address the anxieties that children may be experiencing.
Here's how it works:
- Take an empty shoebox and cut a 1 to 2-inch wide slot in the lid.
- Let your creativity shine as you decorate the shoebox to your liking.
- Whenever your children have a worry, they can write it down on a piece of paper and slip it into the Worry Monster.
- Display the provided poem (you'll find it in the download below) on the wall near the Worry Monster for children to recite as they post their worries.
As their class teacher, you can read the collected worries and address concerns either individually or as a group. For recurring concerns, such as exams, consider discussing the topic with the entire class. Some children may require additional support, especially if they raise issues like bullying, friendships, home life, or school work.
The poem goes like this:
Worry Monster, please eat my worry,
Gobble it up quick, I'm in a hurry,
Chew it up and take it away,
So I can be happy for the rest of the day!
Scroll down to find a short video explaining the activity and a download containing detailed instructions and a copy of the poem.
I hope you and your class have fun with this one!
Imogen :-)
