These worry dolls, or worry monsters in our case, are a cute and fun way to help children explore their emotions at a very young age.
Materials
Mini Craft Sticks Friendship Thread Wiggly Eyes
Instructions
Step 1.
Gather your materials to make your worry dolls. Traditionally, worry dolls are made of wire and wool cording. We are going to use craft sticks!
Step 1.
Gather your materials to make your worry dolls. Traditionally, worry dolls are made of wire and wool cording. We are going to use craft sticks!
Step 2.
Wrap each craft stick with colorful friendship thread cording. Wrapping items with yarn is wonderful fine motor practice for little ones! Mix and match colors to personalize your dolls.
Step 2.
Wrap each craft stick with colorful friendship thread cording. Wrapping items with yarn is wonderful fine motor practice for little ones! Mix and match colors to personalize your dolls.
Step 3.
Wrap the craft sticks with fuzzy sticks to create arms and legs (or tentacles! Be creative!)
Step 3.
Wrap the craft sticks with fuzzy sticks to create arms and legs (or tentacles! Be creative!)
Step 4.
Finally, add wiggly eyes to complete your worry doll monsters!
Step 4.
Finally, add wiggly eyes to complete your worry doll monsters!
Teacher's Corner
Don’t worry, be happy with colorful wiggly-eyed monsters!
Lesson Objectives
How to Use a Worry Doll: Traditionally, worry dolls originated in Guatemala and were gifted to children who needed a friend to talk to whenever they were nervous or sad. Before bed, they would tell their dolls their worries, place the doll under their pillow, and go to sleep — by the morning, all their worries would fade away!
Say What You Need to Say: Encourage your students to express their emotions — if they don’t feel comfortable sharing out loud, ask them to write them on a piece of paper or inside a journal. This is an exercise they can do whenever they’re feeling nervous or anxious.
Follow-up Discussion
Take stress relief a step further and come up with a weekly class activity! While your students can use their worry monsters every day, choose an exercise like yoga or meditation to keep it cool, calm, and collected in the classroom at least once a week.
